Alfred Wegener was an atmospheric scientist that established the theory of Continental Drift. He observed how the continents fit together like puzzle pieces. When he lined them all up he also noticed that the fossil record and rock layers lined up across the continents. What are the odds that the same species of plant or animal would have evolved exactly the same way an ocean apart at exactly the same time? Not very likely! He also noticed that there were glacier scars on rocks found on continents that had warm tropical like climates. How could this be? The continent must have moved! Even though he provided evidence that the continents moved, he was dismissed by the scientific community because he could not explain HOW they moved. You have now learned the theory of Plate Tectonics, the evidence that supports that theory, as well as HOW the continents move.
Write a letter to Alfred Wegener to be sent back in time to him. Reassure him that his theory was correct by telling him about the theory of plate tectonics and what evidence we have discovered that supports plate movement. Make sure to tell him about convection in the mantle! You will use the text box to type your letter on this assignment. I recommend writing it in another app and the copying and pasting it in for submission.
Instructions:
Number your pieces of evidence in your letter.
You must mention at least 4 and how they are evidence that the continents move.
Also must explain how convection moves the plates.
This should be in letter format which means complete sentences! Use the model you created and other resources in your Science Notebook to help you!
Example of how you could start your letter:
Dear Mr. Wegener,
You were right! The continents do move. I am from the future and I am going to tell you all about what we have discovered that supports your theory!
Grading Info: This project is a companion project to Assessment – Earth Cross Section Model
Standard Assessed: 6-8.ESS2.A.1 Develop and use a model to illustrate that energy from the Earth’s interior drives convection which cycles
Earth’s crust leading to melting, crystallization, weathering and deformation of large rock formations, including generation of
ocean sea floor at ridges, submergence of ocean sea floor at trenches, mountain building and active volcanic chains.
Scoring Breakdown: Base score 10 pts= 50%. Total project worth 20 points.
- Each piece of evidence will be worth 1 pt (total of 4 pts possible)
- Explanation for how that supports the Theory of Continental Drift will be worth 1 pt. (total of 4 pts possible)
- Explanation of Convection and how it moves the plates will be worth 2 pts