1. The Earth’s Crust in Motion…
Plate Tectonics
The Earth’s Crust in Motion…

2. What is Plate Tectonics? Define it
Is the name of Modern Day Theory
~ Earth’s crust & upper mantle are broken into sections called plates that move around on the mantle.

3. How does it work? Plates – pieces of the lithosphere
Plates fit closely together along cracks called
Plate Boundaries
Convection Currents  movement
Explain that the lithosphere is broken into pieces called plates. The place where the pieces fit together are the boundaries. Using a laser pointer, explain the theory that plate movement is caused by convection currents in the mantle.

4. Types of Boundaries Divergent Convergent Transform
Define each term. Have the students as a class mimic the movement of divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries using their hands. Use the hyperlinks as visuals while discussing each type of plate boundary.

5. A Divergent B Convergent C Transform
plates are moving apart
new crust is created
Magma is coming to the surface
plates are coming together
crust is returning to the mantle
plates are slipping past each other
crust is not created or destroyed

6. A Divergent B Convergent C Transform
Continental crust
 rift valley
Oceanic crust  mid-ocean ridge
2 continental plates  mountain range
Plates move against each other
Fault line forms
Stress builds!
Stress is released
earthquake
2 oceanic plates or
oceanic + continental
subduction
Forms trenches &
volcanoes

7. The Big Picture
Remind students to look for their assigned boundaries and write down information to describe them.

8. Can you define the Key Terms?
Plate tectonics
Plate boundary
convergent boundary
divergent boundary
transform boundary
subduction
rift valley
Volcano
Trench
mid-ocean ridge
continental crust
oceanic crust
mountain range
earthquake
Have students write down the above terms to put in their concept map. Be sure to have the students tie the terms with verbs or meaningful associations.