WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Earth Science, Grade 11, Quarter 2, Week 4B

PLATE TECTONICS

Learning Competency:
Explain how the movement of plates leads to the formation of folds, faults,
trenches, volcanoes, rift valleys, and mountain ranges (MELC S11ES-IIg-h-34)

Specific Objectives:
1. Identify the three types of plate boundaries;
2. Describe how plate tectonic processes lead to the formation of folds, faults, trenches,
volcanoes, rift valleys, and mountain ranges;
3. Explain the driving forces for plate motion;
4. Appreciate the common geographical feature found in the locality and its
importance.

Key Concepts

Theory of Plate Tectonics

The Main Principles of Plate Tectonics

o The Earth’s outermost rigid layer (lithosphere) is broken into discrete plates, each moving
more or less as a unit.
o Driven by mantle convection, the lithospheric plates ride over the soft, ductile
asthenosphere.
o Different types of relative motion and different types of lithosphere at plate boundaries
create a distinctive set of geologic features.

3 Types of Plate Boundaries

1) Divergent boundaries (also called spreading centers) are the place where two plates move
apart.

Actions at Divergent Plate Boundaries

a) Oceanic-Oceanic
o Plates moving away from each other.
o Forms elevated ridge with rift valley at the
center, submarine volcanism and shallow
earthquakes.
o Oceanic ridges are continuous elevated zones
on the floor of all major ocean basins. The
divergent plate boundaries are presented by
the rifts at the crest of ridges.
o Examples: Mid-Atlantic Ridge; East Pacific
Rise
Source: Tarbuck, Edward J., Frederick K. Lutgens, and Pearson/Prentice
Hall. Prentice Hall Earth Science. 2009

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
 b) Continental-Continental
o Plates moving away from each other.
o When spreading centers develop within
a continent, the landmass may split into
two or more smaller segments, forming
a rift valley.
o Broad elevated region with major rift
valley.
o Abundant volcanism and shallow
earthquakes.
o Examples: East African Rift valley;
Red Sea

Source: Tarbuck, Edward J., Frederick K. Lutgens, and Pearson/Prentice Hall. Prentice Hall
Earth Science. 2009

2) Convergent boundaries form where two plates move towards each other. A subduction zone
happens when one oceanic plate is pushed down into the mantle under a second plate.

Actions at Convergent Plate Boundaries

a) Oceanic-Continental
o Plates moving toward each other.
o Dense oceanic plate slips beneath less
dense continental plate.
o Pockets of magma develop and rise.
o Trench forms on the subducting plate
side and extensive volcanism on the
overriding continental plate.
o Earthquake foci becoming deeper in the
direction of subduction.
o Continental volcanic arcs form in part by
volcanic activity caused by the
subduction of oceanic lithosphere
beneath a continent. Example:
Subduction of the Nazca Plate under Oceanic-Continental Convergent Boundary
South America (which has created the Source: Tarbuck, Edward J., Frederick K. Lutgens, and Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Prentice Hall Earth Science. 2009
Andes Mountains and the Peru Trench)
and subduction of the Juan de Fuca
Plate under North America (creating the
Cascade Range)

b) Oceanic-Oceanic
o Older, cooler, denser plate slips beneath
less dense plate; trench forms on Oceanic-Oceanic Convergent Boundary
Source: Tarbuck, Edward J., Frederick K. Lutgens, and Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Prentice Hall Earth Science. 2009

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
 subducting plate side and volcanic island arc on overriding plate.
o Band of earthquakes becoming deeper in the direction of subduction.
o This kind of boundary often forms volcanoes on the ocean floor.
o Earthquakes that generate tsunamis most often happen where Earth’s tectonic plates
converge, and the heavier plate dips beneath the lighter one. Tension is released when
part of the seafloor snaps upward. Huge
bulge of water is created when the
entire column of seawater is pushed
towards the surface. As the water
flattens out, giant ripples race outward.
o Examples: Aleutians; Marianas

c) Continental-Continental
o Neither mass is subducted; plate edges
are compressed, folded, and uplifted
resulting in the formation of major
mountain range.
o This kind of boundary can produce new
mountain ranges, such as the Continental-Continental Convergent Boundary
Himalayan mountain range. Source: Tarbuck, Edward J., Frederick K. Lutgens, and Pearson/Prentice Hall.
o Examples: Himalayas; Alps Prentice Hall Earth Science. 2009

3) Transform fault boundaries are margins where two plates grind past each other without the
production or destruction of the lithosphere.
o Plate sliding past each other.
o Lithosphere is neither
created nor destroyed; most
offset oceanic ridge systems
while some cut through
continental crust;
characterized by shallow
earthquakes.
o Examples: mid-ocean ridge;
San Andreas fault

Source: Tarbuck, Edward J., Frederick K. Lutgens, and Pearson/Prentice Hall. Prentice Hall Earth
Science. 2009

The Wilson Cycle

• Plate tectonics is cyclic. In 1966, according to J. Tuzo Wilson it is a cycle that includes
continental break-up, drifting, collision, and re-assembly of the continent.
• Main phases of the Wilson Cycle
o Rifting within the supercontinent leads to the opening of new ocean basin and formation
of oceanic crust.
o Passive margin cools and sinks, and sediment accumulates along the edge.
o Convergence begins, initiating subduction and eventual ocean closure.
o Continent-continent collision forms the next supercontinent.

