Tectonic plates' movement produces earthquakes with potentially disastrous effects to human settlements.
Tectonic plates are the segments of the Earth's outer shell, the lithosphere. The lithosphere is not a continuous, stable surface, as tectonic plates are constantly on the move. These movements are the cause of earthquakes and regions near the boundaries of tectonic plates are called "seismogenic zones." The concept of tectonic plates can be difficult for children to grasp, but a series of simple activities can help you show students the size and "contribution" of the plates.
Boundaries on the Globe
Use a black marker to draw the boundaries of tectonic plates on a globe. You can consult the big map of the U.S. Geological Survey for this purpose. Focus mainly on boundaries crossing through or near human settlements, such as Japan, Italy, the west coast of South America and northern India. Use the drawings on the globe to show the size of tectonic plates and explain why certain regions are more prone to earthquakes.
Egg Earth
Use an egg as an example of the Earth's structure. Gently roll the egg on your desk to crack its surface, without crushing it completely. Ask students to gather around you and explain that these cracks are like tectonic plates' boundaries. Carefully peel the crust and introduce students to the mantle (white of the egg), the layer between the Earth's crust and its core. The yolk on this occasion is the Earth's core. This way, children can understand the connection between tectonic plates and the other parts of the Earth.
Destructive Movements
Place two shoe boxes next to each other to depict adjacent tectonic plates. Build a simple house using LEGO bricks. Half of the construction must lie on the surface of one box and half on the other. Don't connect the bricks firmly, as the house must be relatively unstable. Start rubbing the boxes together to simulate an earthquake caused by tectonic plates' movement and show its potentially catastrophic results for nearby man-made structures.
World Plates
All tectonic plates of the world have a specific name, deriving from their geographic location. For example, there is the African Plate, covering the whole of the continent and the surrounding seas and the Indian Plate, encompassing mainly the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh). Download, print and distribute the "World Plates" worksheet from New York Science Teacher. Ask students to study the name of tectonic plates and their boundaries for homework. On the next lesson, use the "boundaries globe" (from the previous activity) and ask children which tectonic plate the U.S. or Egypt or Russia are on, for instance.
Tags: tectonic plates, boundaries tectonic, boundaries tectonic plates, human settlements, plates movement, tectonic plates
