8.9AB: Plate Tectonic Theory
Earth and Space
A Walk Through Time
The Problem
Key Concepts Addressed
The human brain has a lot of trouble
dealing with big numbers. In fact, the
average person can really only imagine
units up to about 10,000, which is why
thinking about geological time is so
difficult. In order to understand units of
millions, it helps to have a visual model.
Your mission is to design a scale-model
timeline of Earth’s geological history that
will allow your fellow students to walk
backwards through time and see how
Earth has changed over 250 million years.
1.In the early 20th century, Alfred Wegener
developed early theories of continental
drift, indicating that the continents of Earth
move and historically were in different
positions than they are currently.
2.In the 1960s, scientific discoveries about
seafloor spreading, combined with earlier
theories of continental drift, led to a theory
of plate tectonics.
3.According to the theory of plate
tectonics, Earth’s lithosphere is made of
plates that move and cause changes to
crustal features at plate boundaries
4.Mountain ranges and other features can
be seen observed from space and these
images can be used to support theories
about plate tectonic activity.
Guiding Question
What are the major changes that have
occurred to Earth’s continental crust over
the past 250 million years?
Mission Deliverable
Performance /College & Career
Readiness Goals
Your mission is to create a scale model
(1cm = 100,000 years) that depicts
important phases in the historic tectonic
movement. For this model, you should
create a series of posters that can be hung
in a designated hall in your school. Your
scale model should start with present day
locations and move backwards in time to
Pangaea.
Science Standards
lll.
Foundation Skills
C.Presentation of Scientific/Technical Information
1.Prepare and present scientific/technical
information in appropriate formats for various
audiences.
lX. Earth and Space Sciences
A.Earth Systems
3.Possess a scientific understanding of the history
of Earth’s systems.
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8.9AB: Plate Tectonic Theory
Earth and Space
A Walk Through Time
Student Checklist
Getting Started
Resources
Tell Me Why: Pangaea
Teachers’ Domain:
Plate Tectonics: An Introduction
The Early Earth and Plate Tectonics
Teachers’ Domain:
Continental Divide: The Breakup of Pangaea
Teachers’ Domain: Deep Time
Teachers’ Domain:
Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker
Teachers’ Domain:
Tectonic Plates and Plate Boundaries
USGS: Historical Perspective of Pangaea
TASK
View the “Getting Started”
video resources.
RESOURCES
1. Mac or PC Computer
2. Internet
3. “Getting Started” Video
Resources
2
DUE
DATE
STATUS/NOTES
☐ Complete
☐ Not Complete
8.9AB: Plate Tectonic Theory
Earth and Space
A Walk Through Time
Student Checklist, continued
TASK
RESOURCES
DUE
DATE
STATUS/NOTES
1. Mac or PC Computer
2. Internet
3. Related Internet
Resources
☐ Complete
☐ Not Complete
Create posters to illustrate and
summarize the events that you
researched in the previous
task.
1. Mac or PC Computer,
with MS Word or MS
PowerPoint Software
Applications
☐ Complete
☐ Not Complete
Create scale and plan out
where posters will be hung
(1cm = 100,000 years).
1. Mac or PC Computer,
with MS Word or MS
PowerPoint Software
Applications
2. Drawing and Poster
Creation Materials
☐ Complete
☐ Not Complete
Post your “Walk Through
Time” model; provide a guided
tour of the of the Continental
Drift from Pangaea to present.
1. Completed Posters
☐ Complete
☐ Not Complete
Research dates and
descriptions of the following
events:
•Pangaea (250mya)
•Split into Laurasia and
Gondwana
•Gondwana Splits
•India/Madagascar separate
•North America splits from
Eurasia
•Himalayan mountains form
•Present day continent
locations
FINAL DUE DATE:
3
8.9AB: Plate Tectonic Theory
Earth and Space
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________ Per: _____
A Walk Through Time
Rubric and Grade Sheet
Category
Exceeds
Expectations
3 points
Meets
Expectations
2 points
Below
Expectations
1 point
Content
Mastery
Included detail on
all components and
SCOPE Key
Concepts.
Included some
detail on most
components and
SCOPE Key
Concepts.
Included little to
no detail on
components and
SCOPE Key
Concepts.
Application
of Content
Student correctly
supported all
SCOPE content
AND goals.
Student correctly
supported most
SCOPE content
AND goals.
Student did not
support SCOPE
content AND
goals.
Research
All information is
accurate and is
taken from at least
four sources.
Most information is
accurate and is
taken from two to
three sources.
Little to no
information is
accurate and is
taken from one to
no sources.
Presentation
Final product is
attractive, all
components are
easily identified, and
the student can
clearly dialogue
about the project.
Final product is
somewhat
attractive, most
components are
easily identifiable,
and the student
can somewhat
dialogue about the
project.
Final product is
not presented well,
components are
difficult to identify,
and the student
cannot clearly
dialogue about the
project.
SCORE
TOTAL
SCORE:
4
Teacher
Comments
8.9AB: Plate Tectonic Theory
Earth and Space
Appendix: A Walk Through Time
Internet Resources
RESOURCE
URL
Tell Me Why: Pangaea
http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX
5a685c7340010a000c670a&t=Earth
The Early Earth and Plate Tectonics
http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX
637c47465c5e4c755c4f73&t=Earth
Teachers’ Domain:
Plate Tectonics: An Introduction
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess0
5.sci.ess.earthsys.plateintro/
Teachers’ Domain:
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/lsps
Continental Divide: The Breakup of Pangaea 07.sci.ess.earthsys.biogeography/
Teachers’ Domain: Deep Time
http://access.teachersdomain.org/resources/t
dc02/sci/life/evo/lp_deeptime/index.html
Teachers’ Domain:
Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess0
5.sci.ess.earthsys.shake/
Teachers’ Domain:
Tectonic Plates and Plate Boundaries
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess0
5.sci.ess.earthsys.boundaries/
USGS: Historical Perspective of Pangaea
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/historical.ht
ml
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