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Engaging Lessons for
Busy Teachers
Alfred
Wegener’s
Evidence
THEORY OF
CONTINENTAL DRIFT
Differentiated Station Labs
Kesler Science Station Lab – Theory of
Continental Drift
If you have never used my Kesler Science Station Labs before please
download the FREE Start-Up pack from my TPT store. It will provide you
with all of the signage and best practices in order to run the station
labs in your classroom.
The large directions cards included in this file are intended to be read
by the leader of the group once the students get to the station. The
smaller task cards can be read by another group member.
I prefer that each student do their own lab write-up (included at the
end of this file), so that they may use it for reference at a later date.
The answer key is provided at the end of the document.
Lastly, if any of the internet resources no longer work for some reason
please let me know via email at [email protected]. I cannot
guarantee that all resources will be available, but I tried to choose
ones that have been around for many years.
Kesler Science Station Lab – Theory of
Continental Drift – Teacher Directions
Explore It! – I will spend much of my time
at this station making sure the students
are not wasting time and checking their
puzzles. You will need a timer or phone,
2 puzzle sets (included), and an answer
key (included). Make sure to label the
make of each piece set #1 or #2
Illustrate It! – In this particular lab you are
looking for 4 illustrations for the 4 pieces
of evidence from Wegener.
Read It! – Print several different copies (I
use 6) of the reading passage so that
multiple students can read at different
paces
Watch It! – WARNING: at :47 the
commentator says “Bada$$”. It honestly
sounds like “Bad at”. The video is so
good, but wanted to warn you in case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbU809Cyra
o
Note that both URL’s are case-sensitive.
Organize It! – The cards for this activity are
attached near the end of this file. Print
several sets and then just put them in the
basket for kids to pull from. This is also a
good one for later in the week to
demonstrate mastery too! Students should
be encouraged to do the Research and
Explore station before attempting this
one. I like to label the backs with set
numbers because they will get mixed up.
Write It! – Students should be encouraged
to do the Research and Explore station
before attempting this one.
Research It! – The goo.gl link on the task
card is case-sensitive. The original link is
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/continent
al_drift/
Assess It! – Students should be
encouraged to do the Research and
Explore station before attempting this
one. If I grade anything I usually take a
close look at the answers from this station.
Write It! Station Directions
It is recommended that you have completed
at least two of the following stations before
working at this station.
-Read It!
-Explore It!
-Watch It!
-Research It!
Answer each of the task card questions on
the lab sheet in complete sentences.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Use the map of the world
(on the table) and explain
which continents appear
to fit together like puzzle
pieces.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
One thing Wegener was
unable to explain before he
died was WHY the plates
moved. We know the
reason now. Explain what
causes the plates to move.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
How did Alfred Wegener
use landforms to help
make a case for his theory
of continental drift?
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Assess It! Station Directions
It is recommended that you have completed
at least two of the following stations before
working at this station.
-Read It!
-Explore It!
-Watch It!
-Research It!
Each member will answer the questions from
the task cards on the lab sheet in the Assess
It! section.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Which process causes the continents
to move?
A. High Tides
B. Convection currents in the
mantle
C. Ocean currents
D. High pressure in the
atmosphere
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
How do fossils of the
Cynognathus, found in
Africa and S. America,
support Wegener’s theory?
A.
B.
C.
D.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
How were glaciers
involved in the theory of
continental drift?
A. They are present near the equator
B. Glaciers were not involved in the
theory
C. Glaciers are increasing at a rapid
pace
D. Evidence of glaciers indicated they
were present millions of years ago.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
The animals must have swam over
The animals could have crossed on an
ice bridge.
Africa and S. America were once joined.
The animals evolved and flew over the
ocean.
Which statement does not
support Wegener’s theory
of Continental Drift?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Fossils are the same
Landforms are the same
Continents fit together like puzzles
The continents have the same
density
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Read It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will read the
passage and answer the questions from the
task cards on the lab sheet in the Read It!
section.
It is important to remember that the answers
will come directly from the reading passage.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
When the continents of the southern hemisphere are reassembled into the single land mass of Gondwanaland, the
distribution of these four fossil types form linear and continuous
patterns of distribution across continental boundaries.
Glossopteris was a woody, seed-bearing shrub or tree, named
after the Greek description of ‘tongue’ – a description of the
shape of the leaves. Some reached 30m tall. It evolved during
the Early Permian (299 million years ago) and went on to
become the dominant species throughout the period, not
becoming extinct until the end of the Permian. Fossils are found
in Australia, South Africa, South America, India and Antarctica.
