This activity allows discussion of continental drift theory, which is now regarded as part of the overarching theory of plate tectonics. Smithsonian institution produced the third edition of this dynamic planet. Continental drift germantown municipal school district. Continental drift lesson plan for 6th 8th grade lesson. You will be asked about continental drift evidence, signs of continental drift on. My friends and i are here to present my theory of continental drift, which i published in the year 1915. Measuring the continental drift between europe and north america scientists have been taking vlbi measurements for around 25 years to determine the distance between the westford, massachusetts radio telescope and the one in wettzell, germany.
For this activity, you will need a full set of poster board sized continents for each group. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. Under each flap of the evidence foldable, explain how that evidence supports continental drift. When people made the first maps of the new world, the puzzlelike fit of the american and the europeanafrican coastlines seemed more than a coincidence. This is a lesson aimed at helping students to develop their understanding of. Color the legend on the puzzle pieces handout according to the key. A continental divide is a naturally occurring boundary or ridge separating a continents river systems. Try to have enough students in each group so that each student controls one continent or. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. Wegeners continental drift lesson plan the coldstones cut. To start this activity the teacher will present background information on wegener. This instructional activity has 7 matching and 2 short answer questions. Then new evidence about earths structure led scientists to reconsider wegeners. Scientists have been taking vlbi measurements for around 25 years to determine.
On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in the legend and color the areas on the landmasses. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologist s thought continent s moved over time. Alfred wegener developed the modern theory of continental drift. As more and more magma emerges and hardens, a mountain chain forms on the ocean. Each river system feeds into a distinct ocean basin, bay, or sea. Start studying continental drift activity packet questions 7th grade science. In the early 20th century, wegener published a paper explaining. The continental drift theory helps us understand why and how the continents on earth have moved over time. Pdf the continental drift controversy has been deeply analysed in terms of. Alfred wegeners fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts. Suggested answers to the discussion activity pages onscreen resources are in a separate file in the folder for this topic. Ywbat use evidence to make a hypothesis about the earths history.
Collaborative learners look for fossil evidence that supports the theory that one supercontinent divided into two. The viewpoint includes a description of the theory, the evidence to support it, and reasons why some people did not support it. Continental drift is now explained as a consequence of moving plates. Continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and rock evidence on the present day continents. A plate tectonic puzzle american museum of natural history. It provides a useful introduction to more technical. A plate tectonic puzzle introduction the earths crust is not a solid shell. Over time the continents moved to their present day locations. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office at 26 red lion square london wc1r 4hq. Alfred wegener was a german scientist trained in astronomy, but he had a strong interest in geology as well. Measuring the continental drift between europe and.
Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This continental drift lesson plan is suitable for 6th 8th grade. See more ideas about earth science, plate tectonics and 6th grade science. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. Continental drift plates in the crust of the earth, according to the plate tectonics theory from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia continental drift is the movement of the earths continents relative to each other. Continental drift activity packet questions 7th grade. Then, there will be a short guided reading activity used to explain the historical development of the theory of continental drift. Continental drift lesson plan for 6th 8th grade lesson planet. Seventh grade lesson in earth and space science continental drift. Jul 05, 20 this website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions.
That the continents were formed together at one time and are spread by tectonic plates. They move atop the underlying mantle, a really thick layer of hot flowing rock. This activity is a teacherled demonstration of continental drift and includes a math worksheet for students involving the calculation of continental drift over time. The continental drift theory station lab is a plug and play unit that is meant to accompany my free mad science station lab series.
Use the following formulas to find out how far these continents will travel in 100 years. Continental drift activity packet name instructions. Students will submit their labs for a grade and be documented in accordance with new york state laws and mandates pertaining to the earth science curriculum. Students will exhibit an understanding of continental drift and the geological process that govern the positional changes of the earths tectonic plates. While wegener was alive, scientists did not believe that the. Continental drift a reading comprehension practice activity that focuses on alfred wegeners theory of pangaea and the evidence that supports his theory. Starting with pangaea, draw how the continents would look, then as continental drift was in progress, then color in the present day world map. Your job is to write down observations in your lab notebook about what you see when dealing with these different pieces. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. You should also be able to identify several pieces of evidence that support the theory of plate tectonics and continental drift. Continental drift activity packet flashcards quizlet. Preparation students prepare for role play exercise by finding answers to. List and describe some of the evidence for the theory of continental drift.
