What needs to be covered in the National curriculum ?
The National curriculum states that students must "understand, thought the use of place-based exemplars at a variety of scales, the key processes in: physical geography relating to ....plate tectonics".
Plate tectonics
Structure of the Earth.
The Earth is made up of four distinctive layers.
- The Crust is mtge rocky thin outer layer of the Earth which we reside on.This layer can bee between 5 -70 Km thick. The crust is split up into sections , which we call plates.
- The Mantle the second layer and is beneath the Crust. It is semi-molten (which means is is not completely liquid) and is about 3000 Km thick.
- The Outer Core completely liquid and is 2000 Km thick
- The Inner Core is at the center of the Earth. This is made up of Iron and Nickel and is very dense. It is believed to be over 5000 degrees Celsius, making it extremely hot!
What are plate tectonics ?
The Earth's crust is not in one piece. It is split up into sections, which we call tectonic plates.
The image below shows the Earths main tectonic plates.
These plates 'float' on the mantle (Which is semi-molten) and can move. Convection currents are what move these plates around.
Convection currents are produced by heat from the Core and slowly moves the plates around.
Types of plate boundary.
There are three types of plate boundary;
Destructive/Convergent plate boundary occurs when continental crust (heavy) meets oceanic crust (light). The lighter plate is pushed underneath the heavier plate and is destroyed in the process.
Convection currents are produced by heat from the Core and slowly moves the plates around.
Types of plate boundary.
There are three types of plate boundary;
- Destructive (also called Convergent)
- Constructive (also called Divergent)
- Conservative (sometimes called Transform)
Destructive/Convergent plate boundary occurs when continental crust (heavy) meets oceanic crust (light). The lighter plate is pushed underneath the heavier plate and is destroyed in the process.
.This type of boundary produces volcanoes as the oceanic plate is reduced to molten rock.
Constructive/Divergent plate boundary
This boundary is found where two plate are moving away from each other. As the two plates move away from each other molten rock (magma) is released as this magma cools it creates new crust.
Constructive/Divergent plate boundary
This boundary is found where two plate are moving away from each other. As the two plates move away from each other molten rock (magma) is released as this magma cools it creates new crust.
Conservative/Transform plate boundary
This boundary is found where two plates are moving side by side. They can be moving in opposite directions or in the same direction but at different speeds. No plate is destroyed or created at this boundary.
This boundary is found where two plates are moving side by side. They can be moving in opposite directions or in the same direction but at different speeds. No plate is destroyed or created at this boundary.
Collision plate boundary.
This is a convergent plate boundary where the plates are they same type. When both plates converge and mountains are created.
An example of this type of boundary is the Himalayas Mountain range.
Pedagogical/Teaching Ideas
Starter - Jigsaw puzzles of the different plates. Can also help with their place and location knowledge as even if they do not know what matches up where they can work it out using the continents. The image below could be used for the jigsaw.
- To understand the structure of the Earth playdoh could be used for the students to visualize it.
- To understand the different types of plate boundaries a plate boundary video could be used along side teacher input and worksheets. ( To differentiate HA students could draw their own diagram. )
- Once the concept of the types of plate tectonics have been explained to students. They could then go and research a type of plate boundary and get them to 'teach' it to the group.
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