Total Duration: |
Greater than 120 Minutes |
Materials and Resources: |
Student Materials Pencil or pen Pre-/Post-Test: Convection (see attached document) Notebook paper Background Information (see attached document) Handout C-Convection Current Worksheet (see attached document) Activity A-Convection Currents, Plate Tectonics, and Lava Lamps Handout A (see attached document) Materials Needed Per Group: Lava Lamp Activity B-Powering the Movement of the Plates: A Model of a Convection Cell Handout B (see attached document) Materials Needed Per Group: Tap water One 1,000 mL beaker Hotplate Food coloring gel Wood shavings Sheet of white paper Wood block same height as hot plate Bucket for collecting waste water material Website for Acceleration Activity: Descending into Earth Interactive from ck12.org Teacher Materials Pre-/Post-Test Answer Key: Convection (see attached document) Questions to Ponder (see attached document) Handout A with Answers (see attached document) Handout B with Answers (see attached document) Handout C-Convection Current Worksheet with Answers (see attached document) Convection-Go with the Flow PowerPoint (see attached PowerPoint presentation) |
Technology Resources Needed: |
Teacher computer Interactive whiteboard or projector |
Background/Preparation: |
Student Background Information: As this lesson will serve as an introduction to density and convection currents, and how these factors affect Earth’s tectonic plate movement, students do not need to possess background knowledge about these concepts 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 in order to complete the experiments. Students will be participating in lab activities in which a lava lamp and a hot plate will be used. Students should follow all appropriate safety precautions including wearing gloves and goggles. Teacher Background Information: This lesson is the third in the Plate Tectonics module. The teacher may wish to incorporate part one (Plate Tectonics: Pangaea-The Supercontinent) and two (Plate Tectonics: Slip, Slidin’ Away) of this module prior to teaching this lesson plan. The teacher should preview the lab procedures and materials prior to teaching the lesson to ensure that the student lab activities are prepared for students before beginning the lesson’s activities. As written, the activities included in this lesson will require at least four class days to complete. The teacher can view the Convection-Go with the Flow Presentation and the Background Information handout for additional background information about the concepts taught in this lesson (see attached files). Before beginning the first lab activity, the teacher should plug in the lava lamps to allow them to heat before students begin their observations. As students will be handling lava lamps and hot plates, the teacher should review lab safety precautions with students and ensure students follow these procedures for the duration of the lesson. |
Before Strategy/Engage: 50 minutes (Day 1)
During Strategy/Explore & Explain: (Days 2 and 3) Activity A-Convection Currents, Plate Tectonics, and Lava Lamps
Activity B-Powering the Movement of the Plates: A Model of a Convection Cell
Student Procedures for Lab Activity
After Strategy/Explain & Elaborate: 50 minutes (Day 4)
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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 can also determine the students’ level of background knowledge of the material by reviewing each student’s T-chart created in the before strategy. 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 answers to the reflection questions on Handouts A and B to determine student understanding of the concepts demonstrated in the lab activities. Summative: The teacher will formally assess students by reviewing each student’s answers on Handout C. This worksheet will allow the teacher to assess student understanding of density and convection, and how these factors affect Earth’s tectonic plate movement. The teacher will administer the Pre-/Post-Test as a summative assessment at the end of the lesson. |
Acceleration: |
Students can further explore the topic of Earth’s mantle by completing the Descending into Earth Interactive from ck12.org. |
Intervention: |
Students who require additional preparation prior to the lesson or review after the lesson can view the Convection-Go with the Flow Presentation which succinctly summarizes the concepts demonstrated during this lesson’s lab activities. |
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.
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