Plate tectonics lab doral academy preparatory school. In the data section, draw a crosssection diagram to show what this continentaloceanic convergent boundary. Edible plate tectonics page 6 converging oceanic or oceanic and continental plates graham cracker and fruit rollup or two fruit rollups moving toward one another creating a subduction zone. What happens with the whipped cream between the graham crackers as you drag them apart. Place a second graham cracker rectangle end to end against the wet part of the other graham cracker rectangle. This lesson plan is useful for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students. To study the interactions of the tectonic plates as they move slowly on the asthenosphere. The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates.
Learn how earths tectonic plates interact in this delicious activity. Break the other whole graham cracker in half, and then break each half in half again so you have 4 pieces. It floats high on the asthenosphere so dont push it down. Each piece of graham cracker represents a continental plate. Graham cracker tectonics this is another fun activity with a sweet treat reward at the end. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth. Where the two graham cracker plates meet is called a plate boundary and they are named by the way the plates move against each other. Then i move on to the two different convergent plate boundary activities. Graham cracker tectonics by bryce hixson this lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. Buy wax paper, knives, frosting, fruit rollups, and graham crackers. In this activity the graham crackers represent the plates of earth and the peanut butter or frosting represents the magma molten rock underneath. Using two fingers one on each cracker gently push the crackers away from each other so the. Reuse the graham cracker used above for this activity.
Plate boundary analysis activity simple convergent boundary models or demonstrations o give students or groups of students aluminum foil square approximately 20 cm x 20 cm. Lay the crackers on plate sidebyside, so they look like a complete half again. The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 16 major pieces or plates. Procedures, observations, and questions spread about a 1cm thick layer of frosting on the wax paper. Carefully break your graham cracker into 4 sections. Spread a thick layer of frosting on the paper plate. The area where two plates meet is called a plate boundary. When there is a crack in the plate, we call that a fault. Break one of the whole graham crackers into two square pieces. Place a spoonful of frosting on the wax paper for each pair of students. Name a specific location on the earth where this type of boundary activity takes place. Google graham cracker plate tectonics lab for a variety of different versions used by schools across the country. To model tectonic plate boundaries, students will use graham crackers to represent earths lithosphere and pudding to represent the flowing asthenosphere upper mantle.
Divergent plate boundary these are boundaries where two plates move away from each other. The oceanic plate is subducted below the continental one. This quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to. This will be a bit tricky youll have to push the crackers together with moderate force while sliding one away from you and pulling the other piece. Apes graham cracker approach to plate tectonics lab. This lab will present the students with several opportunities to observe tectonic activity and learn firsthand how the surface of the earth operates on a daily basis. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. Using a knife, spread a thick layer of whipped cream or the like in the center of. The graham cracker represents continental crust, which is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust fruit roll up. Gently push the continent graham cracker towards the ocean plate fruit roll up until the two overlap and the graham cracker is on top. This theory also says that most of these plates are in motion, creating.
To study the interactions and consequences of the tectonic plates on the earths surface using common snack food for the raw materials. Using a knife, spread a thick layer of whipped cream or the like in the center of the wax paper or plate. On the data sheet for handout b draw a cross section diagram to show what a c ontinentaloceanic convergent boundary subduction looks like and answer the questions. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers two centimeters into a cup of water.
Graham cracker based plate tectonic boundaries lab. Students should draw a line down the center of the aluminum foil square with a marker. Remember when we made different models of the earths layers. Answer the questions using your knowledge from this activity, your text and other handouts. Give each student a paper plate covered in frosting and several graham cracker squares. Convergent places where plates crash or push together. Graham cracker plate tectonics is always a hit with my 6th graders. Take two graham cracker pieces and lay the two pieces side by side on top of the frosting so they are touching. Model the plates movements using frosting and graham crackers to. In one section of your plate, lay the two pieces of graham cracker side by side on top of the frosting. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. This lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. The spread should be about the size of the graham cracker, but twice as thick.
The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and. Break the graham cracker into four pieces use only two and save the remaining two pieces of graham cracker for the next section. To create a transform plate boundary, pick two crackers up off the frosting and turn them around so that two dry edges are next to each other. Graham cracker plate tectonics pacific science center.
If you are low on cash, stick with procedure and skip the rice crispies. In this activity the graham crackers represent the plates of earth and the peanut butter or frosting represents the magma. Using a marker, divide your paper plate into four equal sections. The first boundary we recreated was a transform boundary. Second grade lesson incredible edible earth changes. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle called the asthenosphere. As part of your plate tectonics activity, answer the questions below.
Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic organizer would cause volcanoes. Plate tectonics this plate tectonics lesson plan involves a classroom activity to help students understand the processes that move and shape earths surface. The crust is broken into pieces, which is why i gave you two graham crackers. Use only two of the pieces for part 3, saving the other two for part 4. Put the two graham cracker halves tectonic plates touching each other in the middle of your asthenosphere. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate interactions of plate boundaries and infer their impact on surface features through constructive or destructive forces. The kids will move broken graham crackers on top of a frosted sheet of wax paper to create divergent, convergent, transform fault, and sub.
Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water about 2 cm. What is the process that creates new ocean floor from diverging plates. Give each pair of students one long graham cracker broken in half. Graham cracker plate tectonics playdough to plato this quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to explore plate tectonics the movement of the earths crust that leads to the formation of volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic trenches. On the data sheet for handout b draw a cross section diagram to show what a continentaloceanic convergent boundary subduction looks like and answer the questions.
The frosting represents the layer of lava, or the mantle, on which earths crust floats. Create three major plate boundaries and watch what happens to the earths crust as you move the plates. You will use the graham cracker model to help you learn about plate collision, subduction, mountain building, earthquakes, faulting and. Graham cracker plate tectonics this quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to explore plate tectonics the movement of the earths crust that leads to the formation of volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic trenches. In this lab, you will investigate the interactions that take place between the plates at their boundaries. Break the last whole graham cracker in half and place the 2 halves side to side on top of the frosting. Microsoft word graham cracker plate tectonics lab activity. The icing should cover an area large enough for a whole graham cracker. However, the version i prefer includes the use of a rice crispy treat to illustrate oceanic vs. Push one cracker past the other to simulate a transform plate boundary like the san andreas fault. Check out the plate tectonics module if you are not sure which type of boundary is two plates moving apart. The kids will move broken graham crackers on top of a frosted sheet of wax paper to create divergent, convergent, transform fault, and subduction zone boundaries. Using 2 fingers of each hand in the middle of each graham cracker, gently push the pieces down and pull one graham cracker towards you and push the other away from you. Graham cracker plate tectonics with images plate tectonics.