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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS2-3CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS3-2CCSS NGSS.HS-ESS2-1England: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes.

  • 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: The structure of the Earth

Leads to: Types of plate boundary and the landforms they make; Measure earthquakes and reduce their risks

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 (The structure of the Earth). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which layer of the Earth is liquid? (the crust / the inner core / all of them / the outer core) → the outer corePrompt: The inner core is solid because of huge pressure.
  2. Earth's structure: which statement is NOT true? (The mantle is the thickest layer. / Temperature increases as you go deeper into the Earth. / The crust is the thickest layer. / The inner core is solid.) → The crust is the thickest layer.Prompt: Is the mantle really a sea of liquid?
  3. What is the Earth's core mainly made of? (rock and soil / water / gold / iron and nickel) → iron and nickelPrompt: It is metallic and very dense.

Hook · 5 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes. 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: Who first proposed that the continents drift?
  • Step 1: Wegener's continental drift (1912) was later explained by plate tectonics.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Alfred Wegener
  • Answer: Alfred Wegener
  • 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 evidence suggests the continents were once joined? (the same weather on every continent / the oceans are salty / matching fossils and rock layers on continents far apart / all continents are the same size) → matching fossils and rock layers on continents far apartPrompt: The same land reptile fossils are found in Africa and South America.
  2. Two plates move apart at about 4 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 1 000 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm) → 40 kmPrompt: First find the distance in cm.

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. Plate tectonics: which statement is NOT true? (The continents have always been where they are now. / Plates move a few centimetres each year. / Mountains such as the Himalayas formed where plates collided. / Scientists cannot yet predict exactly when an earthquake will happen.) → The continents have always been where they are now.Prompt: How fast do your fingernails grow? Plates move at about that speed.
  2. What evidence suggests the continents were once joined? (matching fossils and rock layers on continents far apart / the oceans are salty / all continents are the same size / the same weather on every continent) → matching fossils and rock layers on continents far apartPrompt: The same land reptile fossils are found in Africa and South America.

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: The structure of the Earth.
  • 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: Types of plate boundary and the landforms they make; Measure earthquakes and reduce their risks.
  • 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-7.

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

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Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Plate tectonics: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Plates move a few centimetres each year.
    • B. The continents have always been where they are now.
    • C. Mountains such as the Himalayas formed where plates collided.
    • D. Scientists cannot yet predict exactly when an earthquake will happen.

  2. Question 2

    Two plates move apart at about 2 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 10 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm)

    Answerkm

  3. Question 3

    Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes happen?

    • A. in the middle of every continent
    • B. only at the North Pole
    • C. randomly everywhere
    • D. along the edges of tectonic plates

  4. Question 4

    Two plates move apart at about 2 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 1 000 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm)

    Answerkm

  5. Question 5

    What drives the slow movement of tectonic plates?

    • A. convection currents in the mantle
    • B. ocean waves
    • C. the wind
    • D. the Moon's light

  6. Question 6

    Two plates move apart at about 5 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 10 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm)

    Answerkm

  7. Question 7

    What evidence suggests the continents were once joined?

    • A. matching fossils and rock layers on continents far apart
    • B. the same weather on every continent
    • C. the oceans are salty
    • D. all continents are the same size

  8. Question 8

    Two plates move apart at about 2.5 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 1 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm)

    Answerkm

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Answer key: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes

  1. 1. B. The continents have always been where they are now.

  2. 2. 0.2 km

  3. 3. D. along the edges of tectonic plates

  4. 4. 20 km

  5. 5. A. convection currents in the mantle

  6. 6. 0.5 km

  7. 7. A. matching fossils and rock layers on continents far apart

  8. 8. 0.025 km