Earth movers
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=163
A lesson plan for Grades 9–12 Earth/Environmental Science and Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science
About this resource
- Appropriate grades
- 9–12
- Subjects
- science (environmental science), thinking skills (information literacy, research skills)
- Provider
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
Legal
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In this lesson, students explore plate tectonics and understand how mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes are related to the movements of plates. Students also learn about the idea of continental drift and the theory of plate tectonics to ascertain a fuller picture of how land formations on earth's surface are shaped by plates moving below the surface. After students imagine what it might be like to experience an earthquake, they read and discuss, “Remembering Loma Prieta,” from Faultline. Then, before beginning their research, students predict what happens to underneath the surface of the earth during an earthquake. Students then read several articles about the earth’s forces and discuss their findings. Science NetLinks provides links to all necessary web resources, detailed instructions for completing all activities, and questions that engage students in research and discussion.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grades 9–12 — Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science
- Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of the interdependence of Earth's systems.
- Objective 2.03: Investigate the solid Earth.
- Earth history and the geologic time scale.
- Influences of plate tectonics on evolution and biodiversity.
- Volcanism.
- The rock cycle.
- Soil formation.
- Objective 2.03: Investigate the solid Earth.
Grades 9–12 — Earth/Environmental Science
- Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of lithospheric materials, tectonic processes, and the human and environmental impacts of natural and human-induced changes in the lithosphere.
- Objective 2.02: Analyze the historical development of the theory of plate tectonics.
- Objective 2.03: Investigate and analyze the processes responsible for the rock cycle:
- Analyze the origin, texture and mineral composition of rocks.
- Trace the path of elements through the rock cycle.
- Relate rock formation to plate tectonics.
- Identify forms of energy that drive the rock cycle.
- Analyze the relationship between the rock cycle and processes in the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
- Objective 2.04: Analyze seismic waves including velocity and refraction to:
- Infer Earth's internal structure.
- Locate earthquake epicenters.
- Measure earthquake magnitude.
- Evaluate the level of seismic activity in North Carolina.