Lystrosaurus - which literally means ‘shovel reptile’ - was
dominant on land in the early Triassic, 250 million years ago. It is
thought to have been herbivorous and grew to approximately
one meter in length, with a stocky build like a pig. Fossils of
Lystrosaurus are only found in Antarctica, India and South Africa.
Cynognathus is an extinct mammal-like reptile. The name
literally means ‘dog jaw’. Cynognathus was as large as a
modern wolf and lived during the early to mid Triassic period
(250 to 240 million years ago). It is found as fossils only in South
Africa and South America.
Remains of Mesosaurus, a freshwater crocodile-like reptile that
lived during the early Permian (between 286 and 258 million
years ago), are found solely in Southern Africa and Eastern
South America. It would have been physiologically impossible
for Mesosaurus to swim between the continents. This suggests
that South America and Africa were joined during the Early
Permian.
There are many examples of fossils found on separate
continents and nowhere else, suggesting the continents were
once joined.
The Theory of Continental Drift
According to the passage,
how many fossils species
were looked at to develop
the theory of continental
drift ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
5
6
7
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Why couldn’t the
Mesosaurus swim to
the other continent?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It didn’t have directions
It was too far
The ocean was covered in ice
It didn’t have the correct
physiology (body parts)..
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
What would be the
best title for this
passage?
A. How Continental Drift Works
B. Fossil Evidence in Support of
Continental Drift.
C. Landforms and the Continental
Drift
D. All Fossils Prove the Continental
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Drift
Where can fossils
be found of
Lystrosaurus?
A. Antarctica, India, S. Africa
B. Antarctica, India, S. America
C. N. America, Antarctica, S.
America
D. India, Asia, S. America
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Watch It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will go to the
website listed on task card #1
Complete the task cards in order.
Every student will answer the questions from
the task cards on the lab sheet in the Watch
It! section of the lab sheet.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
YouTube https://goo.gl/N4MGTq
G Drive https://goo.gl/eUIyFv
Both URL’s are case-sensitive
1. Click Play on the video.
2. Answer questions from cards
#2-4 on your lab sheet.
What two continents did Alfred
Wegener first look at and
wonder if they fit together like
puzzle pieces?
YouTube
We often refer to the supercontintent as Pangaea, but
what term did Alfred Wegener
use?
What decade was the
continental drift theory
accepted by the scientific
community because of the
discovery of plate tectonics?
Research It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will go to the
website listed on task card #1
Complete the task cards in order.
Every student will answer the questions from
the task cards on the lab sheet in the
Research It! section.
1. Go to http://goo.gl/wGy93J
2. Play around with the
interactive Pangaea for a
minute or two and make
some observations to yourself.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
1. The last dinosaurs were on
Earth about 65 million years ago.
Do you believe the land
dinosaurs had equal access to
every continent? Why or Why
not?
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
1. There were dinosaurs that
lived about 230 million years
ago. What can you say
about their access to each of
the continents?
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
1. During the time of Pangaea,
what other continents was
North America directly
attached to?
Explore It! Station Directions
One member of the group will read the task
cards in order. The group will be responsible
for completing each of the tasks that are
being read.
Each member of the group will then write
their conclusions down on the lab sheet in
the Explore It! section.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
1. Take the blank puzzle pieces
and try to put them together in
3 minutes. Use the stopwatch
provided or your cell phone as
a timer. Have your teacher
check at the end.©KeslerScience.com, 2015
The puzzle pieces are similar
to the tectonic plates on
Earth. Each plate moves
independently of each
other.
Alfred Wegener is most notably
credited with the Theory of
Continental Drift which states that the
plates on Earth have moved over
millions of years, but that all continents
were once a large landmass called
Pangaea.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Wegener came up with
4 pieces of evidence to
help prove his theory.
#1 – He realized that in many
places the continents fit together
like puzzle pieces. Most notably
South America fits almost
perfectly with Africa.
#2 – He found similar plant and
animal fossils in areas where the
landmasses would have been
together millions of years ago.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
#3 – Alfred Wegener also noticed
that landforms like rivers and
mountains lined up nearly
perfectly when the continents
were put together.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Use the 4 pieces of
evidence from Alfred
Wegener to try the
puzzle again
This time you are going to be
using Set #2 of the puzzle pieces.
