Unit 4 Geography

The Big Idea: The theory of plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains Earth’s geological processes

Before you begin...

  • Download the section checklist.  This tells you everything that you need to complete and in what order.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: supplementary written notes are available to aid this section, please see your teacher for a copy.
  • Complete all of the sections below including watching videos, answering questions and doing activities.  
  • ALL questions must be answered in COMPLETE SENTENCES and handed into your teacher.

4.1 Layers in the Earth

Structure of the Earth

Why does earth have layers?

DIY Science Earth's Layers Pop Up Card

In this video Rob demonstrates how to create a simple pop up card which identifies the layers of the earth.  I challenge you to create a similar pop up card.  Your project MUST include the following layers: inner core, outer core, lower mantle, upper mantle and crust. 
Your project will also include a brief description of each layer (ex. what is it made of? is it solid or liquid? how thick is it?).

4.2 Plate Tectonic Movement

The Early Earth and Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics Explained

While you watch this video, pay particular attention to the explanation of how tectonic plates move.

Earthquakes Living Lab: The Theory of Plate Tectonics

Download and complete the Earthquakes Living Lab Worksheet (thanks to the teachengineering.org website), and complete questions 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 9.

Tectonics of the Planet Earth

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Go to Buzzle's article about Plate Tectonics, as you read make notes in your journal.

Modeling Plate Tectonics

In this video watch how students model plate tectonics using graham crackers and icing.
​Now it's your turn, your task is to model plate tectonic boundaries.  You may use whatever you like to model the three types of plate boundaries:
  1. Convergent (including continental-continental, oceanic-oceanic and continental-oceanic)
  2. Divergent
  3. Transform
Your model should also include a brief description (either written or oral) of each plate boundary.  What is happening?  Where is this happening?  How is this happening?

4.3 Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Volcanoes 101

How Volcanoes Form

Earthquakes 101

What is an Earthquake?

Seismic Slinky

EXTRA: See the ground actually open up and move!

Seismic Zones in Western Canada

Read the first section titled 'Background on Earthquakes in Western Canada'
Image: “Earthquake Response by the U.S. Navy” by Fox News Insider is licensed underCC BY 2.0

​Research Project

Select ONE of the following topics to research:
  • research a significant earthquake that has occurred in British Columbia (start with Earthquakes Canada website)
  • research a volcano located in British Columbia

4.4 Major Geological Events of Local Significance

MegaQuake Could Hit North America

This documentary is over 45 minutes long.  Please watch up to at least minute 12, paying particular attention to the First Peoples knowledge of past earthquakes.

Get Ready for the Big One

In this non-fiction review, Ben Parfitt describes how First Peoples preserve their history through artwork, such as this Kwakiutl Earthquake Mask.
Image: Ludwin, Ruth S. "Pacific Northwest Earthquakes: Evidence in Native Myth and Tradition"

Indian Ocean Tsunamis in Legend

Another way in which First Peoples preserve their history is through stories.  In the article titled Dating the 1700 Cascadia Earthquake: Great Coastal Earthquakes in Native Stories, the authors Ruth S. Ludwin et al. describe how historical stories from First Peoples about earthquakes and flooding are being taken seriously by the scientific community.  In their article on page 144 read one such story titled Indian Ocean Tsunamis in Legend.

Unearthing Proof of a Tsunami in the Northwest

Listen to this National Public Radio broadcast about the 2005 Indian Ocean Tsunami. 

Ghosts of Tsunamis Past

Here you can read more about Brian Atwater's research in how he pieced together  historical Cascadia Tsunamis.

EXTRA: Countdown to Catastrophe
http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-earthquake-proof-structure/
​