ALEX | Alabama Learning Exchange

Plate Tectonics: Pangaea- The Supercontinent

You may save this lesson plan to your hard drive as an html file by selecting "File", then "Save As" from your browser's pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.

This lesson provided by:

Author:	Ruth Liddell
System:	Informal Education Partner
School:	Informal Education Partner
And
Author:	Shirley Scarbrough
Organization:	Alabama State University Math-science Pa
And
Author:	Debbie Payne
Organization:	ResultSearch Consulting

General Lesson Information

Lesson Plan ID:	33332
Title:	Plate Tectonics: Pangaea- The Supercontinent
Overview/Annotation:	This lesson is the first of a three-part unit on plate tectonics, which includes hands-on, inquiry-based activities. In this lesson, students will construct a model of continental separation and the ancient supercontinent, Pangaea. After completing this module, students will be able to explain Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift and the evidence used to support this theory. This lesson presented as part of the Alabama State University, Math, Science Partnership.

Associated Standards and Objectives

Content Standard(s):

Science
SC2015 (2015)
Grade: 6
Earth and Space Science

6 ) Provide evidence from data of the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to explain past plate motions.

NAEP Framework

NAEP Statement::
E8.3: Fossils provide important evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed in a given location.

NAEP Statement::
E8.4: Earth processes seen today, such as erosion and mountain building, make it possible to measure geologic time through methods such as observing rock sequences and using fossils to correlate the sequences at various locations.

Unpacked Content

Scientific And Engineering Practices:

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns

Disciplinary Core Idea: Earth's Systems

Evidence Of Student Attainment:

Students:

Explain past plate motions with supporting evidence from data of the distribution of fossils, rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures.

Teacher Vocabulary:

Evidence
Data
Fossils
Rock
Continent
Continental shelf
Geologic past
Pangea
Ridges
Volcanic ridges
Trenches
Theory of Continental Drift
Theory of Plate Tectonics
Crust
Mantle
Core
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Convection
Divergent boundary
Convergent boundary
Transform plate boundary
Seafloor
Seafloor structures
Alfred Wegener
Plastic flow

Knowledge:

Students:

Fossils are a trace or print of the remains of a plant or animal of a past age preserved in plant or rock.
Rocks are the solid mineral materials forming part of the surface of the Earth and other similar planets.
A continent is any of the world's main continuous expanses of land (i.e.,, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America).
The continental shelf is the part of a continent that lies under the ocean and slopes down to the ocean floor.
Regions of different continents that share similar fossils and similar rocks suggest that, in the geologic past, those sections of continent were once attached and have since been separated.
The shapes of the continents roughly fit together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, suggesting that those land masses were once joined and have since separated.
The hypothetical land mass that existed when all the continents were joined is called Pangea.
The separation of continents by the sequential formation of new seafloor at the center of the ocean is inferred by age patterns in the oceanic crust that increase in age from the center of the ocean to the edges of the ocean.
The distribution of seafloor structures (e.g., volcanic ridges at the centers of oceans, trenches at the edges of continents) combined with the patterns of ages of the seafloor (youngest ages at the ridge, oldest ages at the trenches) supports the interpretation that new crust forms at the ridges and then moves away from the ridges as new crust continues to form and that the oldest crust is being destroyed at seafloor trenches.
Ridges are underwater mountain systems formed by plate tectonics.
Trenches are long, narrow, steep-sided depressions in the ocean floor.
The Theory of Continental Drift was first proposed by Alfred Wegener and proposes that part of the Earth's crust slowly drifts atop a liquid core.
The Theory of Plate Tectonics states that the outer rigid layer of the Earth is divided into a couple of dozen "plates" that move around across the Earth's surface relative to each other.
The layers of the Earth include, from outmost to innermost, the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. The crust and upper mantle are broken into moving plates called the lithosphere. The asthenosphere is located below the lithosphere. In the asthenosphere, there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection occurs, causing plates to move.
The three types of plate tectonic boundaries include divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries.
Divergent boundaries occur when two tectonic plates move away from each other.
Convergent boundaries occur when two tectonic plates come together.
Transform plate boundaries occur when two plates slide past one another.

Skills:

Students are able to:

Articulate a statement that relates a given phenomenon to a scientific idea, including that past plate motions can be described with data from the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures.
Organize given data in a way that facilitates analysis and interpretation.
Analyze the data to identify relationships between the data and Earth's past plate motions.
Identify and use multiple valid and reliable sources of data.
Use evidence and reasoning to construct an explanation for the given phenomenon, which involves past plate motions.

Understanding:

Students understand that:

Maps of ancient land and water patterns, based on investigations of rocks and fossils, make clear how Earth's plates have moved great distances, collided, and spread apart.

