PLATE TECTONICS

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PLATE TECTONICS

• SCIENCE
• SIXTH GRADE

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Teacher Page

• Content Science
• Grade Level Sixth
• Creator G.T. McDonald
• Curriculum Obj/MAP Standard/IBD Compare and
  contrast the constructive and destructive forces
  associated with plate movement on the Earths
  crust and upper mantle. (G 1.2, 1.3, 3.5) (SC
  5) (CF VI.B.3)

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Teacher Page

• This is an introductory lesson for the theory of
  continental drift and plate tectonics.
• The following worksheet will need to be given for
  students to complete after viewing the
  presentation. The Layered Earth.doc
• Credit needs to be given to Holt, Rinehart,
  Winston for supplying wonderful information to
  create this presentation.

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Composition of the Earth

• Crust, the upper layer of the Earth, is not
  always the same. Crust under the oceans is only
  about 5 km thick while continental crust can be
  up to 65 km thick. Also, oceanic crust is made of
  denser minerals than continental crust.

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Composition of the Earth

• The mantle is the layer between the crust and
  core. It is extremely thick and contains most of
  the Earths mass. Scientists know much of their
  information from observing underwater volcanoes.

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Composition of the Earth

• The core extends from the bottom of the mantle to
  the center of the Earth. Its composition is
  mostly iron and nickel. Temperature and pressure
  greatly increase here. The diameter of the core
  is slightly larger than the planet mars.

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Lithosphere

• Together the crust and upper mantle are called
  the lithosphere and they extend about 80 km deep.
  The lithosphere is broken into giant plates that
  fit around the globe like puzzle pieces.

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Asthenosphere

• The asthenosphere is ductile and can be pushed
  and deformed like silly putty in response to the
  warmth of the Earth. These rocks actually flow,
  moving in response to the stresses placed upon
  them by the churning motions of the deep interior
  of the Earth. The flowing asthenosphere carries
  the lithosphere of the Earth, including the
  continents, on its back.

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Mesosphere

• Beneath the asthenosphere is the strong, lower
  part of the mantle called the mesosphere. The
  mesosphere extends from the asthenosphere all the
  way down to the earths core.

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Inner Outer Core
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Assessment

• Write a summary of the layers found inside the
  earth. Include a description about each layer.
• Complete The Layered Earth worksheet.