8th Grade Tectonics Plates Lesson Plan Example

Topic: Tectonics Plates

Objectives & Outcomes

• Understand the different types of plate boundaries and their characteristics.

Materials:

• Diagram of the Earth's tectonic plates
• Marker or pen for drawing on the diagram
• Construction paper and scissors for making plates

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever heard of tectonic plates before. What do they know about them?
• Show the students a diagram of the Earth's tectonic plates and briefly explain what they are and what they do.

Direct Instruction

• Explain that tectonic plates are large, moving pieces of the Earth's surface.
• Tell students that there are six major tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate, the North American Plate, the Caribbean Plate, the Nazca Plate, the Antarctic Plate, and the Eurasian Plate.
• Show the students a map of the world and point out the different plates.
• Explain that the movement of tectonic plates causes earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of new land.
• Use the handouts to provide more detailed information about tectonic plates and their boundaries.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and give each group a set of cardboard pieces to represent the different tectonic plates.
• Have the students use the markers and colored pencils to label the different plate boundaries on their maps.
• As a class, discuss the different plate boundaries and how they were labeled by the groups.

Independent Practice

• Have the students use the markers and colored pencils to label the different plate boundaries on their own maps.
• Encourage the students to use the information they learned during the activity to explain why the different plate boundaries are where they are.

Closure

• Review the different plate boundaries and their characteristics.
• Ask the students to share any new insights or questions they have about plate tectonics and plate boundaries.

Assessment

• Observe the students during the group work activity and provide feedback on their understanding of the topic.
• Use the Venn diagram to assess the students' understanding of the similarities and differences between the different plate boundaries.