AMSTI Resources:

AMSTI Module:
Exploring Plate Tectonics

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards

AAS Standard:
SCI.AAS.6.6- Recognize that the distribution of specific fossils and rocks as well as the shapes of the continents provide evidence of tectonic plate movement.

Local/National Standards:

Unifying Concepts and Processes

Understanding about scientific inquiry

Structure of the Earth’s systems

History of Science

Primary Learning Objective(s):

Students will construct a model providing a visual representation of continental separation.

Students will construct a model of the ancient supercontinent, Pangaea.

Students will examine the theory of continental drift and explain how the continents arrived at their present positions.

Additional Learning Objective(s):

Preparation Information

Total Duration:	Greater than 120 Minutes
Materials and Resources:	Student Materials Pencil or pen Pre-/Post-Test (see attached document) Background Information (see attached document) Plate Tectonics Word Search (see attached document) Activity A-The Continents: A Jigsaw Puzzle Handout A (see attached document) Per Group (approximately 4 students each): 1 cup Plaster of Paris ½ cup cold water Cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil (make sure sides of foil come up over the edges of the cookie sheet) Mixing spoon Small Ziploc bags 1-quart bowl Plastic cups Spatula Activity B-Pangaea Modeling Activity Pangaea Modeling Activity-Directions (see attached document) Handout B (see attached document) Per Partner Group Pangaea Modeling Activity Puzzle Pieces (see attached document) Scissors Tape or glue Blank sheet of paper Reference materials related to Pangaea (textbooks, non-fiction articles, etc.) Per Each Two Partner Groups (four students) Globe Wegener’s Fossil Evidence for Continental Drift Activity Directions for Wegener’s Fossil Evidence for Continental Drift (see attached document) Fossil Evidence Puzzle Pieces (see attached document) Figures for Pangaea Puzzle (see attached document) Color Key for Wegener's Evidence (see attached document) Colored pencils/crayons/markers Scissors Glue or tape Blank sheet of paper After Activity Handout C (see attached document) Handout D (see attached document) For Acceleration Activity: Interactives: Dynamic Earth For Intervention Activity: Hint for 6th Grade Exercise (see attached document) Teacher Materials Teacher Pre-Lab Guide (see attached document) Pre-/Post-Test Answer Key (see attached document) Pangaea Map Answer Sheet Handout-“Handout B Answer Key” (see attached document) Pangaea PowerPoint (see attached PowerPoint presentation) Teacher Key for 6th Grade Exercise-“Wegener’s Fossil Evidence for Continental Drift Activity” (see attached document) Handout C with Answers (see attached document) Handout D with Answers (see attached document)
Technology Resources Needed:	Teacher Technology Resources Teacher computer Interactive whiteboard or projector Student Technology Resources Internet-capable device (for acceleration activity)
Background/Preparation:	Student Background Information: As this lesson will serve as an introduction to the theory of continental drift, students do not need to possess background knowledge about this concept prior to participating in the lesson’s activities. This lesson will require students to participate in hands-on, inquiry-based lab activities. The students will need to be able to follow multi-step procedural instructions and work collaboratively with classmates in order to complete the lesson’s lab activities. Teacher Background Information: The teacher should preview the Teacher Pre-Lab Guide prior to teaching the lesson to ensure that the student lab activities are prepared for students prior to beginning the lesson’s activities. As written, the activities included in this lesson will require at least five class days to complete. The teacher can view the Pangaea PowerPoint for additional background information about the concepts taught in this lesson (see attached presentation). The teacher should review lab safety precautions with students and ensure students follow these procedures for the duration of the lesson. The teacher will need to complete the following preparations for Activity A prior to beginning that portion of the lesson: Teacher Prep for each Lab Station (suggested lab group size is 4 students): 1. Measure one cup of Plaster of Paris and pour into a Ziploc bag. 2. Measure ½ cup of COLD water and pour into a plastic cup. 3. Place these along with a bowl, spatula, stirring spoon, cookie sheet lined with foil, and Handout A at each Lab station 4. The Plaster of Paris will take approximately 30-45 minutes to “set up”. Alternative activities are provided for Activity A, B, and C. The documents that will be used for the alternative activities are provided in the attachments. After teaching this lesson, the teacher can continue this topic by introducing the remaining two lesson plans in this module: Plate Tectonics: Slip, Slidin’ Away Plate Tectonics: Convection Current-Plates Go with the Flow

Procedures/Activities:

Before Strategy/Engage: 50 minutes (Day 1)

1. The teacher should give each student a copy of the Pre-/Post-Test. The teacher should give students approximately twenty minutes to complete the pre-test. The teacher should stress to students that the purpose of the pre-test is to demonstrate the student’s background knowledge about the theory of plate tectonics

2. After students complete the pretest, the teacher should check students’ answers to determine their current knowledge base of the concepts using the Pre-/Post-Test Answer Key. Alternatively, the teacher could allow students to check their own paper or check a partner’s paper.

