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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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 outer core / the crust / the inner core / all of them) → the outer corePrompt: The inner core is solid because of huge pressure.
  2. Earth's structure: which statement is NOT true? (The mantle is completely liquid lava. / The mantle is the thickest layer. / The crust is made of rock. / The inner core is solid.) → The mantle is completely liquid lava.Prompt: Is the mantle really a sea of liquid?
  3. Which is the thinnest layer of the Earth? (the outer core / the crust / the inner core / the mantle) → the crustPrompt: It is like the skin on an apple.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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 drives the slow movement of tectonic plates? (convection currents in the mantle / the Moon's light / the wind / ocean waves) → convection currents in the mantlePrompt: Heat from the core makes the mantle rock move slowly.
  2. Two plates move apart at about 4 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 10 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm) → 0.4 kmPrompt: First find the distance in cm.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes happen? (only at the North Pole / in the middle of every continent / randomly everywhere / along the edges of tectonic plates) → along the edges of tectonic platesPrompt: Plates push, pull and slide against each other.
  2. Two plates move apart at about 5 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 1 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm) → 0.05 kmPrompt: First find the distance in cm.

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

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

    Answerkm

  2. Question 2

    Plate tectonics: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Mountains such as the Himalayas formed where plates collided.
    • B. Volcanoes only form in hot countries.
    • C. Plates move a few centimetres each year.
    • D. Scientists cannot yet predict exactly when an earthquake will happen.

  3. Question 3

    Who first proposed that the continents drift?

    • A. Charles Darwin
    • B. Galileo Galilei
    • C. Isaac Newton
    • D. Alfred Wegener

  4. Question 4

    Two plates move apart at about 5 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 100 000 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. the Moon's light
    • C. ocean waves
    • D. the wind

  6. Question 6

    Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes happen?

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

  7. Question 7

    Two plates move apart at about 4 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 10 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm)

    Answerkm

  8. Question 8

    Two plates move apart at about 3 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 100 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm)

    Answerkm

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Answer key: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes

  1. 1. 2 km

  2. 2. B. Volcanoes only form in hot countries.

  3. 3. D. Alfred Wegener

  4. 4. 5 km

  5. 5. A. convection currents in the mantle

  6. 6. A. along the edges of tectonic plates

  7. 7. 0.4 km

  8. 8. 3 km