Plate Tectonics: Understanding Earth's Crust Movements, Exams of Technology

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Activity—World Map of Plate Boundaries

“Where’s Waldo”-style geography.

Mapping World Plates helps students connecttopography, earthquakes, volcanoes, and plates. Includes many maps for printing, and student worksheets.Color copies are in the folder:

4. ACTIVITIES_Earth & Tectonics > World Plate Boundaries

VIDEOS : In the folder 3. VIDEOS_Earth & Tectonics >LECTURE_Egg Vs Earth_Butler.mov, LECTURE_TectonicPlates_Butler.mov, LECTURE_Asthenosphere_Butler.mov, and LECTURE_BoundaryTypes_Butler.mov Or online: http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/videos ANIMATIONS : Select animations are in the RESOURCES folder for this activity.

3. Animations_Earth & Tectonics > Plate Interaction_Converge Diverge Transform Or online: http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/animations INTERNET : This Dynamic Planet , interactive tectonic map http://www.minerals.si.edu/tdpmap/

Resources on this DVD & Internet for World Map of Plate Boundaries

Science Standards

• • Systems Cycles in Earth Science
• • Evidence of Change Science, Technology & Society
• • Predictability & Feedback Evolution of the Earth White arrows show plate motion direction^ SYMBOLS Volcanoes (generalized)Hot spot (arrow = direction of plate motion) Great earthquakes since 1900;before 1900

Divergent marginConvergent margin Transform fault (arrowsshow relative motion)

PLATE BOUNDARIES Most of the world’sfound at or near the boundary between two tectonicplates. Friction between the plates keeps them fromsliding. When the frictional strain is overcome, the^ earthquakes and volcanoes^ are ground suddenly snaps along faults and fracturesreleasing energy as earthquakes. Volcanoes occur at divergent margins (where magma rises and erupts); atdives beneath another plate; magma forms in thecontinental plate above the diving oceanic plate), convergent margins (where an oceanic plate and less commonly asmelts through a plate, such as Hawai`i). hot spots (where magma

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Introduction easily begin to identify basic tectonic processes on a global^ The Plate Tectonics Mapping Activity allows students to scale. As students become aware of plate movements,they begin to identify patterns that set the stage for deeper understanding of a very complex topic. The activity usesa simple “ Where’s Waldo ” approach to identify tectonic symbols on a laminated World Plate Tectonic map. Objectives Learn where volcanoes and earthquakes occurUnderstand geography Use critical thinking to find plate boundariesAnswer relevant discussion questions on worksheet Procedure that the maps in this document need to printed on legal-size^ Print the appropriate maps (see Materials) for use. Note paper!!Students work in pairs or small groups of 3 or 4 students using washable markers to circle tectonic features. Thishands-on activity captures the interest of all ability levels. The process of exploring the map and drawing with coloredmarkers captures student interest and creates curiosity to discover why particular features are located where they are.As students work through simple questions on the activity sheet, they are then able to start the more challengingprocess of understanding the patterns and process that make up the fundamental principles of Plate Tectonics. The Discussion Questions in the activity are provided as a resource for teachers to engage student’s growingunderstanding. The questions have been used in small groups, whole class discussion, research, as a writingassignment, and for evaluation.

Materials Discussion Questions Student work sheets —Begin on page 5 of this —On page 7. document; answers follow. Word files of the worksheets are in the folder **RESOURCES For World Plate Boundaries

Word Docs for World Plate Boundaries Maps** formats for classroom use. Since not everyone—The map on the next page is offered in several has access to a large-format printer we offer theposter as a 3-page, tabloid-size pdf file that can be printed and taped together. The maps are alsooffered WITHOUT tectonic boundaries to be used to see if students recognize features in thelandscape.

1. Page size (next page) and on DVD in the folder: **RESOURCES For World Plate Boundaries Maps for printing

WorldTectonicMap_PageSize.pdf**.

2. Poster (14x24) requires a plotter to print WorldTectonicMap_POSTER 14x24.pdf
3. Poster (tabloid-size pages to be taped together) WorldTectonicMap-Poster_3page11x17.pdf
4. WITHOUT tectonic features tectonic features show up in the landscape: to be used to see if WorldTectonicMap_NoBoundaries8.5x14.pdf WorldTectonicMap_NoBoundaries11x17.pdf ..

World Map of Plate Boundaries

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SYMBOLS

White arrows show plate motion directionVolcanoes (generalized)Hot spot (arrow = direction of plate motion)Great earthquakes since 1900;

before 1900

Divergent marginConvergent marginTransform fault (arrowsshow relative motion) PLATE BOUNDARIES

Most of the world’s

earthquakes and volcanoes

are

found at or near the boundary between two tectonicplates. Friction between the plates keeps them fromsliding. When the frictional strain is overcome, theground suddenly snaps along faults and fracturesreleasing energy as earthquakes. Volcanoes occur at divergent margins

(where magma rises and erupts);

at^ convergent margins

(where an oceanic plate

dives beneath another plate; magma forms in thecontinental plate above the diving oceanic plate),and less commonly as

hot spots

(where magma

melts through a plate, such as Hawai`i).

