Cracking Up: Plate Tectonics, Volcanism, and the Structure of the Earth
Model the structural layers of the Earth, investigate the data that led to the theory of plate tectonics, and discover the relationship between plate tectonics and earthquakes, volcanos, and mountains, through data analysis and hands-on activities.
Preliminary Concepts
Igneous: this rocks form as liquid magma or lava cools; the crystals that form are interlocking
Metamorphic: this rock forms from existing (not molten) rocks under heat and/or pressure; the crystals are interlocking and have a preferred orientation
Sedimentary: rocks are cemented together; not formed from crystals but from pieces or precipitants
One common misconception is that layered rocks are always sedimentary; in fact, many metamorphic rocks are layered, and even a few igneous rocks can have layers.
Activities Modeling Rock Processes
- Weathering Rocks
- Students wear down “rocks” using water and friction
- Modeling Metamorphic Rocks
- Students model the formation of a metamorphic rock
Plate Tectonic Activities
- Discovering Plate Boundaries
Excellent inquiry based activity through which students in upper elementary through college can make observations about the patterns of features on Earth’s surface — and draw conclusions about Earth’s tectonic plates. - Subducting Plate Graphs
In this activity, students create a three-dimensional model of a subducting plate boundary, using earthquake data. - Real Evidence of a Subducting Plate
The objective of this activity is to allow students to manipulate real data and understand how such data is interpreted and used in support of a theory. Students construct a 3D map of seismic data at a subduction zone plate boundary. - Hot Spot Motion
In this activity, students measure the motion of the Pacific Plate using the location and age of islands in the Hawaiian chain - Edible Plate Tectonics
Students use edible materials to model a plate boundary, including the asthenosphere, the plate crusts, and the resulting features from the interaction
Resources
- Plate Tectonic Resources
Websites, activities, and materials that may be useful - Rock Cycle Resources
Websites, activities, and materials that may be useful - Powerpoints
These were created for use in workshops; feel free to borrow the images and information for your own classes, but you may need to alter the information to make it more appropriate for your students’ level.
