9/15/11LEQ: HOW does continental drift happen?

(reminder: complete sentences!)1. What is Pangaea?2. What is the theory of continental drift?3. What different types of evidence do we have to support this theory?4. Is it possible to find ice evidence in Jamaica? Explain.

AGENDA:

• WORK TIME• ACTIVATING STRATEGY• NEW LEQ NOTES/MATERIAL• DEMOS• PRACTICE

Today’s LEQ: How does continental drift happen?

By the end of today, you should be able to…1. Explain the geologic conditions that allow

continents to move2. Describe convection currents that cause the

continents to move

KEY VOCABULARY8. Plate tectonics9. Convection Currents10. Lithosphere11. Asthenosphere

Activating Strategy

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzzGPfVx32M

We know that the continents moved apart….BUT HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!

LAVA LAMP SCIENCE

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgGHl_gRiYU&feature=related

• HOW DOES A LAVA LAMP WORK?

Demo Time!

• WATCH!• What was the difference between

when the food coloring was placed over the hot liquid vs. the cold liquid?

Making observations: WATCH THE EARTH’S MANTLE!

• http://education.sdsc.edu/optiputer/flash/convection.htm

Making Inferences:• What do all of these things have in

common?HEAT!

Key Point• The movement of the food coloring represents

the movement of magma in the Earth’s mantle• This movement is what causes Earth’s

continents to move away from each other

CONVECTION

CURRENTS

DEFINITION: The cycle of magma under the crust as it heats, rises,

cools, and sinks

CAUSES:

DIAGRAM:

EFFECTS:

DIAGRAM:

INNER CORE

OUTER CORE

Mantle

Plates move!

HOT Q:• How would the position of

the continents have been different if the inner core was made of a solid block of ice and not hot iron?

a. The continents would still be one mega continent, Pangaea

b. The continents would be the same position as they are today

LITHOSPHERE:

ASTHENOSPHERE:

TECTONIC PLATES:

(THIS GOES UNDERNEATH YOUR FRAYER DIAGRAM)

CONTINENTS ADRIFT• What form of matter (solid, liquid, or gas) do

you think the crust is made of?

What about the oceanic crust?!

LITHOSPHERE: the rocky crust and the solid top layer of the mantle

ASTHENOSPHERE:

TECTONIC PLATES:

(THIS GOES UNDERNEATH YOUR FRAYER DIAGRAM)

DEMO: CONTINENTS ADRIFT• What form of matter do you think lies

underneath the lithosphere?

LITHOSPHERE: the solid crust and the rigid top layer of the mantle

ASTHENOSPHERE: the liquid, tar-like layer below the lithosphere

TECTONIC PLATES:

(THIS GOES UNDERNEATH YOUR FRAYER DIAGRAM)

MAKE AN INFERENCE:WHAT IS A TECTONIC PLATE?

LITHOSPHERE: the solid crust and the rigid top layer of the mantle

ASTHENOSPHERE: the liquid, tar-like layer below the lithosphere

TECTONIC PLATES: huge slabs of the lithosphere that move because of convection currents

(THIS GOES UNDERNEATH YOUR FRAYER DIAGRAM)

CONVECTION

CURRENTS

DEFINITION: The cycle of magma under the crust as it heats, rises,

cools, and sinks

CAUSES:

Hotter core temperatureLiquid asthenosphereRigid lithosphere

DIAGRAM:

EFFECTS:

Tectonic plates “drift” apart!

Steps of Convection Comics!!1. Use the list at your desk to put the steps of

convection in order (the first one is done for you)

2. Draw a comic strip for the four steps of convection currents!

3. Your comic strip should include:A) 4 boxes (1 for each step in the cycle)B) 4 illustrationsC) the four steps of convection (you may copy the 4 steps exactly if you like, but you are encouraged to be creative!)

Liquid magma in the mantle is heated by the earth’s core

(add illustration here)

EXAMPLE:

SUMMARIZER• Watch the video again • This preview is for a movie called

“Ice Age: Continental Drift”• In 3 sentences or more, explain why the continents

ACTAULLY move—(hint—it is not because of a squirrel running around…)

• YOU MUST USE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING VOCABULARY FOCUS WORDS in your answer!!!-Lithosphere-Asthenosphere-Convection Current(s)-Tectonic plates

Let’s REVIEW: Earn your seat• What is the name of the mega continent?• Who proposed the theory of continental drift?• What is the theory of continental drift?• What are the 3 types of evidence that support this

theory?• Why do the continents move apart?• How do convection currents cause the plates to move?• Why is it possible we could find fossils of tropical plants in

Alaska?• How is it possible that similar animal fossils are found on

two separate continents?