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Mountains & valleys

Spreading center—Fast^ Divergent boundaries occur mostlyalong spreading centers where the Spreading center—Slow magma rises forming new crust.(Ex. East Pacific Rise, Mid Atlantic Ridge.) Spreading zones (no graphic) oncontinents create parallel mountains and valleys as the crust pulls apart(ex: Basin & Range, U.S. and the Great Rift Valley, Africa. )

Divergent Boundaries & Spreading Zones

L ithosphere Asthenosphere

O ceanic crustM antle Partial melt^ Asthenosphere

L ithosphere M antleCrust Partial melt

Convergent Boundaries

M ountainR ange Old oceanic crust

Continental crust

HighPlateau Continental crustLithosphere Lithosphere Asthenosphere

Trench O ceanic crust

Lithosphere (^) LithosphereContinentalcrust Asthenosphere Asthenosphere

O ceanic crust^ Islandarc

the other. The location where sinking of a plate occurs is called a subduction zone.^ When two plates move toward each other, crust is destroyed as one plate dives (is subducted) beneath

Ocean-Ocean beneath another ocean plate;—Ocean plate dives volcanic island chain forms abovethe zone (ex:. The Marianas)

Ocean-Continent: beneath a continental plate. Volcanic Ocean plate dives mountain chain forms inland.(ex:. Cascade Range, Sumatra, Japan)

Continent-Continent: continental plates collide and buckle Two thick into high mountains.(ex: Himalaya Mountain Range.)

TrenchContinentalcrust Lithosphere (^) Lithosphere Asthenosphere

Volcanicarc ..

.. ..

........

. (^). (^)....

O ceanic crust

Transform Boundaries As surrounding platesare driven by deep forces to move apart or crunchtogether, the in-between areas are pushed aroundon the surface. This forces them to slide past eachother horizontally. Transform faults plates are moving away from are where two a spreading ridge and fracturezones develop (ex: ocean floor)

Asthenosphere

CrustLithosphere Asthenosphere

Crust

Transfor m fault

Lithosphere

Spreadingridge

Partial melt

Spreadingridge

Strike slip faults two plates moving horizontally result from in opposite directions(ex: San Andreas Fault, California).

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Name__________________________ Period__________ Date___________

PLATE TECTONICS MAPPING ACTIVITY

1. Draw the symbol for each tectonic feature in the chart below

Divergent margins and spreading centers (draw in black) Convergent margins - subduction zone (draw in blue) Transform faults – strike-slip faults (draw in green) Hot Spot (draw in red)

2. Use the correct color of washable marker to locate each tectonic feature on the map. a. Circle the name of the Divergent boundary systems in black. (Ridges and Rises) Number found _______ b. Circle the Convergent margins in blue. (students may circle individual trenches) Number found _______ c. Circle the Transform fault symbols (and theirfaults) in green. Number found _______ d. Circle the Hot Spots in red. Number found _______
3. What is the name of the small crustal plate off the Oregon coast that is subducting under the North American plate? _______________________
4. Where are most of the earthquakes and volcanoes located? Check one: a. crustal plate margins _____ b. interior of a crustal plate _____

Answer the following questions about Plate Tectonic Processes using the diagrams with the map.

5. Divergent margins and continental spreading centers: a. New crust forms at plate margins as ___________ rises creating ridges under oceans such as the _____________________ and the ____________________.

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b. Continental spreading centers include the __________________ in the US and the _______________________ in Africa.

6. Convergent margins – subduction zones: Identify the land form (geomorphology) created at each type of Convergent Boundary and provide an example. a. Ocean-Ocean _____________________________________________________ b. Ocean-Continent __________________________________________________ c. Continent-Continent ________________________________________________
7. Transform faults – strike slip faults a. Sometimes tectonic plates shift past each other horizontally ________________directions at their boundary. b. One example of a strike slip fault near San Francisco is the _________________.
8. Earthquakes: a. Most earthquakes occur near plate _____________. b. _____________ keeps the plate edges from sliding smoothly past each other. c. The longer the plates remain stuck, the more strain builds and the more violent the snap and resulting _____________.
9. Volcanoes: a. Magma rises to the surface from inside the earth mainly at __________________ and _______________________. b. Around the rim of the Pacific Ocean, the 40,000 km long ________ of ________ is especially active.
10. Hot Spots: a. In a few places _________ melts through a tectonic plate. b. Each hot spot likely marks the top of a plume of _____________ rock that rises from deep in the earth.

