Plate Tectonics - Wondering Continents
A WebQuest Created by:
Lon L. Eilders, II
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teachers | Credits/References
Humans believe that the ground on which they tread everyday is solid and unmoving. In reality, this is far from the truth. The ground is dynamic and is in motion. It is not as stable as we would like to believe.
Create a poster showing the migration of the continents due to plate tectonics from the beginning of the Precambrian era to present day (Cenozoic). Write a two-page synopsis of the development of the plate tectonic theory and the processes that drive plate tectonics.
Use the following websites to research the topic plate tectonics:
This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics (Provides Maps, History, and Mechanisms) Great resource from USGS.
PALEOMAP Project (Provides Animation of Plate Migration) Click on Animations.
Geology: Plate Tectonics (Provides Animation of Plate Migration)
Plate Tectonics: The Rocky History of an Idea (Provides History of Development of the Theory)
Plate Tectonics: The Mechanism (Provides Mechanisms for Plate Tectonics)
The poster should contain pictures showing transitions between time periods and captions summarizing each of the major periods:
Precambrian
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic
You may add subdivisions of these eras if you wish.
The paper should summarize the development of plate tectonic theory and the mechanism that drive it. The paper should be two pages long, double spaced, 12-point font. The paper should have a cover page.
The students will be evaluated with the following rubrics:
Rubrics (Word Document)
Rubrics (PDF File)
Poster Rubric
|
Content |
Possible points |
Self Assessment |
Teacher Assessment |
|
Turned in on time |
5 |
|
|
|
Neat and attractive layout. |
15 |
|
|
|
Pictures of continents at each transition between time periods |
10 |
|
|
|
Summary of each time period as a caption |
10 |
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|
Poster contains subdivisions of time eras |
+10 Extra Credit |
|
|
Total |
40 |
|
|
Paper Rubric
|
|
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Self Assessment |
Teacher Assessment |
|
Opening |
Opening is strong, well-structured, and contains a thesis statement. |
Opening is well-structured and contains a thesis statement. |
Opening is poorly developed but contains a thesis statement. |
Opening is poorly developed and contains no thesis statement. |
|
|
|
Organization of body |
Structure of body is clearly developed. |
Structure developed reasonably well, but lacks clarity. |
Some attempt to structure the information has been made, but the structure is poorly developed. |
There is a total lack of structure. |
|
|
|
Closure |
Closing is strong, well-structured, and relates back to the thesis statement. |
Closing is well-structured and relates back to the thesis statement. |
Closing is poorly developed but relates back to the thesis statement. |
Closing is poorly developed and lacks relation to the thesis state if one was present. |
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|
|
Sentence Structure |
Sentence structure is correct. |
Sentence structure is generally correct. Some awkward sentences do appear. |
Work contains structural weaknesses and grammatical errors. |
Work pays little attention to proper sentence structure. |
|
|
|
Punctuation & Capitalization |
Punctuation and capitalization are correct. |
There is one error in punctuation and/or capitalization. |
There are two or three errors in punctuation and/or capitalization. |
There are four or more errors in punctuation and/or capitalization. |
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|
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Total (out of 20)----> |
|
|
Poster Score |
40 |
|
|
Paper Score |
20 |
|
Total |
60 |
|
The Earth is a much more unstable thing than you initially thought. Imagine what the world will look like in another 250 million years.
Grade Band: 9-12 Earth Science or Geology
Tennessee State Standards: Earth Science
1.1 explore the theories of the origin of the universe and its vastness.
Tennessee State Standards: Geology
4.1 interpret and evaluate the nature of geologic time.
4.2 investigate the evolution of Earth.
Purpose: To encourage students to learn about plate tectonics and the mechanisms that drive it through the exciting use of the Internet. To encourage the presentation of data through an poster and paper
Preceding and Ensuing Events of Instruction: The teacher should first show the IMAX movie Genesis (32 minutes) which is available through slingshot. This should prompt student interest in the topics covered in this WebQuest. Ordering information at www.slingshotdvd.com
This WebQuest can prompt future interest of students in the field of Geology.
Learning Improvements: Students will be allowed to do independent research which should lead to a move away from extrinsic rewards to greater intrinsic rewards. Learning will be reinforced when the students assemble and evaluate the research they have done.
Improvements and Expansions: This WebQuest can be expanded by introducing more subdivisions of the time eras.
Kious, W. J. & Tilling, R. I. (2003). This dynamic earth: the story of plate tectonics. Retrieved June 19, 2003, from http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html
Scotese, C. R. (2000). PALEOMAP project. Retrieved June 19, 2003, from http://www.scotese.com
Slingshot Entertainment. (2001). Genesis [DVD] Burbank, CA: Slingshot DVD Corp.
University of California, Berkeley (n.d.). Geology: plate tectonics. Retrieved June 19, 2003, from http://www.ucmp.berkely.edu/geology/tectonics.html
University of California, Berkeley (n.d.). Plate tectonics: the mechanism. Retrieved June 19, 2003, from http://www.ucmp.edu/geology.tecmech.html
University of California, Berkeley (n.d.). Plate tectonics: the rocky history of an idea. Retrieved June 19, 2003, from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/techist.html