Study Guide

Plate Tectonics

Reading:
Prentice Hall Focus on Earth Science: Chapter 1
King fisher Science Encyclopedia: pgs 1, 8-9 & 16-17 choose one section to outline.
Madam How & Lady Why: Chapter 1 Narrate your reading orally to Mom.

Literature: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Define the following words in your notebook:

Prefix- Geo- Conduction Sea floor spreading

Suffix- ology Convection Deep ocean trench
Suffix –ologist Pangaea Plate
Constructive force Continental Drift Plate tectonics
Destructive force Mid ocean ridge
Sonar
Answer the following questions in your notebook. Remember to use complete sentences. Or you may
choose to write your answers in paragraph form.

1.1
1. What are two things that geologists study about the Earth?
2. What are the layers that make up the Earth?
3. What happens in interior to produce Earth’s magnetic field?
4. Use a Venn diagram to describe the differences & similarities between the Earth’s mantle & core.
1.2
1. 1.What are the three types of heat transfer?
2. Describe how convection currents form.
3. 3.In general what happens to the density of a fluid when it becomes hotter?
4. 4.What happens to convection currents when a fluid reaches a constant temperature?
1.3
Write a biographical (see attachment) summary on Wegener in paragraph form using the following questions:
1. What was Wegener’s theory of continental drift?
2. How did Wegener use evidence based on fossils to support his theory that the continents had moved?
3. What was the main reason scientists rejected Wegener’s theory of continental drift?
1.4
1. What is the role of the mid-ocean ridge in sea-floor spreading?
2. What is the evidence for sea-floor spreading?
3. Describe the process of subduction at a deep ocean ridge.
1.5
1. What is the theory of plate tectonics?
2. What are the different types of boundaries
3. What major event in Earth’s history began about 225 million years ago.
Mom Notes:

Writing:
Complete the "In Your Journal" prompt on pg 9.
Write a descriptive paragraph about the layers of the earth.

Projects:
Cut Away Model of the Earth- You will use the Science Sculpt kit for this project.
Your model must include:
3 plates that form the Earth’s surface
2 landmasses or continents
Cut away view of the earth’s interior
All features must be labeled neatly & clearly

Labs/Investigations/Experiments:
Hot Plates Skills Lab (PH pg. 38)
Continental Puzzle (Purple Book)
Moving Plates (Amazing Earth Model Book)
Make a Mountain mini book (Amazing Earth Model Book)

Drawings & Diagrams:

Copy the pie graph of the Earth’s components and compounds on pg. 8 in KF.
Draw the diagram on pg. 3 in PH.
Color the picture of the Earth’s Plates. Be sure to use a different color for each plate.

Book Basket Books:

Magic School Bus Inside the Earth
Mountains by Seymour Simon
Eyewitness Earth
Our Patchwork Planet: The Story of Plate Tectonics by Helen Roney Sattler

Discovery Streaming:
Continents Adrift
Our Changing Earth
World’s Best: Nature’s Fury

Movies:
Center of the Earth
Core