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Tectonic Plates

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Volcanoes & Earthquakes|Ages 9—11|ID: mt_XrvPx5kUfO

Understand that Earth's crust is broken into large pieces called tectonic plates that float on hotter, softer rock beneath and move very slowly — a few centimetres per year

Mastery Evidence

  • Describe Earth's crust as broken into large plates
  • Explain that the plates float on hotter, partially melted rock underneath
  • State that plates move very slowly, typically a few centimetres per year

Assessment Prompt

“If you showed [child] a map of the tectonic plates, could they explain that Earth's surface is cracked into huge pieces that move very slowly — about as fast as their fingernails grow?”

Prerequisites3

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  • Ring of Fire hard

    Plate concept explains the patterns of where earthquakes/volcanoes occur

  • Finding patterns in data soft

    Tectonic plates concept benefits from prior map-reading of Earth's features

    • Rock layers and Earth's history soft

      Interpreting maps of Earth surface features is enriched by understanding cross-section views of geological strata and layers

      • 3-D shapes (age 9+) soft

        Interpreting cross-section diagrams of Earth builds on the skill of identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations

        • 2-D shapes (age 7+) hard

          Y3 drawing 2D and making 3D shapes is prerequisite to identifying 3D from 2D representations

          • Edges, vertices, and faces hard

            Making/describing 3-D shapes requires knowing their properties (edges, vertices, faces)

            • 3-D shapes hard

              Describing 3-D properties (edges, vertices, faces) requires knowing the shapes first

            • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

              Counting edges, vertices, and faces is reinforced by analysing nets where each face is visible as a separate 2-D shape

            • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

              Formal property description extends informal analysis of shapes

              • 2-D shapes hard

                Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

              • 3-D shapes hard

                Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

          • 2-D shapes (age 6+) hard

            Drawing 2-D shapes requires knowing their properties

            • Angles in triangles (age 6+) soft

              Understanding defining attributes supports describing shape properties formally

              • 2-D shapes hard

                Distinguishing defining vs non-defining attributes requires knowing common 2-D shape names first

              • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

                Identifying defining attributes builds on informal analysis and comparison of shapes

                • 2-D shapes hard

                  Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

                • 3-D shapes hard

                  Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

            • 2-D shapes hard

              Describing properties of 2-D shapes (sides, symmetry) requires knowing the shapes first

            • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

              Formal property description extends informal analysis of sides and vertices

              • 2-D shapes hard

                Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

              • 3-D shapes hard

                Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

          • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

            Drawing 2-D shapes and making 3-D shapes from materials is supported by being able to sketch and interpret nets

        • Nets of 3-D Shapes hard

          Identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations requires understanding the relationship between a net and its solid

    • Types of rocks hard

      Interpreting patterns of Earth's geological features requires rock type and erosion vocabulary

    • Shapes of land and water hard

      Must model landforms and water bodies before analysing map patterns of Earth's features

      • Seasonal changes soft

        Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features

    • Erosion and weathering soft

      Understanding weathering/erosion helps explain patterns in Earth's features

      • Types of rocks hard

        Measuring weathering and erosion rates requires 'weathering', 'erosion', and 'deposition' vocabulary

      • Preventing Erosion hard

        Must understand erosion prevention before measuring weathering/erosion effects systematically

      • Properties of materials soft

        Rock properties knowledge supports understanding how weathering breaks down different rocks

  • Earth's Layers hard

    Tectonic plates are pieces of the crust (requires knowing Earth has layers)

    • What Is a Volcano hard

      Understanding layers requires knowing what a volcano is (motivation for internal structure)

    • Earth Is Made of Rock hard

      Earth's layers builds on knowing Earth is made of rock

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