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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.4-ESS2-2England: KS2 Geography linksEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Name the landform from its description

Leads to: Use map scale and compass directions; Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Name the landform from its description). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which landform is this: a high, flat area of land with steep sides? (hill / peninsula / plateau / island) → plateauPrompt: Is it high or low? Flat or steep? Is water around it?
  2. Which description matches a hill? (a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain / a high, flat area of land with steep sides / land with water all around it / a very high, steep area of land with a peak) → a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountainPrompt: Picture the landform from above and from the side.
  3. True or false? The Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Picture each landform: high, low, flat or surrounded by water?

Hook · 5 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: On a world map, where are most earthquakes and volcanoes found?
  • Step 1: Plate edges are where most earthquakes and volcanoes happen.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: in long belts along the edges of Earth's plates
  • Answer: in long belts along the edges of Earth's plates
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What is the "Ring of Fire"? (a belt of volcanoes and earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean / a desert in Australia / a circle of forest fires in Africa / the Sun's outer layer) → a belt of volcanoes and earthquakes around the Pacific OceanPrompt: Think of Japan, Chile and the west coast of the USA.
  2. True or false? Earth's outer layer is made of large plates that slowly move. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Where do plates meet, and what forms there?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Where is the deepest part of the ocean? (in a trench where one plate dives under another / next to every beach / under the North Pole / in the middle of a calm bay) → in a trench where one plate dives under anotherPrompt: The Mariana Trench is about 11 km deep.
  2. True or false? Mountain ranges often form where plates push together. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Where do plates meet, and what forms there?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Name the landform from its description.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Use map scale and compass directions; Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What is the "Ring of Fire"?

    • A. a belt of volcanoes and earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean
    • B. the Sun's outer layer
    • C. a desert in Australia
    • D. a circle of forest fires in Africa

  2. Question 2

    How did this feature form: the Alps?

    • A. formed where plates push together
    • B. formed where plates pull apart

  3. Question 3

    True or false? The ocean floor is completely flat.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    How did the Himalaya mountains form?

    • A. A giant volcano erupted once.
    • B. Two plates pushed into each other and crumpled the land upwards.
    • C. Rivers piled up sand.
    • D. Glaciers built them.

  5. Question 5

    How did this feature form: the East African Rift?

    • A. formed where plates push together
    • B. formed where plates pull apart

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Many volcanoes form where plates meet.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    How did this feature form: the Himalayas?

    • A. formed where plates push together
    • B. formed where plates pull apart

  8. Question 8

    True or false? Earthquakes happen randomly everywhere on Earth.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes

  1. 1. A. a belt of volcanoes and earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean

  2. 2. A. formed where plates push together

  3. 3. B. False

  4. 4. B. Two plates pushed into each other and crumpled the land upwards.

  5. 5. B. formed where plates pull apart

  6. 6. A. True

  7. 7. A. formed where plates push together

  8. 8. B. False