By: Innovative Teacher PLATE TECTONICS By: Innovative Teacher

PANGAEA . Many years ago, our continents were one big land mass known as Pangaea. Alfred Wegener, a German Scientist, proposed that the continents were once joined together then somehow drifted apart to create the continents that we have today. 

PLATE TECTONICS THEORY The Earth's surface is made up of a series of large plates. These plates are continuously moving and changing the surface of our Earth.

EARTH’S CORE The top layer of the Earth's surface is called the crust. Under the crust lies the mantle. Further into Earth is the outer core and finally the inner core.

PLATE MOVEMENTS Converge – when plates collide into each other. Diverge – when plates separate from each other. Transform – when plates slide against each other.

CONVERGE When plates converge our earth changes. Trenches are formed when an oceanic crust converges with a continental crust, called subduction. Mountain Ranges form when two continental crust collide. Volcanoes are sometimes created and earthquakes may occur.

DIVERGE When plates diverge, rifts, trenches, and ridges are formed. Volcanoes are sometimes created and earthquakes can occur.

TRANSFORM When plates transform faults and ridges are formed. Volcanoes are sometimes created and earthquakes can occur.

VOLCANOES & EARTHQUAKES When plates move, magma is released creating volcanoes and eruptions. When plates move, earthquakes are created, shaking our Earth.

OUR CHANGING EARTH Our Earth is always growing and changing. What do you think our Earth will look like 100 million years from now?