Plate Tectonics Gizmo
Explore plate tectonics through interactive simulations. Learn about earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate boundaries with guided questions and key vocabulary to deepen understanding of Earth's dynamic crust.
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Gizmos
Name: □ ale:
Student Exploration: Plate Tectonics
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: asthenosphere collision zone, convergent boundary, crust divergent boundary
earthquake, lithosphere, mantle, plate plate tectonics, subduction zone, transform boundary, volcano
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
t . Volcanoes are openings in Earth's crust where lava. gas. and ash can erupt. Where are active
volcanoes located?
Volcanos are active on locations where earthquakes occur often
2. An earthquake is a violent shaking of Earth s surface. Where are earthquakes common?
Earthquakes are common between plates of land, so somewhere in Japan and California
Gizmo Warm-up
Volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, and other features of Earth's surface
owe their origin to the movements of plates: enormous, slowly- moving
sections of Earth s crust. Al plate boundaries, plates collide, move apart
move under or over each other, or slide past one another. The theory of
plate tectonic s describes how the plates move, interact, and change the
physical landscape.
The Pi'ate Tectonics Gizmo shows a cross-section, or side view, of Earth. (Not to scale ) Above the
cross section is a bird's-eye view of the same location.
1. Turnon Show labels. What are the layers of Earth that you can see?
Crust -> Lithosphere -> Asthenosphere
The lithosphere is a layer of rigid rock that consists of the crust and the upper part of Earth s
mantle. The asthenosphere is a layer of the mantle that can deform like plastic.
2. Turn on Boundary name, and click on each boundary. What four boundaries do you see?
Transform Boundaries. Convergent Boundaries Collision. Convergent
Boundaries:Subduction Divergent Boundaries
Reproduction far educaUsnal use cnty. Public sharing cr posting prohibited. O 2020 ExpforeLeamlng™ All rights reserved
Name: □ ale:
Student Exploration: Plate Tectonics
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: asthenosphere collision zone, convergent boundary, crust divergent boundary
earthquake, lithosphere, mantle, plate plate tectonics, subduction zone, transform boundary, volcano
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
t . Volcanoes are openings in Earth's crust where lava. gas. and ash can erupt. Where are active
volcanoes located?
Volcanos are active on locations where earthquakes occur often
2. An earthquake is a violent shaking of Earth s surface. Where are earthquakes common?
Earthquakes are common between plates of land, so somewhere in Japan and California
Gizmo Warm-up
Volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, and other features of Earth's surface
owe their origin to the movements of plates: enormous, slowly- moving
sections of Earth s crust. Al plate boundaries, plates collide, move apart
move under or over each other, or slide past one another. The theory of
plate tectonic s describes how the plates move, interact, and change the
physical landscape.
The Pi'ate Tectonics Gizmo shows a cross-section, or side view, of Earth. (Not to scale ) Above the
cross section is a bird's-eye view of the same location.
1. Turnon Show labels. What are the layers of Earth that you can see?
Crust -> Lithosphere -> Asthenosphere
The lithosphere is a layer of rigid rock that consists of the crust and the upper part of Earth s
mantle. The asthenosphere is a layer of the mantle that can deform like plastic.
2. Turn on Boundary name, and click on each boundary. What four boundaries do you see?
Transform Boundaries. Convergent Boundaries Collision. Convergent
Boundaries:Subduction Divergent Boundaries
Reproduction far educaUsnal use cnty. Public sharing cr posting prohibited. O 2020 ExpforeLeamlng™ All rights reserved
Activity A:
Sliding plates
Get the Gizmo ready :
• Select BOUNDARY A.
Question: What happens when plates slide past one another?
1. Observe Boundary A is a transform boundary The arrows below the BOUNDARY A label will
move the plales. Click the left arrow once to see how (he plates move.
How would you describe the motion of plales in a Iransform boundary?
The rnolion of the plate is moving away from me
2. Sketch. Draw a bird’s-eye view of (he plate boundary before and after the plate motion. Draw an
arrow to show which way the plate moved.
Before movement After movement
3. Locate: Turn on Show location. Where on Earth can you find iransform boundaries? (Note: You
can refer I o a world map or atlas for location names.)
II is located in California above south america and parts of India
Highlight these locations on lhe map below. To do this, click on lhe drawing and select Edit.
Select lhe scribble from lhe line menu to sketch on the map.
RepraMJCttan ISr ecucatorai use onU PuMc sfartig cc posing poNDhE-l O 2020 ExpiffeLejminc’* A l rtgnis rasemed
Sliding plates
Get the Gizmo ready :
• Select BOUNDARY A.
Question: What happens when plates slide past one another?
1. Observe Boundary A is a transform boundary The arrows below the BOUNDARY A label will
move the plales. Click the left arrow once to see how (he plates move.
How would you describe the motion of plales in a Iransform boundary?
The rnolion of the plate is moving away from me
2. Sketch. Draw a bird’s-eye view of (he plate boundary before and after the plate motion. Draw an
arrow to show which way the plate moved.
Before movement After movement
3. Locate: Turn on Show location. Where on Earth can you find iransform boundaries? (Note: You
can refer I o a world map or atlas for location names.)
II is located in California above south america and parts of India
Highlight these locations on lhe map below. To do this, click on lhe drawing and select Edit.
Select lhe scribble from lhe line menu to sketch on the map.
RepraMJCttan ISr ecucatorai use onU PuMc sfartig cc posing poNDhE-l O 2020 ExpiffeLejminc’* A l rtgnis rasemed
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