Plate Tectonic Stations

Explore it! Directions: Using the seafloor spreading model at your table. Set it up like the picture to the right with the colors facing upward. Then answer the questions below: What type of boundary would slit B represent and what features or phenomena would occur here? What type of boundary would slit C represent and what features would occur here? What happens to the age of the rock as they move further from slit B? Plates in the Atlantic ocean typically represent “slit B,” while plates moving in the Pacific ocean typically represent “slit C.” Describe what is happening to the size of the Atlantic ocean and the size of the Pacific ocean and explain why.

Watch it! Directions: Watch the following video and the answer the 4 questions your station worksheet. http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-north- america-got-its-shape-peter-j-haproff/review_open#question-1

Read it! Directions: Choose one of the Earthquakes or Tsunamis to read about. Then, describe the cause(s) and effects of the earthquake and/or tsunami.

Organize it! Directions: Match each plate boundary, to the picture, to the description, to the landform. Try to do it without using your notes, and then use your notes to check it. Finally, raise your hand to have Ms. Hilgefort check and sign it.

Map it! Directions: Using the word bank, fill in the tree diagram on your station sheet.

Analyze it! Directions: Find the plates listed. Look at the arrows to see the plate actions (pulling apart, pushing together or rubbing past each other?)— then answer the two columns with the boundary name and the landforms created!

Assess it! Directions: Answer the 6 questions on your sheet. Check your answers using the answer key in the folder. If incorrect, analyze why the actual answer is correct.

Assess it! 3. 2. 1.

Assess it! 5. 4. 6.

Answer Key B A-1 D-Spreading of sea-floor C D When plates diverge or spread apart, magma comes up and cools and hardens into rock or new crust. A-1 Earthquakes typically happen at or around plate boundaries (especially transform or convergent- subduction). #1 is the only location that is not near a plate boundary. D-Spreading of sea-floor As magma comes up when plates diverge, the new crust forms mid-ocean ridges, or underwater mountain ranges. As more crust is formed at the mid-ocean ridge, it pushes out older seafloor further from the ridge. This process is known as seafloor spreading. C Convection currents, or the rising and sinking of hot rock in the plastic asthenosphere, is what causes the lithospheric plates to move. The dots shown in the diagram are located on plate boundaries- more specifically, most of these volcanoes in the ring of fire are located on convergent-subduction plate boundaries. D New crust is created at divergent boundaries, while old seafloor is subducted back into the mantle at subduction zones, or convergent boundaries.