Set your timer for 3 minutes and
begin. Have your teacher check
your fictitious Pangaea.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
#4 – Lastly, Wegener was able to
use climate data to determine
there was glacier evidence in
places on Earth that should have
never had ice on it.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
1. On you lab sheet list the 4
pieces of evidence that Alfred
Wegener used to come up with
his theory of continental drift.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Illustrate It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will draw a quick
sketch on the lab sheet the shows they
understand the concept that is being taught.
Use the colored pencils and markers that are
provided.
The directions for the sketch are provided on
the task card at the table.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Illustrate It! Station Directions
Draw a picture that represents each of Alfred
Wegener’s 4 pieces of evidence that he used
to develop the Continental Drift Theory.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Organize It! Station Directions
It is recommended that you have completed at least two
of the following stations before working at this station.
-Read It!
-Explore It!
-Watch It!
-Research It!
Every student will answer the questions from the task cards
on the lab sheet in the Organize It! Section.
Please mix up the cards again before the next group
arrives at this station.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Match the pieces of evidence
to the correct card.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Have the teacher check your
cards to ensure it is correct.
They will sign your lab sheet in
the Organize It area.
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Fossil evidence matched on each
continent
Alfred
Wegener’s
Evidence of
Continental Drift
NOT Alfred
Wegener’s
Evidence of
Continental Drift
Landforms like rivers and mountain
ranges matched on continents
Continents fit together like pieces of a
puzzle
Glacier evidence was found in places
glaciers should have never been
Landmass bridges were found
across the oceans
The salinity of the water in each of
the oceans matched
The density of the continents is the
same on each continent
Evidence of hurricane damage
was present on each continent
©KeslerScience.com, 2014
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Name_______________________
TaskCard#1:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TaskCard#2:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TaskCard#3:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Write It!
4.
3.
2.
TaskCard#8:
1.
Explore It!
The Continental Drift Theory
Organize It!
TaskCard#2:
1.
TaskCard#4:
1.
TaskCard#3:
1.
#1_____
#3_____
Read It!
#2_____
#4_____
Name_______________________
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
#2_____
#4_____
Research It!
#1_____
#3_____
Assess It!
Illustrate It!
The Continental Drift Theory
Name_______________________
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
TaskCard#2:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TaskCard#3:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TaskCard#4:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Watch It!
The Continental Drift Theory
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
TaskCard#3:
Theplatesmovebecauseofconvectioncurrentshappeninginthe
mantle.Asheatflowswithinthemagmatheplatesmove
centimeterseachyear.
TaskCard#2:
__Wegenerusedlandformssuchasrivers,valleysandmountains
todeterminethatcontinentsmusthavematchedupatonepoint.
Theexactssamefeaturesarefoundonoppositesidesofthe
oceanwherethecontinentswouldmeet..
TaskCard#1:
____Therearemanyexamples,butSouthAmericaandAfricais
mostnotable.NorthAmericaandEurope,Antarctica,S.Africa,
andS.America,Austrailia andAsia/India,
Write It!
Write It!
TaskCard#8:
1. Puzzlepieces
2. Fossils
3. Landforms
4. Climatedatawith
glaciers
Explore It!
The Continental Drift Theory Answer Key
#2__C___
#4__D___
#2__B___
#4__A___
Notevidence– density, salinity,
hurricanes, landmassbridges
TaskCard#3:
1. Theywouldonlybefoundon
certaincontinentsbecauseof
theoceans.
TaskCard#4:
1. Europe,S.America,Africa.
#1__A___
#3__D___
Read It!
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
Evidence– puzzle pieces,
fossils, glaciers,landforms
Organize It!
TaskCard#2:
1. Theywouldhavehadaccess
toallcontinents.
Research It!
#1__B___
#3__D___
Assess It!
Atthisstationyouarejustlooking for4imagesthat
matchthe4piecesofevidence.It’simportant toallow
kidstocreatetheirownconnections totheknowledge.
Illustrate It!
The Continental Drift Theory
Answer Key
©KeslerScience.com, 2015
TaskCard#2:
South AmericaandAfrica
TaskCard#3:
Urkontinent
TaskCard#4:
1960’s.ThiswaslongafterAlfredWegener haddied.He
waslaughed atduring hislifetime, butwasultimately
provenright.
Watch It!
The Continental Drift Theory
Answer Key