3. The teacher should give each student a copy of the Background Information handout (see attached document). The teacher should allow students approximately ten minutes to read the passage, asking students to focus on the meaning of the vocabulary words in bold text.

4. After students have had ample time to read the passage, the teacher should give each student a copy of the Plate Tectonics Word Search (see attached document). The teacher should allow students to complete the word search, which focuses on vocabulary words related to plate tectonics. The students will need to keep the word search for the next two parts of this plate tectonics module.

During Strategy/Explore & Explain: (Days 2, 3, and 4)

Activity A-The Continents: A Jigsaw Puzzle (Day 2)

Note: The teacher should set up each lab station before students begin the activity.

1. Each student will need a copy of Handout A (see attached document). The students should be divided into groups of four

2. The students will complete the procedures listed on the lab sheet and answer the reflection questions after completing the lab activity. This lab will model continental separation.

Activity B-Pangaea Modeling Activity (Day 3)

1. Each student will need a copy of the Pangaea Modeling Activity handout and Handout B (see attached documents). The students should be divided into partners, and each partner group should be paired with another group (four students total).

2. Each partner group will need one set of the Pangaea Modeling Activity Puzzle Pieces (see attached document), one blank sheet of paper, one pair of scissors, and glue or tape. Each pair of partners will share one globe.

3. The students should work with their partner to cut out the pieces of Pangaea and match the pieces together, similar to how a puzzle is assembled. After students have assembled the puzzle, they should tape the Pangaea pieces to the blank sheet of paper and answer the questions found on Handout B.

Note: An answer key is provided for the teacher in the attachments (Pangaea Map Answer Sheet Handout).

Wegener’s Fossil Evidence for Continental Drift Activity (Day 4)

1. Each student will need a copy of Directions for Wegener’s Fossil Evidence for Continental Drift, Fossil Evidence Puzzle Pieces, Color Key for Wegener's Fossil Evidence, and Figures for Pangaea Puzzle (see attached documents). Each student will also need colored pencils/crayons/markers, scissors, glue or tape, and a blank sheet of paper.

2. Students will color the Fossil Evidence Puzzle Pieces using the Color Key for Wegener's Fossil Evidence as a key. Then, students will cut out the pieces and work with their group members to match the edges of the continental pieces together into a supercontinent. Students will discuss how the evidence matches their arrangement of the continents.

After Strategy/Explain & Elaborate: 50 minutes (Day 5)

1. After all groups have completed the lab activities, the teacher should lead a class discussion among all of the groups to compare each group’s data.

2. The teacher should give each student a copy of Handout C (see attached document). Students will read ten statements related to continental drift and determine if the provided statements are pieces of evidence that support this theory.

3. Next, the teacher should give each student a copy of Handout D (see attached document). This document requires students to review the concepts of this lesson in a written response format.

Note: If the teacher identifies that students need additional review before the summative assessment, the teacher may show students the Pangaea PowerPoint presentation to review the concepts demonstrated during the lab activities (see attached presentation).

4. The teacher should give the students the Pre-/Post-Test that students completed as a pre-test at the beginning of the lesson (see attached document). The teacher should explain to students that this post-test will allow students to demonstrate the knowledge they acquired during the lab activities.

Assessment

Assessment Strategies

Formative: The teacher will informally assess student’s background knowledge by administering the Pre-/Post-Test prior to teaching the lesson. The teacher should carefully monitor students as they complete the lab activities with their groups to certify that students are correctly following the lab procedures. The teacher should review each student’s Handout A, Handout B, and the finished product from the Wegener’s Fossil Evidence for Continental Drift Activity to ensure that students are grasping the concepts of the lab activities.

Summative: The teacher will formally assess students at the conclusion of the lesson by reviewing each student’s Handout C and Handout D. The teacher will administer the Pre-/Post-Test as a summative assessment at the end of the lesson.

Acceleration:	Students can further explore the concepts taught during this lesson by completing the interactive activities at Interactives: Dynamic Earth from learner.org.
Intervention:	The teacher may provide students with the “Hint for 6th Grade Exercise” to students who experience difficulty in assembling the supercontinent of Pangaea based on Wegener’s fossil evidence (see attached document).

View the Special Education resources for instructional guidance in providing modifications and adaptations for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the Alabama Alternate Assessment.

ALEX Lesson Plan

Plate Tectonics: Pangaea- The Supercontinent