The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate interactions of plate boundaries. Plate tectonics strand earth patterns, cycles, and change topic investigating plate tectonics primary sol 5. Swbat describe the impact that plate tectonics have on the topography of earth. My 5 year old instantly recognized this boundary as its what led to the formation of all the volcanic mountains that surround us. Every ten seconds, push the graham crackers closer to each other. Plate tectonicsgraham cracker lab plate tectonics, graham.
Finally we used our last graham crackers to make a subduction zone what happens when a more dense oceanic plate is thrust under a less dense continental plate. Model the plates movements using frosting and graham crackers to. Students use graham crackers and icing to represent and observe how tectonic plates behave. Place the graham crackers on opposite sides of the plate. Gently push graham cracker towards the ocean plate fruit roll up until the two overlap. The theory also states that the motion of these plates creates a variety of interactions at the plate boundaries. I have copied the picture and information for continental drift front to back, and the picture and information for plate tectonics front to back. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, andor atmosphere interact.
First, we took two graham crackers and put frosting on the plate. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth science. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of. This graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan is suitable for 7th 10th grade. The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. Use only two of the pieces for part 3, saving the other two for part 4.
Though alfred wegener was the first to suggest the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics in 1915, it wasnt widely accepted until the 1960s and 1970s as new information was obtained about the nature of the ocean floor, earths magnetism, the distribution of volcanoes and. At the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other transform boundary. Observe what is happening to the marshmallow spread. Students will perform an edible plate tectonics lab and start their graphic organizer. Plate boundaries are found at the edge of the plates. This process that creates new ocean floor from diverging plates is seafloor spreading. After completing the previous labs on volcanoes and earthquakes, sixth graders use the gained knowledge to explore plate boundaries and the movement of earths. Which of the three tests is a model for seafloor spreading.
This is an awesome upper elementarymiddle school lab that uses graham crackers and cool whip to represent tectonic plates. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. Exploring the movement of tectonic plates with smores. To introduce, model, and demonstrate how earths plates move. Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic organizer caused mountains to form. Put the two plate models slowly toward each other and observe which plate rides up over the other. Plate movements introduction the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of less than twenty separate plates that float on the hot plastic mantle of the inner earth. Movements deep within the earth, which carry heat from the hot interior to the cooler surface, cause the plates to move very slowly on the surface, about 2 inches per year on average. Diverging oceanic plates fruit rollups moving away from one another.
What happened to the frosting between the crackers. The theory of plate tectonics provides geology with a comprehensive theory that explains how the earth works. For this activity, i grabbed a box of graham crackers, some cool whip, and a plate. I am very excited to have you as my student and be a facilitator of your learning. Break one whole graham cracker into two square pieces by following the perforations. Convergent places where plates crash or push together. Key concepts include e changes in earths crust due to plate tectonics. Plate movement directly affects the construction of earths surface because the land recycles and creates new crust by divergent plates. Plate tectonics graham cracker lab by science station tpt. This blog will help you achieve your big goals of meeting or exceeding your individual science map growth goal, achieving 80% or higher on your 6th grade science objectives, and meeting or exceeding satisfactory on your science fair project. Graham cracker plate tectonics playdough to plato this quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to explore plate tectonics the movement of the earths crust that leads to the formation of volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic trenches. To study the interactions of the tectonic plates as they move slowly on the asthenosphere. In this activity, ocean plates are represented by fruit roll ups and continental crust is represented by graham crackers. Dec 17, 2018 this snackable plate tectonics lab provides the perfect combination of science rigor and fun.
Give each student a paper plate covered in frosting and several graham cracker squares. Converging continental plates graham crackers moving toward each other. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers two centimeters into a cup of water. Once the graham crackers have touched each other, note how the marshmallow spreading is a different shape than it was at the start of the experiment.
Plate tectonics lab questions divergent plate boundary discussion questions 1. The theory also states that the motion of these plates. Just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and. Model the plates movements using frosting and graham crackers to understand how earths landscape can change over time. Label drawing as to what each item represents in terms of earth layers or processes of plate tectonics. This video walks through the gram cracker plate tectonics lab. Slowly push the graham crackers towards each other. Place the crackers onto the frosting with wet edges touching each other.
When a plate descends beneath another plate it is called subduction. Graham cracker plate tectonics this quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to explore plate tectonics the movement of the earths crust that leads to the formation of volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic trenches. Slightly dampen one long side of each graham cracker by exposing them to water for a few seconds. Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic organizer formed the midocean ridge. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab stepbystep photo instructions. Immediately remove the crackers and lay them end to end on the frosting with the wet edges nearly touching. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate the different types of interactions at plate boundaries. Students will use shaving cream and graham crackers to simulate the three types of plate boundaries transform, divergent, and convergent. Take two pieces of dry crackers and place them side by side on the frosting. Google graham cracker plate tectonics lab for a variety of different versions used by schools across the. Break the other whole graham cracker in half, and then break each half in half again so you have 4 pieces.
