Plate
Tectonics
The
Earth’s Crust in Motion…
Developed by: Lynette
Eshom, Robert Johns, Michael Pospisil and Raul Siordia
INTRODUCTION
Plate tectonics can be
defined using four basic concepts: 1) The outer portion of the Earth, the crust
and the uppermost part of the mantle is composed of rigid units called Plates. 2) These plates move relative to one another
and relative to the underlying asthenosphere. 3)
Most of the world’s large scale geological activity, for example, earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions, take place at plate boundaries. 4)
The interiors of plates remain largely quiet geologically with far fewer and
milder earthquakes than occur at plate boundaries and little volcanic activity.
The Lithosphere is broken
into pieces called plates. The places where the pieces fit together are the
boundaries. The theory that plate movement is caused by convection currents in
the mantle because of the heat in the core.
The theory behind plate
tectonics was developed by Alfred Wegener in
1915. This theory provides a master plan of the Earth’s crustal dynamics; it
helps us to understand the Earth as a whole. The power of plate tectonics is
that it can provide an explanation for many geological events; mountain
building, evolution of ocean basins, chemistry of lava, rates of sedimentation
even the migration and extinction of plants and animals. Plate tectonics
explains how the Earth works, thus it was one of the most significant
scientific breakthrough in the history of geology.
Perhaps all these pieces used to be
connected.
Your task is to:
Focus on the three types
of boundaries. After studying and researching about the three different
boundaries you will then use the details you have collected to make a concept
map. Within the concept map you will sketch and label the boundary types,
variations, and geological formations created. Then you need to identify 2
geographical examples for each of the three boundaries and sketch 1 of those
examples of each.
Make sure your work is
easily understandable and is well presented.
PROCESS
Click on
the links below to learn more about the three different boundaries.
Rift
Valley
Mid-Ocean
Ridge
Subduction-Convergent
Boundary
Continental
to Continental Plate
Mountain
Range
Seismic
Chart of an Earthquake—This actually shows primary and secondary waves
Formulate the three
concept maps identifying the three boundary types (convergent, divergent and
transform) including their variations and explain the processes in
creating the geological formations associated with them. Below is a sample
of concept map for geological feature known as a hotspot located on an oceanic
plate (Using the information on the concept map, what island chain could it be?)
This next link gives you
an opportunity to explore the different boundaries that are located on the
Earth today. Read the directions below the picture and you will be able to
navigate around the world. As you are exploring remember you need to find 2
geographical examples for each boundary and sketch 1 of those examples. Good
luck and have fun navigating and exploring. Plate Tectonics Map
Here are some resources
that you can use to further your research and study of plate tectonics:
Divergent
Boundary
§
http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp
Convergent
Boundary
§
http://www2.nature.nps.gov/GEOLOGY/usgsnps/pltec/converge.html
Transform boundary
§
http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate4.htm
Subduction
§
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/platetectonics/5.php
Rift valley
§
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley
§
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley
Mid-ocean ridge
§
http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_8.asp
Continental crust
§
http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll125/en/crust.htm
§
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_crust
Oceanic crust
§
http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll125/en/crust.htm
§
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_crust
Mountain range
§
http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_11.asp
Earthquake
§
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/plate-tectonics.html
§ http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq1/
More Resources:
§
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/historical.html
§
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics
§
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/
§
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/tectonics.html
§
http://www.platetectonics.com/globe/index.asp
You
will be graded on your concept map and your sketches of the three different
geographical locations. You can click here to view
the grade sheet that will be used to grade your work and the criteria on which
your grade will be based.
Take
your time and make your work neat and legible. It is important that you think
as you work through your assignment.
In
the quest of discovering the secrets of the geological boundary types found
around the Earth, there are two questions that need to be asked. Did you
learn how the actions of divergent, convergent and transform boundaries effect
on the geological formations that we observe around us? In the process of
researching data for the creation of your project, did you learn about and determine
the cause and effect of convection on the movement of magma and its direct
effect on plate movement? In determining the cause and effect of plate
boundaries on the crust of the earth, it is additionally important to
understand how geological events are tied to the movement of the plates
throughout geological time. If, you can answer these questions, you are
now an official amateur geologist.
|
Target |
Points
per Activity |
Number
of Activities |
Points
Possible |
Points
Earned |
|
Create a Concept Map for each
boundary type (divergent, convergent, transform) with each variation and the
geological formations that they create. |
8 |
3 |
24 |
|
|
Identify 2 geographical examples
of Divergent, Convergent, and Transform Plate Boundaries |
5 |
6 |
30 |
|
|
Sketch 1 geographical example of a
Divergent, Convergent, and Transform Plate Boundary |
7 |
3 |
21 |
|
|
Tasks are easily understandable |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
|
Tasks are well presented |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
Name_____________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grade Percent |
|
|
Date_____________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teacher___________________ |
|
|
|
|
Grade and Subject
7th Grade
General Science
Standards
Strand 6: Earth and Space Science
Concept 1: Structure of the Earth - Describe the
composition and interactions between the structure of the Earth and its
atmosphere.
- Erosion
- Deposition
- Plate Tectonics
- Volcanism
Concept 2: Earth's Processes and Systems -
Understand the processes acting on the Earth and their interaction with the
Earth systems.
PO 5 Relate plate boundary movements to their
resulting landforms, including:
- Mountains
- Faults
- Rift Valleys
- Trenches
- Volcanoes
Web Resources
There
are many different sources available to you and your students during the
project. Remember, they can use textbooks, books, magazines (science
journals), manuals, and professionals in the field of geology. To help
them in their search, these are some key words and sights to get them started.
Plate Motion
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html
Convergent boundary
http://www2.nature.nps.gov/GEOLOGY/usgsnps/pltec/converge.html
Divergent boundary
http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp
Transform boundary
http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate4.htm
Subduction
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/platetectonics/5.php
Rift valley
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley
Mid-ocean ridge
http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_8.asp
Continental crust
http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll125/en/crust.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_crust
Oceanic crust
http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll125/en/crust.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_crust
Mountain range
http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_11.asp
Earthquake
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/plate-tectonics.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq1/