Lesson Plan #2 Plate Tectonics Framework

I. Title: Plate Tectonics Framework

II. Grade Level: Grade 7-Venus

III. Instructional Objectives

1. Understand the Theory of Plate Tectonics

2. Explain the cause of plate motion

3. Determine the different mechanism involved in plate motion

IV. Concepts

1. Slab-Pull and Ridge Push Motion

2. Mantle Convection

V. References

Tarbuck, E.J., & Lutgens, F.K. (2006). Prentice Hall Earth Science (Teacher's Edition ed., For California). Boston, New Jersey: Pearson
Prentice Hall., pp 269-271
VI. Lesson Outline

Stages Topic Teacher Activity Questions Student Activity Materials / Time

of 5E (Description/Instruction) Resources Allotment
Learnin
g Cycle

Engage Introductio The teacher asks what could be Based on your The students may answer 1 min
n to Plate the reason for the cause of plate knowledge of the that because of the
Motion movement, based on what they Earths crust and chemical composition of the
have learned so far from the the movement of Earths crust and mantle,
properties of the Earths layers the lithospheric heat is generated. Through
and the Plate Tectonics Theory. plates, what do convection flow occurring in
 you think causes the mantle, warm and less
the motion of dense air rises while cooler,
plates? denser materials sink.

Explore 4 min

What do you think The students may answer

Explain Mantle According to the Plate Tectonics are these that these are the 30 min
Convection theory, the movement of the materials that radioactive elements that
plates is made possible by generate heat? undergo decay.
convection. This means that the
heat generated from the materials
of the Earths mantle and crust
drive less dense materials to rise
and denser materials to sink. The
materials from the mantle called
mantle plumes sometimes
appear on the Earths surface as
volcanoes and hot spots.

If we take a look at the recent

model called Whole-Mantle
Convection, you can see that
there is first the descend of cold
oceanic lithosphere into the lower
mantle before the hot mantle
plumes rise above the surface.
Hence we can say that the
unequal heating of the Earths
surface drives the convection in
the mantle and therefore drives
the motion of the plates.

Slab-Pull The Slab-Pull mechanism

and Ridge produces forces that cause plate
 Push motion. This occurs when the
Mechanism oceanic crust that is more dense,
sinks into the asthenosphere and
consequently pulls the
lithosphere along. It is therefore a
primary downward arm
associated to the convective flow
of the mantle.

On the other hand, the Ridge

Push causes the oceanic
lithosphere to slide down the
margins of the oceanic ridge. This
is a result of gravity acting upon
on the oceanic lithosphere.

Extend The students will be given a
seatwork that will relate the topic
they just learned. The exercise will
enable the students to predict the
location of the major plates given
varying projections into the future.
The students can work in 15 min
group of 3s and are free to
discuss their answers. This
should cause them to think
critically and use their
knowledge from all previous
discussion.

Evaluate The teacher tests the students The students will participate 10 min
understanding of the lesson by on a individual quiz to test
giving a short quiz at the end. their understanding of the
lesson.