In this windows to the universe activity, students use these items to model the. Break one whole graham cracker into two square pieces by following the perforations on the cracker. Does anyone have a copy of the lab report he refers to throughout the video. In addition, some plates may appear to be inactivity. Break the graham cracker on its seam to make 2 rectangles and place the 2 rectangles, touching, on top of the frosting. Jan 29, 2015 at the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other transform boundary. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. In addition, some plates may appear to be inactive.
At the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other in a lateral motion transform. Each piece of graham crackers represents a continental plate. Plate tectonics graham cracker lab test written observations. Kimberly miller printed on 101717 edible plate tectonics lab sheet purpose. Learn how earths tectonic plates interact in this delicious activity. To model the interactions of earths tectonic plates as they move about its surface. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water about 2 cm. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. What type of plate was represented by the graham cracker. Plate movement directly affects the destruction of earths surface because the more dense plates sink causing a trench where the plates are thoroughly destroyed. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth.
Copy of the plate tectonic exit ticket for each student. What physical layer of the earth did the frosting represent. Graham cracker tectonics by bryce hixson this lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. To understand how plate boundaries interact with each other and the features created as they drift atop the slow moving asthenosphere.
Buy wax paper, knives, frosting, fruit rollups, and graham crackers. Stepbystep powerpoint for both you and your students total of 7 steps, pictures of student expectations is included. Identify the type of boundary associated with each picture below. Graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan for 7th 10th.
Graham cracker tectonics this is another fun activity with a sweet treat reward at the end. Approximately1 foot by 1 foot square of wax paper knife frosting glob approximately 14 cup or 1 heaping glob full graham cracker fruit rollup dixie or 23 oz cup with water napkin, paper towel, or baby wipes procedure. Spread a thick layer of frosting on the paper plate. Gently put the wet cracker section and a dry cracker section on the layer of frosting. What can you do with fruit rollups, graham crackers and frosting in your science class. Schaefer the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. Immediately remove the crackers and lay them end to end on the cool whip with the wet edges nearly touching. Plate boundary description landformsfeatures materials. What is the process that creates new ocean floor from diverging plates. Name date class period snack tectonics lab exercise. For this plate tectonics worksheet, students use graham crackers, frosting, water and a paper plate to simulate tectonic processes such as convergent, divergent and transforming plate boundaries. The kids will move broken graham crackers on top of a frosted sheet of wax paper to create divergent, convergent, transform fault, and sub.
To identify and demonstrate the forces that shape the features of the earth 2. Unit 5 covers standards relating to earths systems. A tectonic plate that gets subducted is a plate recycled. I use a version similar to this free version of graham cracker tectonics provided by. Plate tectonics lab doral academy preparatory school. The kids will move broken graham crackers on top of a frosted sheet of wax paper to create divergent, convergent, transform fault, and subduction zone boundaries. However, the version i prefer includes the use of a rice crispy treat to illustrate oceanic vs. Here is a set of prelab, lab, and postlab lesson plans on plate tectonics. To represent the natural world by creating models and analyzing their limitations. Plate tectonics pieces of map showing movement of plates great idea even for. A specific location for this kind of boundary is north america and eurasian.
In this lab activity, what type of plate was represented by the fruit rollup. The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 16 major pieces or plates. Name a specific location on the earth where this kind of boundary activity takes place. Sketch this model on your lab sheet and answer the questions. Microsoft word graham cracker plate tectonics lab activity. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle called the asthenosphere. Converge come together diverge move apart procedure. Draw what your food looks like after you created the transform boundary in the space provided 4.
Each piece of graham cracker represents a continental plate. This theory also says that most of these plates are in motion, creating. On the actual surface of the earth, the lower plate is subducted. The graham crackers represent the earths crust, which is broken up into plates. Edible plate tectonics divergent, convergent, and transform. This lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. Dec 04, 2011 place the graham crackers on opposite sides of the plate. Plate tectonics lab by the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. Print out sets of these stepbystep photo instructions to help your students successfully model plate tectonic activity using graham crackers, cake. These plates move on the top of the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. Cabbage rolls polish golabki easy to follow, step by step recipe duration. Graham cracker cool whip plate tectonics lab by this elementary.
1152 1019 913 1320 736 455 369 546 973 813 1568 1233 1012 817 924 1108 314 1036 1506 607 1020 885 259 953 916 531 865 1084 1035 529 682 1060 1304 351 1384 346 769 1112