Plate tectonics

Plate Tectonics

How Land Moves and Builds

Lesson Goal

I will explain plate tectonic

theory including uplift,

volcanoes and earthquakes. I

will demonstrate knowledge

in my science notebook with

definitions, illustrations, and

question responses.

Our Changing Earth

So far, we have learned some ways

the Earth changes naturally:

Weathering

Water Erosion

Wind Erosion

Extreme Weather

Our Changing Earth

This week, we will learn another way the

Earth changes naturally:

Plate Tectonics

Let’s add this topic to our notebook

(Don’t forget the Table of Contents)

Plate Tectonics

Write Vocabulary under the title

Plate Tectonics, where we will be

adding some new words as go

Let’s start with some new science words

to add to our notebook:

Core:

the solid rock, very hot center

of the Earth

Mantle:

the layer of hot rock beneath

Earth’s surface

Crust:

the outside, hard layer of the

Earth

Diagram

Draw the diagram in your notebook. Be sure to

label the parts we learned.

Inside the Earth 1

Inside the Earth 2

Inside the Earth

Check for Understanding

Discuss with your table group

On your note card, answer:

1. On which layer does erosion and

weathering occur on Earth?

I wonder how Earth’s layers relate

to plate tectonics?

Notes

Earth’s crust is broken into pieces,

which “float” on the mantle layer

These pieces, called plates, are always

moving, but very slowly

The plates move apart, collide into one

another, and slide against other plates

We’re going to need more vocabulary words

Magma:

melted rock

found between

the crust and

mantle

Tectonic Plates:

massive pieces of rock under

the land that fit together like a

giant puzzle

Continental Drift:

when tectonic plates move,

causing Earth’s continents to

move with them

Plate Tectonics

Continental Drift

Check for Understanding

Discuss with your table group

On your note card, answer:

2. What was Pangea?

Continental Drift

Check for Understanding

Discuss with your table group

On your note card, answer:

3. What caused Pangea to break

apart?

I wonder why this is important to

Earth’s surface?

Notes

When tectonic plates collide, it creates

mountains and volcanoes

When tectonic plates move apart,

ocean valleys are made

When tectonic plates slide against each

other, earthquakes happen

We’re going to need more vocabulary words

Fault:

the place where

two plates touch

Uplift:

when plates collide and one is pushed upward, creating a mountain

Folding:

when a plate is

squished

between other

plates and

pushes up to

form a mountain

Mountains

Inside the Earth

Check for Understanding

Discuss with your table group

On your note card, answer:

4. Name two ways mountains are

created with plate tectonics

Lava:

when magma

reaches the

Earth’s surface

Volcano:

a mountain formed by cooled lava from Earth’s mantle

Volcanoes

Diagram

Draw the diagram in your notebook. Be sure to

label the parts.

Earthquake:

when energy in the Earth

causes plates to shift

quickly

Epicenter:

the place

where an

earthquake

began

Magnitude:

how powerful

an earthquake

is

Earthquakes

Plate Tectonics

Check for Understanding

Discuss with your table group

On your note card, answer:

5. Name 3 ways plate tectonics

creates landforms on Earth.

Magic School Bus - Volcanoes

Tsunami:

A huge wave

caused by an

underwater

earthquake or

volcano

Tsunamis

Volcanic Island:

An island

created by the

continual

eruption of a

volcano

Volcanic Islands

Types of Volcanoes

Review with Final Quiz

Lesson Goal

I will explain plate tectonic

theory including uplift,

volcanoes and earthquakes.

I will demonstrate knowledge

in my science notebook with

definitions, illustrations, and

question responses.

Exit Ticket

I will explain ______

____________ theory

including ________,

_________ and

_____________.