are a defining feature of Earth

Learning Intention: Students should be able to explain what tectonic plates are and how they contribute to the formation of Earth’s surface.

Objective: Students will be able to explain what tectonic plates are, describe how they move, and identify how they contribute to the formation of Earth’s surface.

Materials: Food coloring, 2 paper plates, a pan of water, a bowl of cornstarch, and a spoon.

Introduction (5 minutes): Discuss with students what they think the surface of Earth looks like. Make a few guesses and bring up the idea that Earth is made of many different pieces. Ask students if they know what these pieces are called and if they are able to move?

Activity (15 minutes): Explain to students that tectonic plates are large pieces of Earth’s crust that “float” on the underlying mantle and move due to the intense heat of the planet’s core. Tell your students that tectonic plates are an important feature of the planet and they are responsible for the formation of mountains and valleys.

Take a paper plate and add a few drops of food coloring. Drop the other paper plate onto the first one to create a “tectonic plate”. Now, place your pan of water on a heat source and add a spoonful of cornstarch. Explain to the students that this mixture is like Earth’s mantle and that the heat from the pan is like the heat from Earth’s center.

Have your students take the two plates and gently drop them into the pan. Move the plates around and watch how the colors react. Explain to students that this is how the tectonic plates move. Take some time to discuss the colors and how they mix and move.

Conclusion (10 minutes): Revisit the learning intention and ask students what they noticed and why it is important. Have a discussion about how tectonic plates have contributed to the formation of mountains, valleys, and other features of the Earth. Ask them to draw a picture and explain in their own words how tectonic plates have caused these changes. Finally, review the key terms and concepts.