Introduction
This web quest is designed for 4th & 5th graders to explore the role that tectonic plates play in the features and movement of the Earth's surface both present and past.
Welcome junior scientists! I desperately need you and a few of your class mates to complete some investigating about our Earth's past. Our hope is you can figure out what our earth's continents looked like millions of years ago and what caused them to change. Some people even claim the surface of our planet is moving (Gasp!). We're all mystified by this and you might be our last hope. Get ready to put your thinking caps on and become the scientists that finally crack the case for us!
Task
You and your team members will read an article about the role tectonic plates have played both past and present in our world, explore the past and gather clues about the Earth's fossil record by watching a video, and conduct an experiment to find the best answer to the clues found.
At the end of this Webquest you will be able to describe the major plates beneath our Earth's surface and how they've shaped our planet, how our continents might've looked millions of years ago, and how discoveries about the fossil record can help support our hypotheses.
Process
Follow these steps in order to crack the code. Remember, we're all counting on you..............
1. Familiarize yourself with the concept of tectonic plates by reading this article. https://www.ducksters.com/science/earth_science/plate_tectonics.php
2. Watch this video that might give you some more clues that you'll need. Pay close attention to Pangea's theory.
3. Talk amongst your group as to what our continents looked like millions of years ago and why experts think they moved today. Have one person volunteer to record your group's main reasons using the information from the article and video. Remember to list facts that help support your theories.
4. Each group will receive a map of the 7 continents of the world. First, analyze the shape of the different continents and discuss what you notice about all of them. Now, cut out all the pieces and try to fit them together to form one single continent. Discuss with your group the following questions: Do they fit? How do you think tectonic plates caused them to move? What evidence about the fossil record supports this theory that the continents were formed together?
5. Let's check and see how much you learned. Take the 10 question located at the bottom of the article you just read. Remember to read each question carefully and choose the best answer.
6. Now you're going to write a one-page reflection on the activity you just completed. In it you should describe your scientific findings on what you think the Earth's continents looked like millions of years ago and what caused them change. Talk about the difference between the major and minor plates. Discuss the role plate boundaries have played in the movement of tectonic plates. Remember to cite evidence such as the key facts you learned and through the experiment you just conducted i.e. if the continents fit together or not. Lastly, did you like or dislike the activity? Could it be better?
Evaluation
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Grading Rubric |
3-Excellent |
2-Satisfactory |
1-Needs Improvement |
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Reflection paper |
Covers most or all points listed in instructions and cites evidence from both sources. |
Covers some of the major points listed in instructions and cites evidence from at least one source. |
Covers little or none of the major points listed in instructions and doesn’t cite any evidence form sources. |
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Quiz |
Achieves an 90% score or better. |
Achieves a score between 60% & 80%. |
Achieves a 50% score or lower. |
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Participation |
Participated with group discussions & experiment fully with no arguments. Completed reflection and quiz. |
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Participated minimally with group discussions & experiment and/or engaged in arguments. Did not complete reflection, quiz, or both. |
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Conclusion
Excellent Job Everyone!!
You've now helped us discover the mysteries of our Earth and how tectonic plates caused our continents to drift slowly over millions of years. Most people assume our world has always looked the same and that our continents are completely stable. Hopefully, you can use this information to help with future discoveries and build upon the skills you already have.
Credits
Sources
- (2015). Geography4Kids.com. Retrieved from http://www.geography4kids.com/files/earth_tectonics.html
- (2018). Earth Science for Kids: Plate Tectonics. Retrieved from https://www.ducksters.com/science/earth_science/plate_tectonics.php
- (2018). Linkedin: SlideShare. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net
- Fossils & Plate Tectonics {Video File}. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=276&v=TcZtMFnyj1M
Teacher Page
Created & Designed by Marco Stoller