Plate Tectonic Webquest
Introduction:
We have begun studying Pangaea and Alfred Wegner's theory of continental drift, which we now call the theory of plate tectonics. To solidify our understanding of why the plates move and how they shape our world, we will complete the following webquest.
Task:
Be able to discuss Pangaea and describe the theory of plate tectonics.
Describe evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.
Be able to identify and differentiate the three tectonic plates.
Explain plate movement at each boundary.
Discuss some positive aspects of boundary activity.
Process:
You will answer the following questions using the related links:
Part A: Continental Drift <--Write this heading on your paper along with the numbers and letters.
1. Continental Drift
a. What does the Theory of Continental Drift state?
b. What is the name of the scientist that proposed the Theory of Continental Drift?
c. What was Pangaea?
d. What are the names of the two continents that Pangaea separated into?
e. It has been proven that the Earth's present continents were once together as a Pangaea as seen from the following evidence:
1. __________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________
4.__________________________________________________________
2. Click the “Piece” icon at the bottom of the page to advance one at a time, through the next few screens to answer these questions.
a. How do the continental coastlines support the Theory of Continental Drift (Pangaea Theory)?
b. Explain how fossil distribution supports the Theory of Continental drift.
c. How do distinctive rock strata support the Theory of Continental Drift?
d. How does coal distribution support the Theory of Continental Drift?
Part B: Convection Current <--Write this heading on your paper along with the numbers and letters.
Convection Current
Part C: Plate Tectonics
Click on the “Historical Perspective” icon on this website.
Part D: Divergent Boundary
Divergent Boundary
Write the following sentence.
1. Divergent boundaries occur along spreading centers where ___________________ are moving __________________ and new crust is
created by _________________ pushing up from the _________________.
2. Illustrate a divergent boundary using this website and try out the hand demonstration for understanding.
Part E: Convergent Boundary
Scroll down to Convergent Boundaries
Write the following sentence
1. Convergent boundaries occur where plates are moving _______________, and sometimes one plate _____________ under another
2. What is the location where sinking of a plate occurs is called?
3. The type of convergence--called by some a very slow "collision" --that takes place between plates depends on the kind of lithosphere involved. Convergence can occur between what types of plates?
a.
b.
c.
Scroll down to: Oceanic-continental convergence and look at the diagrams
4. Off the coast of South America along the Peru-Chile trench the oceanic Nazca Plate is pushing into and being subducted under the continental part of the South American Plate creating what?
5. Click on the Rind of Fire photo. What is the Ring of Fire?
6. The West coast of the United States has frequent volcanoes, use the ring of fire to explain why.
Part F: Convergent Boundary Continued
Scroll down to Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence Section
1. When two oceanic plates converge, one is usually subducted under the other, what is formed?
Scroll down to: Continental-continental convergence
2. What mountain range demonstrates one of the most visible and spectacular consequences of plate tectonics?
3. What happens when two continents meet head-on, meet head-on and neither is subducted?
4. Visit this website and illustrate on your own paper a convergent boundary.
Part G: Divergent Boundary
Scroll down to: Transform Boundaries
Write the following sentence on your own paper.
1. The zone between two plates sliding horizontally past one another is called a __________________, or simply a ___________.
2. Visit this website and illustrate a transform boundary on your own paper. Try out the hand demonstration.
Part H: All three Boundaries
1. Give an example of a spot in the world where you can find each of the three types of boundaries.
a.
b.
c.
2. Even though plate boundaries produce devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis, what are some benefits?
Webquest Worksheet
We have begun studying Pangaea and Alfred Wegner's theory of continental drift, which we now call the theory of plate tectonics. To solidify our understanding of why the plates move and how they shape our world, we will complete the following webquest.
Task:
Be able to discuss Pangaea and describe the theory of plate tectonics.
Describe evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.
Be able to identify and differentiate the three tectonic plates.
Explain plate movement at each boundary.
Discuss some positive aspects of boundary activity.
Process:
You will answer the following questions using the related links:
Part A: Continental Drift <--Write this heading on your paper along with the numbers and letters.
1. Continental Drift
a. What does the Theory of Continental Drift state?
b. What is the name of the scientist that proposed the Theory of Continental Drift?
c. What was Pangaea?
d. What are the names of the two continents that Pangaea separated into?
e. It has been proven that the Earth's present continents were once together as a Pangaea as seen from the following evidence:
1. __________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________
4.__________________________________________________________
2. Click the “Piece” icon at the bottom of the page to advance one at a time, through the next few screens to answer these questions.
a. How do the continental coastlines support the Theory of Continental Drift (Pangaea Theory)?
b. Explain how fossil distribution supports the Theory of Continental drift.
c. How do distinctive rock strata support the Theory of Continental Drift?
d. How does coal distribution support the Theory of Continental Drift?
Part B: Convection Current <--Write this heading on your paper along with the numbers and letters.
Convection Current
- What
are convection currents?
- In
which of Earth’s layers do convection currents happen?
- When convection currents flow in the mantle, they also move the
____________ .
Part C: Plate Tectonics
Click on the “Historical Perspective” icon on this website.
- What
is a “plate” in geological terms?
- What
does the Theory of Plate Tectonics state?
- What
is the name of the theory that led to the development of the Theory of Plate
Tectonics?
Click the back arrow of Internet Explorer to return to the homepage: Click on the “Understanding Plate Motions” icon on this website.
4. What are the three main types of plate boundaries?
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________
Part D: Divergent Boundary
Divergent Boundary
Write the following sentence.
1. Divergent boundaries occur along spreading centers where ___________________ are moving __________________ and new crust is
created by _________________ pushing up from the _________________.
2. Illustrate a divergent boundary using this website and try out the hand demonstration for understanding.
Part E: Convergent Boundary
Scroll down to Convergent Boundaries
Write the following sentence
1. Convergent boundaries occur where plates are moving _______________, and sometimes one plate _____________ under another
2. What is the location where sinking of a plate occurs is called?
3. The type of convergence--called by some a very slow "collision" --that takes place between plates depends on the kind of lithosphere involved. Convergence can occur between what types of plates?
a.
b.
c.
Scroll down to: Oceanic-continental convergence and look at the diagrams
4. Off the coast of South America along the Peru-Chile trench the oceanic Nazca Plate is pushing into and being subducted under the continental part of the South American Plate creating what?
5. Click on the Rind of Fire photo. What is the Ring of Fire?
6. The West coast of the United States has frequent volcanoes, use the ring of fire to explain why.
Part F: Convergent Boundary Continued
Scroll down to Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence Section
1. When two oceanic plates converge, one is usually subducted under the other, what is formed?
Scroll down to: Continental-continental convergence
2. What mountain range demonstrates one of the most visible and spectacular consequences of plate tectonics?
3. What happens when two continents meet head-on, meet head-on and neither is subducted?
4. Visit this website and illustrate on your own paper a convergent boundary.
Part G: Divergent Boundary
Scroll down to: Transform Boundaries
Write the following sentence on your own paper.
1. The zone between two plates sliding horizontally past one another is called a __________________, or simply a ___________.
2. Visit this website and illustrate a transform boundary on your own paper. Try out the hand demonstration.
Part H: All three Boundaries
1. Give an example of a spot in the world where you can find each of the three types of boundaries.
a.
b.
c.
2. Even though plate boundaries produce devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis, what are some benefits?
Webquest Worksheet