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Overview/Background:
Alfred Wegener's theory of Continental Drift (1912) was not readily accepted
by the scientific community of his time because there was no explanation
for a force that could move the continents over large distances nor how
continents could move without breaking up. After completing each part of the Exploring
Evidence for Plate Tectonics teaching box, students will have examined the
evidence from fossils, earthquakes, and volcanism that supports the modern
theory of plate tectonics. With this knowledge, students should be able
to defend the basis of Wegener's original hypothesis that the continents
had once been joined as a single landmass and had separated over geologic
time. Students will be asked to present their findings to Alfred Wegener
(aka the teacher).
Grade span: 6-8
Materials:
Advance preparation for students:
Students should be given time to organize the information they have gathered
for their group assignment and for any other research they would like
to do.
Time: 1 class period for presentations
Grouping: groups of 3-4 and whole class; students should be in "Evidence" groups - Fossils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
Procedure:
1. Students are divided into groups of 3-4 with the goal that one fourth
of the students will be in each "Evidence" group.
2. Students are given up to 1 week to organize the information gathered from the assignments they have done while completing the teaching box activities and any other information they would like to include in their evidence area. The focus of their task is to be able to support the statement: " (Fossils/Earthquakes/Volcanoes) are evidence for the Theory of Plate Tectonics," by presenting information to the class as experts in their line of evidence.
3. Students should prepare a display with graphics, maps, etc. to illustrate their points.
4. The teacher (Wegener) should prepare questions that will allow students to demonstrate knowledge in their areas of expertise.