For nearly half a century, from the 1920s to the 1960s, most scientists paid little attention to the idea of continental drift. Much of it centered on the implications of isostasy. Terms in this set 5 what is the idea of continental drift. Pdf styles of thought on the continental drift debate. By the end of the pdf, you should be able to describe the theory of continental drift, and explain how it is similar and different from the theory of plate tectonics. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and rock evidence on the presentday continents. A world map of volcanoes, earthquakes, and plate tectonics. In this activity, you will examine more evidence for this movement of continents. Continental drift lesson grades 68 geology unit plan. Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass.
This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. Map activity continental drift use the pieces that you have been provided to try to develop the same ideas as early explorers. It is made up of thick, interconnecting pieces called tectonic plates that fit together like a puzzle. Continental divides are broad, continent wide example of drainage divides, sometimes just called divide s. Activitymeasuring continental drift between north america. Next, fill out the evidence foldable with four pieces of evidence mentioned in the reading passage.
The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected by many for. They use a diagram of the earths continents that show plate tectonics. Cut out each of the continents along the edge of the continental shelf the outermost dark line. Jul 24, 2019 continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20 th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist alfred wegener. Drifting continents math extension worksheet with your calculator, calculate the distance, given the speed and time. Be sure to come prepared to discuss the theory of pangaea and the two supercontinents, laurasia and gondwanaland. Some intellectuals suggested that perhaps the continents might have been connected at one time, but few accepted this. Continental drift theory station lab students will love you for providing them with a handson experience when learning about the continental drift theory. Measuring the continental drift between europe and north.
Then new evidence about earths structure led scientists to reconsider wegeners bold theory. Continental drift introduction lesson with images earth. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. Continental drift read and apply ngss msess23 aligned aligns with ngss standard msess23 under earths systemscontinental drift a reading comprehension practice activity that focuses on alfred wegeners theory of pangaea and the evidence that supports his theory. Alfred wegener and continental drift it was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a fullblown scientific theory called continental drift introduced in two articles published by a 32yearold german meteorologist named alfred lothar wegener alfred lothar wegener 18801930 earned a. The continental jigsaw puzzle can you reassemble a super. Continental drift and plate tectonics f you look closely at a world map, you might notice something about the coastlines of south america and africa. Divides are boundaries that separate drainage basin s or watershed. The continental drift hypothesis states that the position of the continents on the. A viewpoint on the theory of continental drift, developed by alfred wagener. Students will defend their position on continental drift. Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics.
Like its two previous editions 1989 and 1994, this mapthe alltime bestselling map of the usgsremains exceptionally popular and widely distributed. Wegener proposed that all continents were once part of a single supercontinent called pangaea. After completing their continental puzzle and before moving on to the next activity, the teacher should explain that what they created is a supercontinent called pangaea. Continental drift is connected to other changes on. Discuss the idea of plate tectonics and continental drift to set the scene. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. A large supercontinent pangea split into smaller fragments about. Ywbat state wegeners theory of continental drift and list his supporting evidence. Plan your lesson in earth and space science and geology with helpful tips from teachers like you. The continents are embedded within the lithospheric plates that comprises the upper 80100 km of the earth, and are carried along with the plates as they migrate at average rates of 310 centimeters per year. On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in the legend and color the areas on the landmasses according to the legend.
In this continental drift activity, 7th graders answer 7 questions about wegeners theory of continental drift. Curriculum science understanding strand b biological sciences c chemical sciences. Over time, pangaea started breaking apart, and the continents started moving to where they are now. Then, students will watch a short video showing an artists conception of how the continents once fit together and how they moved over the course of hundreds of millions of years to end up at their current locations. This engineering curriculum meets next generation science standards. Long ago there was a super continent called pangaea. Students will understand what continental drift is, why it occurs, and how earthquakes occur because of it. The german scientist alfred wegener studied whether earths continents move.
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