Students master how continental drift and plate tectonics reshape Earth's landscape over geological time. Through solving fossil distribution mysteries across continents or investigating whale bones in desert locations, reconstructing Pangaea using fossil and geologic data creating "before and after" maps showing continental positions, and designing modern equipment measuring plate movement gathering data proving plates still shift today, students analyze evidence for plate motion.
- Lesson 1
Solve: Whale Valley + Fossil Mystery
Lystrosaurus bones found on three separate continents—Africa, India, and Antarctica! The Triassic Park guide calls it impossible—how can one creature's fossils be distributed so widely? Students follow Mosa as she time-travels beneath oceans and across Earth's surface, discovering Earth's structure: inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The crust is broken into tectonic plates floating on the mantle's hot, slowly moving magma (convection currents). Millions of years ago, these continents were connected in the supercontinent Pangaea. As plates drifted apart, Lystrosaurus fossils separated—continental drift explains the distribution!
- Lesson 2
Make: Use Evidence from Plant and Animal Fossils to Prove Tectonic Plate Motion
Act as an archaeological team reconstructing Pangaea! Students analyze fossil evidence (Lystrosaurus in Africa/India/Antarctica, Mesosaurus in Africa/South America, Glossopteris fern across southern continents, Cynognathus in South Africa/South America) and continental shapes. They cut out continent pieces, use logic and evidence to position landforms as they appeared 200 million years ago, construct a Pangaea "before" map by tracing continents in their connected supercontinent formation, create an "after" map showing current positions, then photograph or create stop-motion animations showing continental drift over time. Present findings explaining plate tectonics theory based on fossil distribution.
- Lesson 3
Engineer: Engineer a Device to Detect Plate Movement
Design modern equipment answering the question: Are Earth's plates still moving? Students research current plate movement measurement technologies (GPS sensors tracking millimeter shifts? Seismographs detecting earthquakes at plate boundaries? Satellite imaging monitoring continental drift? Laser ranging systems? Ocean floor mapping equipment?), then engineer their own data-gathering devices. They create technical diagrams or 3D prototypes showing how their equipment measures plate motion, calculates movement rates, or detects boundary interactions. Presentations explain how collected data proves plates continue moving today—typically 2-10 centimeters per year.
- Next Generation Science Standards
- Inquiry Scale
- Common Misconceptions
- Vocabulary
- Content Expert
- Leveled Reading
* To give our users the most comprehensive science resource, Mosa Mack is piloting a partnership with RocketLit, a provider of leveled science articles.
- Earth SoupIn this article, student read about the different layers of the Earth and what makes each layer so different from the others. The article is written analogizing earth's layers with a bowl of hot soup!
- How Fast Do The Continents Move?Earth is OLD and things happen very slowly. Giant lithospheric plates move around the same speed as our fingernails grow and it's difficult to use years when speaking of the passage of time. Instead, we divide earth's history up into major events using Geological Time.
- The Ground is Moving Right Now?The ground under our feet is always moving. This article focuses on the movement that happens under the oceans. New land is forming out of ridges and old land is being swallowed back down into the earth as it subducts.
- Uh... What did you say...? The continents MOVE?Alfred Wegener was one of the first people to suggest that the continents moved, based on the fit of the continents. At that time he suggested that they slowly floated on the water, but was heavily criticized for his ideas. It wasn't until after his death that we discovered he was on the right track!
- Moving Plates, Moving FurnitureIn this article, students read about how plates move in transform boundaries and strike slip faults. They also read about the San Andreas Fault and the destructive San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
- From Liquid Rock To Solid EarthThis article serves to introduce volcanoes and explain that the most likely place to see a volcano on Earth is around the Ring of Fire. In addition, volcanic fissures can be found in the middle of the oceans, slowly spewing up magma and creating new land. KER-POW!
- Under Your FeetFrom the rumbling of a volcano to the shake of an earthquake, it's important for students to understand what different parts we have beneath the surface of earth. This article talks about the composition of each part and where they can be found beneath (or on) the surface of the earth.
- Land FactoryIn this article, students are introduced to divergent plate boundaries and the concept of sea-floor spreading. Just as a conveyor belt at the grocery store moves, new land is created under the oceans at the mid-ocean ridges.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
RocketLit serves tailored Science reading to every student in your classroom at their independent reading level.
- Earth Soup