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Discussion Questions: ( italics are guiding ideas on a few random questions.)

to answer and then shared with the class.Discussion questions can be used in a whole group setting, or selected questions may be assigned to table groups

1. Does the location of earthquakes and volcanoes show a pattern? If so, what tectonic process may be responsible?( compression, extension, shearing )
2. Generally speaking, where are the oceanic ridges located with respect to the landmasses? heavy thin crust sinks and water fills low areas. ) ( in the middle of the ocean:
3. Where do you find the mountain ranges with respect to the oceanic ridges? Use examples. on the crest of the spreading ridges where heat provides the buoyant lift; they sink as they cool. ) ( the ocean-floor ranges are
4. Are there any places on Earth where the mid-oceanic ridges meet the continent?
5. What are seamounts?
6. Most of the Pacific Ocean is on what plate?
7. What is the compass orientation of the Hawaiian Islands and many of the other smaller ridges within the PacificOcean? Is this significant? ( the islands are moving away from the hotspot in the direction the plate is traveling. Thus the line of the youngest islands is oriented west-northwest as they move towards Japan)
8. In what compass direction is the Pacific Plate moving? ( see previous question)
9. Name the biggest and longest mountain range in the world. What is it? ( Trick question. It is a mid-ocean ridge.)
10. Name an island chain that has been formed by a “hot spot”. ( see question 7 above. The Hawaiian Islands.) 11.What island in the North Atlantic Ocean is splitting apart? What is causing the split? straddling the Mid-Atlantic spreading ridge. The spreading ridge is causing the split. If it were just a hotspot it would just build a ( Iceland is a hotspot that is big edifice.)
11. Where is magma rising to the surface and forming ocean crust? Where is the oceanic crust sinking back into the mantle? (A t subduction zones) ( At spreading ridges)
12. Some people have referred to the process in the above question as a cycle. Why would it be considered a cycle?( Rock is formed at the spreading ridge; gets destroyed at subduction zones. The subducted rock eventually gets absorbed into the mantle and gets caught in the very slow circulation of rock in the mantle which can melt as it rises to the top again.)
13. What are the attributes of a cycle?Can you describe another cycle that could compare with the example described above.
14. Why is it that the Pacific Ocean floor is no older than about 200 million years and yet the continents are mucholder? ( The ocean floor is being created constantly. It is made of heavy rock that tends to subduct when it meets continental rock. The continents are made of older rock that is more buoyant.
15. The continental margins of the East and West Coast of the United States are very different. Describe thedifferences. Are there tectonic differences?
16. Where would you expect to find igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks?

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PLATE TECTONICS MAPPING ACTIVITY

1. Draw the symbol for each tectonic feature in the chart below Divergent margins and spreading centers (draw in black) Convergent margins - subduction zone (draw in blue) Transform faults – strike-slip faults (draw in green) Hot Spot (draw in red)
2. Use the correct color of washable marker to locate each tectonic feature on the map. a. Circle the name of the Divergent boundary systemsin black. (Ridges and Rises) Number found __7_____ b. Circle the Convergent margins in blue. (students may circle individual trenches) Number found 16 + c. Circle the Transform fault symbols (and their faults) in green. Number found __10____ d. Circle the Hot Spots in red. Number found __5____
3. What is the name of the small crustal plate off the Oregon coast that is subductingunder the North American plate? __Juan de Fuca_________
4. Where are most of the earthquakes and volcanoes located? Check one: a. crustal plate margins X b. interior of a crustal plate _____ Answer the following questions about Plate Tectonic Processes using the diagrams with the map.
5. Divergent margins and continental spreading centers: a. New crust forms at plate margins as magma__ rises creating ridges under oceans such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge_ and the East Pacific Rise.

Teacher Answer Key

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Teacher Answer Key b. Continental spreading centers include the Basin and Range_ in the US and the _East African Rift System in Africa.

6. Convergent margins – subduction zones: Identify the land form (geomorphology) created at each type of Convergent Boundaryand provide an example. a. Ocean-Ocean _____Volcanic Island Chain (Mariana trench)________ b. Ocean-Continent _Volcanic Mountain Ranges (Cascade Mountain Range) c. Continent-Continent Folded Mountain Ranges( Himalaya Mountain Range) __
7. Transform faults – strike slip faults a. Sometimes tectonic plates shift past each other horizontally _in opposite_____directions at their boundary. b. One example of a strike slip fault near San Francisco is the San Andreas Fault.
8. Earthquakes: a. Most earthquakes occur near plate boundaries. b. Friction keeps the plate edges from sliding smoothly past each other. c. The longer the plates remain stuck, the more strain builds and the more violent the snap and resulting ground movement_.
9. Volcanoes: a. Magma rises to the surface from inside the earth mainly at spreading centers.and hot spots______. b. Around the rim of the Pacific Ocean, the 40,000 km long Ring of Fire is especially active.
10. Hot Spots: a. In a few places magma__ melts through a tectonic plate. b. Each hot spot likely marks the top of a plume of __molten_____ rock that rises from deep in the earth.

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Answer sheet for Student Questionspage one.

Teacher Answer Key