Summary: The theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and continental movement.
Theory of Plate Tectonics
“outline how the theory of plate tectonics changed ideas about the structure of the Earth and continental movement over geological time”
“relate movements of the Earth’s plates to mantle convection currents and gravitational forces”
Notes
| Activity/Resource | Notes |
|---|---|
| [Practical] Map | (Not sure if feasible) – as a class (or in spare time), construct a globe with moveable continents (paper would be fine) Use these to explore what the Earth would have looked like in the past/present/future (according to continental drift theory) |
| [Research] Continental Drift | (As a lead-in to plate tectonics) – students research evidence supporting plate tectonics, and why scientists during Wegener’s time did not support his continental drift theory |
| [Video] Plate Tectonics Explained | minutephysics. (2018). Plate tectonics explained [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwfNGatxUJI |
| [Video] How North America Got Its Shape | TED-Ed. (2016). How North America got its shape – Peter J. Haproff [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzqnUvE66HA |
| [Digital] Plate Tectonics | Earth Guide from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography contains many interactive animations and applets for students and teachers to explore (including content for the dot-points below, e.g. seafloor spreading, earthquakes, volcanoes) |
Earthquakes, Volcanoes and New Landforms
“outline how the theory of plate tectonics explains earthquakes, volcanic activity and formation of new landforms”
“describe how some technological developments have increased scientific understanding of global patterns in geological activity, including in the Asia-Pacific region”
Notes
| Activity/Resource | Notes |
|---|---|
| [Practical] Volcanic Eruption | Model eruption using vinegar and baking soda |
| [Practical] Tectonic Plates | Identify plate Australia is on (relate to geological stability compared to continents with plate boundaries) |
| [Practical] Sea-floor | Draw diagram to illustrate sea-floor spreading (mid-oceanic ridges), subduction at ocean trenches |
| [Research] Case Study | Research + Explain the Causes/Impact of a Natural Disaster (chosen by students, must be one caused by plate tectonic movement) |
| [Practical] Map | Students identify on a map examples of geological processes (including earthquakes and volcanoes) With a blank map, mark out earthquake, volcano and mountain range locations (and check whether they coincide with plate boundaries, e.g. with a transparent overlay) Use the following resources: Volcanic Eruptions https://volcano.si.edu/gvp_currenteruptions.cfm (Map) https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/erupting_volcanoes.html (Map) https://www.aidr.org.au/media/5556/aidr-volcano-lesson-plan.pdf Earthquakes@Geoscience Australia https://earthquakes.ga.gov.au/ |
| [Video] Lava Flows in Pahoa | Volcano Video Hawaii. (2014). Lava flows in Pahoa – Eruption Update [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddzU-rkzKF0 |
| [Practical] Slinky | Demonstrate longitudinal (P) and transverse (S) waves using slinky springs |
| [Video] P & S Waves | EasiAsPi. (2014). P & S waves [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7Efz_iLHzE |
| [Video] San Francisco Earthquake 1989 | Chris Kincade Media. (2012). INSANE FOOTAGE!! SAN FRANCISCO #EARTHQUAKE– 1989- BEST CLIPS [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7eABGpOHv8 |
| [Video] Earthquake Monitoring in Arizona | Arizona Geological Survey – University of Arizona. (2011). Earthquake monitoring in Arizona: The role of the Arizona Integrated Seismic Network [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nFuLdhO8x8 |
| [Video] How Does a Seismometer Work? | UC Berkeley. (2015). How does a seismometer work? [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geNiqkgZDXA |
| [Video] Ring of Fire | TomoNews US. (2016). Ring of fire: Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions around the Pacific explained – TomoNews [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqrpkgKD5ko |
*Will continue adding/refining ideas here over time.
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