GOAL:

To develop an understanding of the interdependence of all organisms and the need for conserving natural resources

The theory of plate tectonics explains land mass movements on earth.

Ecology K1.00 To understand that land masses of the earth have moved over geological time

1.01 recognize and make simple sketches of where land masses occurred.

1.02 distinguish patterns of land mass movement.

1.03 demonstrate why certain related plants and animals occurring in different parts of the world are now isolated from each other.

I. Alfred Wegener was the first to advance the theory of continental drift.
A. Wegener believed that the continents had drifted (moved) because of:
1. the shape of the continents.
2. matching rocks and fossils found on different continents.
B. About 200 million years ago, all the continents were joined in one large land mass called Pangaea.
1. He believed that the supercontinent existed because the same rocks and fossils can be found in South America and Africa.
2. The supercontinent theory also explained coal deposits in the Antarctic.
II. demonstration of how major land masses relate to Pangaea.
III. Ways different species of plants and animals may have been distributed

COMPONENT OF SCIENCE: Unifying Concepts Of Science

GOAL:

To enable students to acquire scientific knowledge by applying concepts, theories, principles and laws from life/environmental, physical and earth/space sciences.

2.5 CHANGE - Interactions within and among systems may result in changes in the properties, position, movement, form, or function of systems.

2.5a Everything is constantly changing; rates of change vary over a wide scale with a great variety in patterns of change.

BENCHMARK: Rates of change in the biosphere vary from rapid cellular metabolism to slow continental drift.

2.5b Cycles of change can be extended in scales of time, space and material.

BENCHMARK: Cycles of change throughout time are recorded in the earthÕs rock and fossil records.

TIME REQUIRED:

45 minutes

Copies of a world map, handouts of fossils (drawings or pictures), scissors and construction paper

Plate tectonics, rift, mid-ocean ridge, and Pangaea

(Before class, write "Today we will learn about Alfred Wegener (1880-1930) and the theory of continental drift on a piece of paper. Tear the paper into five uneven pieces. Tape the pieces to the blackboard. Each piece should be six inches from every other piece.)

I have a message taped to the board. If you can read the message and you think you understand the message because you know how the pieces fit together, and because the message makes sense.

(Place a transparency of a world map on the overhead or use a large wall map.) In 1912 a German scientist by the name of Alfred Wegener (VAY guh nur) said that 200 million years ago, all the continents were joined in one large land mass called Pangaea. When you look at a world map, do you see any continents that look like they might fit together? (Students should indicate the Atlantic coasts of South America and Africa.)

In 1912, Wegener advanced what he called the theory of continental drift. Besides the fact that the shape of the continents suggested that they had once been together, he cited other reasons. Among them were reports that similar fossils were found in rock from Africa and South America. These fossils could not occur on two continents separated by vast ocean unless the continents were once part of a single land mass. In Wegener's mind, continental drift was the only way to explain the evidence.

Wegener's theory was initially rejected by other scientists. (Ask students to give reasons why they think other scientists might have rejected Wegener's theory.) (Students' reasons should include the fact that Wegener did not know how or why the continents drifted. Other scientists wanted to know what caused South America to separate from Africa and move across the Atlantic Ocean.

The mechanism for continental drift was not discovered until the early 1950's when scientist began to map the ocean floor. In the middle of the ocean they found a long chain of mountains that seemed to circle the earth. This mountain system, the longest in the world, is called the mid-ocean ridge. It is also the sight where new crust is created. As new crust is created, the Atlantic gets larger, and Africa and South America gets farther apart.

Today, Wegener's idea is included in plate tectonics, the theory that the earth's surface is made up of large moving plates.

1. Trace and cut out figures from world map.

2. Label each continent.

3. Arrange continents to show how Pangaea may have looked.

4. Draw plants and animals on Pangaea.)

(Ask the following questions orally. Have students respond orally.

1. State the theory of continental drift in your words.

2. What was the name of the supercontinent?

3. What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

4. The theory that the earth's crust is made up of large moving plates is called what?)

(Write the following question on the overhead.

1. Who was the first to advance the theory of continental drift?

2. What was Pangaea?

3. Why was the theory of continental drift initially rejected?

4. Besides matching rocks and fossils, what other evidence suggested that the continents had drifted?)

(As the students to tell there partner who was the first to advance the theory of continental drift and what the theorist proposed as an explanation. The students might respond similar to the following. Alfred Wegener was the first to advance the theory of continental drift. He believed that the continents had drifted (moved) because of the shape of the continents and because matching rocks and fossils found on different continents. He states that about 200 million years ago, all the continents were joined in one large land mass called Pangaea.)

This is the time this file has been accessed since 11/16/96.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

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