NOTE: This is PART 1 of this unit.
PART 2 covers Earthquakes and Volcanoes. These are lessons 6 - 13. |
What's inside the earth? How far have humans dug into the earth? Do the continents really move? Isn't Continental drift an Ice Age movie? Why are earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains all found along thin boundaries? We're going to answer all these questions in this unit. Look at Google Maps after learning about plate tectonics and it will blow your mind!
The lessons covered in PART 1 of this unit are: 1. The layers of our earth 2. Plates on our earth 3. How the plates move 4. Types of plate movement 5. Locating plate boundaries |
1. THE LAYERS OF OUR EARTH
🡺 I can label and describe the main characteristics of the four layers of the interior of the Earth.
The interior of Earth is made up of different layers. 1. Inner Core
2. Outer Core
3. Mantle
4. Crust
2. Oceanic crust is at the bottom of the ocean |
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Geo-check!
1. Fill in the table from the information above.
2. Write a short story about what you would see on a journey to the centre of the Earth. You must mention where you pass through the crust, what you see on your way down, what you see at the centre, and what you think is the best way to get back to the surface quickly. You must use the following words magma, convection current, crust, mantle, core, and plate boundary. |
2. PLATES ON OUR EARTH
🡺 I understand that the Earth’s crust is divided into different pieces called plates.
The crust that covers Earth is broken up into plates. Plates are large blocks of land. There are seven large plates and many small plates. The plates’ edges are called plate boundaries. The convection currents in the mantle move these plates. It is the movement of these plates which is responsible for the formation of mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes. Earthquakes and volcanoes occur mostly along plate boundaries. A lot of volcanic activity occurs in the 'ring of fire'. The 'ring of fire' is a group of volcanoes that are located along the plate margin of the Pacific plate. |
Geo-check!
1. Highlight the phrases which describe the distribution of the world’s volcanoes and earthquakes:
2. Volcanoes on the map are marked as triangles. Colour in the ‘Ring of Fire’ on the map. 3. Using your atlas and the maps above, give examples of places where: a. Continents which have a lot of tectonic activity near the coast b. There are BOTH volcanoes and earthquakes c. There are ONLY earthquakes d. Tectonic activity is found NOT on a plate boundary |
3. HOW THE PLATES MOVE
🡺 I can describe how convection currents move the Earth’s continental plates.
Plates move due to convection currents in the mantle. Convection currents are formed due to the high temperatures present in the core. These convection currents in the mantle are responsible for the movement of plates. Plate movements are responsible for the occurrence of earthquakes and volcanoes, as well as building mountains. |
Geo-check!
1. Complete these sentences by filling in the correct words.
The Earth has _______________ layers. The ______________ is the outermost layer and makes up the continents and the bottom of the oceans. The ________________, found beneath the crust is made up of molten _________________.
Convection currents, which are responsible for the movement of the overlying plates are found in the __________________.
Both the inner core and the outer core are made up of iron and nickel, yet the inner core is _________________ whilst the outer core is ________________.
2. Answer these questions with short phrases.
a. Why do the plates move?
b. In which layer are these currents found?
c. What is this layer made out of?
d. How fast do the plates move?
e. What do plate movements cause?
The Earth has _______________ layers. The ______________ is the outermost layer and makes up the continents and the bottom of the oceans. The ________________, found beneath the crust is made up of molten _________________.
Convection currents, which are responsible for the movement of the overlying plates are found in the __________________.
Both the inner core and the outer core are made up of iron and nickel, yet the inner core is _________________ whilst the outer core is ________________.
2. Answer these questions with short phrases.
a. Why do the plates move?
b. In which layer are these currents found?
c. What is this layer made out of?
d. How fast do the plates move?
e. What do plate movements cause?
3. Watch the [Animated Life Pangea, Wegener, and Continental Drift — HHMI BioInteractive] video and complete these sentences.
a. Alfred Wegener was a …
b. He wanted to write a book on ….
c. During his time, many scientists took measurements by…
d. What did he notice about the atlas?
e. What was his big idea?
f. Did other scientists agree with him?
g. Which scientist agreed with him?
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h. What proof was there for his idea?
i. How did he try and write his idea?
j. Was Alfred Wagner right about the continents moving?
k. Are the continents still moving today?
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4. TYPES OF PLATE MOVEMENT
🡺 I can name the three effects of plate movements (earthquakes, volcanoes and fold mountains).
Tectonic plates are constantly moving. When they move, three different things can happen.
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Geo-check!
1. Here is a map of the Mediterranean region.
a. Mention the two tectonic plates responsible for the formation of mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes in the Mediterranean. A:__________________________ B:__________________________ b. Are these two tectonic plates moving away or towards each other? c. Write down the name of the mountains in the map below.
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3. Japan is a country where many countries occur. Look at the map of Japan.
a. What are the found tectonic plates we see in the maps? b. Why do you think Japan has many earthquakes? c. In March 2011, Japan had a very strong earthquake which caused a tsunami. It’s epicentre was at the star on the map. Why do you think this happened? d. Why do you think Japanese buildings are built to be earthquake proof? Is it a good idea? |
5. LOCATING PLATE BOUNDARIES
🡺 I can use digital media to locate some volcanoes, fold mountains and earthquake prone areas in relation to plate boundaries.
In the past, a lot of Geographers used books and printed maps. Nowadays geographers have access to very powerful digital geographical tools. Many of these tools are free and can be used by anyone. Some examples can be found below. Google Maps
Google Earth
Seismic Monitoring Website
U.S. Geological Survey
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Geo-check!
1. Look for the following plate boundaries on google maps. Use Google maps to find a volcano on this boundary. Use the internet to find an earthquake at this boundary.
Plate boundary: North American Plate and the Pacific Plate
a. Are these two plates moving:
Towards each other / away from each other / alongside each other?
b. On this boundary, find a volcano.
c. On this boundary, look for an earthquake event.
d. Where did it happen?
e. When did it happen?
Plate boundary: North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate
a. Are these two plates moving:
Towards each other / away from each other / alongside each other?
b. On this boundary, find a volcano.
c. On this boundary, look for an earthquake event.
d. Where did it happen?
e. When did it happen?
Plate boundary: Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate
a. Are these two plates moving:
Towards each other / away from each other / alongside each other?
b. On this boundary, find a volcano.
c. On this boundary, look for an earthquake event.
d. Where did it happen?
e. When did it happen?
Plate boundary: North American Plate and the Pacific Plate
a. Are these two plates moving:
Towards each other / away from each other / alongside each other?
b. On this boundary, find a volcano.
c. On this boundary, look for an earthquake event.
d. Where did it happen?
e. When did it happen?
Plate boundary: North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate
a. Are these two plates moving:
Towards each other / away from each other / alongside each other?
b. On this boundary, find a volcano.
c. On this boundary, look for an earthquake event.
d. Where did it happen?
e. When did it happen?
Plate boundary: Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate
a. Are these two plates moving:
Towards each other / away from each other / alongside each other?
b. On this boundary, find a volcano.
c. On this boundary, look for an earthquake event.
d. Where did it happen?
e. When did it happen?