The Theory of Plate Tectonics Plate Tectonics for 6th Grade

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The Theory of Plate Tectonics

• Plate Tectonics for 6th Grade
• Designed bySonia Mojica

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Introduction

• Can you believe that 200 million years the
  continents were squished
• together? How does our world work? For example,
  how were the
• Himalayan Mountains made? Scientists now have a
  better understanding
• of how those mountains and other features of our
  planet were formed
• because of the Plate Tectonic Process. There was
  actually another theory
• that was around before Plate Tectonics. You are
  about to become experts
• on these two theories so you can debate them and
  learn which one is
• accepted today to explain how our world works.

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The Task

• Transport yourselves back in time to the year
  1968 when Plate Tectonics
• was introduced as the theory of how our world
  works. Pretend that
• Alfred Wegener, who died in 1930, was still alive
  and agreed to meet for
• a debate on the topic Continental Drift Vs. Plate
  Tectonics. The task for
• your group of four is to find enough information
  and evidence to support
• both theories for your debate. Each group of
  four will present their
• debate to the class.
• Each of you will be checking out web sites to
  find information on
• the Continental Drift theory and the theory of
  Plate Tectonics. Each group
• will present their debate and drawings of the
  evidence.

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The Process

• First you'll be assigned to a team of 4 students
  and each of you will use the Internet links below
  to find information to explain and support The
  Continental Drift Theory and The Plate Tectonics
  Theory.
• Part 1 Background Information
• All students are required to answer the
  following questions on lined paper
• - What is your hypothesis as to why the
  continents appear to have drifted a part?
• - What is the Continental Drift Theory and who
  established it?
• - What is Plate Tectonics and how many plates
  are there?
• - Describe the three distinct types of
  boundaries that Plates are bound by.
• - Draw and color 2 pictures. One is how the
  world looked 2 million years ago and the other is
  how the world looks today.
• Use the provided links
• http//www.aapg.org/explorer/special/tectonicsdeba
  te.html
• http//www.pwcs.edu/i-tech/Resources/TLCF02/tecton
  ics/index.html
• http//library.thinkquest.org/17701/high/tectonics
  /ptproc.html

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The Process (Contd)

• Part 2 Gathering Supportive EvidenceAll
  students are required to find evidence using the
  following links to support The Continental Drift
  Theory and The Plate Tectonics Theory.
• Use a T Chart (Fold paper in half long ways and
  title the left and right side
• either Continental Drift or Plate Tectonics.
  Write supportive evidence)
• Evidence you can use to explain to support The
  Continental Drift Theory
• (Lutgens and Tarbuck, 122-125)
• - Pangea and the fit of South America
• - Fossils Match Across the Seas
• - Rock Types and Structures March
• - Ancient Climates
• http//kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/evidenc
  e.html
• http//www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/hwc/hwc973/jor
  dan/2PLATETC.HTM
• http//library.thinkquest.org/17701/high/pangaea/?
  tqskip11

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The Process (Contd)

• Evidence you can use to explain to support Plate
  Tectonics (138-144)
• - Paleomagnetism
• - Earthquake Patterns
• - Ocean Drilling
• http//wwwshs.bham.wednet.edu/curric/science/geoph
  ys/tectonic.htm
• http//www.platetectonics.com/book/page_19.asp
• http//pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/developing.
  html
• Part 3 Putting it all together and classroom
  presentation
• 1) Discuss found evidence and each team member
  writes supportive evidence on Index cards. Only
  one supportive detail per card. These cards will
  be used in the debate

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The Process (Contd)

• 2) Create two propaganda posters. One in favor
  of Continental Drift and
• the other in favor of Plate Tectonics.
  Include drawings of the evidence to support each
  theory.
• 3) Practice both sides of the debate so that you
  can run through it smoothly.

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Evaluation RubricEach group will get a number
grade

• 1 point Work is incomplete, 1-2 supportive
  evidence for each
• theory, stumbling and laughing through
  presentation.
• 2 points Work is completed, but messy, stumbling
  or laughing
• through presentation, 2-3 supportive evidence for
  each theory.
• 3 points Work is completed, few disruptions or
  laughing in
• presentation, 3-4 supportive evidence for each
  theory, mentions
• 1 reason why the Continental Drift Theory is not
  valid.
• 4 points Work is completed and well done, smooth
  presentation,
• 3-4 supportive evidence for each theory, mentions
  2 reasons why
• the Continental Drift Theory is not valid

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Conclusion

• The Theory of Plate Tectonics explains how are
  world exists as it is
• today. Do not forget that Plate Tectonics is an
  on-going process. This
• means it is happening right now. Sometimes we do
  not notice the small
• changes that happen over long periods of time.
  However, there are
• times when we notice the distinguishable changes
  such as earthquakes
• and volcanic eruptions. Our world started out as
  one supercontinent and
• one superocean. Imagine what our world will look
  like one million years
• from now.

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Plate Tectonics