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
The driving forces for Plate motion

A. Convection in the mantle (the sinking of denser material and rising of hot, less dense
material) appears to drive plate motion.

o At the surface, the plates

are dragged in different
directions depending on
the direction the
convection currents are
flowing in.
o The unequal
distribution of heat
within Earth causes the
thermal convection in
the upper mantle Source: Tarbuck, Edward J., Frederick K. Lutgens, and Pearson/Prentice Hall. Prentice Hall Earth Science. 2009
(asthenosphere) that
ultimately drives plate
motion.
o Convection currents occur because the very hot material at the deepest part of the
mantle rises, then cools, sinking again and heating, rising, and repeating the cycle
repeatedly. Thus, all the motion caused by these actions causes plate tectonics to move.

B. Gravity-driven mechanisms such as slab-pull and ridge-push are thought to be important in

driving plate motion. Slab-pull develops when cold, dense subducting slab of
lithosphere pulls along the rest of the plate behind it. Ridge-push develops as gravity
pushes the lithosphere off the mid-ocean ridges and toward the subduction trenches.

Exercises / Activities

Activity 1: Idealized Plate Boundary Map and Cross Section (Adopted and Modified)
Reference: Teaching Guide for Senior High School EARTH SCIENCE pages 297-298
Objective: Identify the three types of plate boundaries.
What you need: paper and ball pen
What to do:
1. Using separate sheet of paper, draw the hypothetical map shown blow. That will serve
as your answer sheet. Refer to the hypothetical plate map showing continents A and B
separated by an ocean. Answer the following questions.

1. How many plate portions are shown?

2. Draw arrows on the map to show the
relative direction the plates are moving.
3. Draw a triangle (Δ) where volcanic
activity is likely to occur.
4. Draw a circle (ο) where earthquake is
likely to occur."
5. Indicate with an arrow the younging
direction of the lithosphere.
6. Mark the location and type of each plate
boundary shown in the map.
7. If the ocean is opening at a rate of Hypothetical plate map
3cm/yr, how wide will the ocean be in Source: Teaching Guide for Senior High School EARTH SCIENCE pages 297-298
100 million years?
8. Give your answer in kilometers. _____________

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
Guide Question:

1. Volcanism and seismicity are associated with plate boundaries. Why are there
earthquakes generated during the movement of the plate boundaries?

Scoring Rubric for Number 1

- Content is comprehensive and accurate.

- Major points are stated clearly and are well supported.
4 - Responses are excellent, timely and address topic.
- Content is clear.
-Specific examples are used.
- Content is accurate and persuasive.
- Major points are stated.
3 - Responses are adequate and address topic.
- Content is clear.
-Specific examples are used.
- Content is not comprehensive and /or persuasive.
2 - Major points are addressed, but not well supported.
- Responses are inadequate or do not address topic.
-Specific examples do not support topic.
- Content is incomplete.
1 - Major points are not clear.
-Specific examples are not used.
Source:https://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowc.cfm?sp=yes&code=N4AA82&

Activity 2: Plate Movement and Geologic Features (Adopted and Modified)

Reference: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/sealearning/grade-4-earth-science-topic-2-activity
Objective: Describe how plate tectonic processes lead to the formation of folds, faults, trenches,
volcanoes, rift valleys, and mountain ranges.
What you need: paper and ball pen
What to do:
Direction: Using separate sheet of paper draw figures 1 and 2. That will serve as your answer
sheet. Draw arrows in the boxes to indicate the direction of plate movement and the
motion of the "magma". Then, briefly answer the guide questions below.

A B
Plate 1 Plate 2
Answer here Mantle
Figure 1 Figure 2

Guide Questions:

1. When sea floors A and B move towards opposite directions, what do you think will
happen to the magma beneath the seafloor?

2. What geologic features are formed during the movement of sea floor A and B and
Plates 1 and 2?

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
Direction: Using separate sheet of paper draw figures 3 and 4. This will serve as your answer
sheet. Draw arrows in the boxes to indicate the direction of plate movement and the motion
of the "magma". Then, briefly answer the guide questions below.

continent

ocean

Mantle Answer here

Figure 3

Guide Questions:

3. When plate 1 is pushed towards plate 2, what do you think will happen? What will
happen to the magma beneath the tectonic plates?

4. What geologic features are formed during the movement of plates 1 and 2?

Figure 4

Guide Question:

5. Imagine the model scaled up to the size of our Earth's crust. What might occur at
these boundaries?

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
Activity 3: Convection Current (Adopted and Modified)
Reference: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-AiPYEb3nFVRmU4bEdrUk9yQzg/edit
Objective: Explain the driving forces for plate motion
What you need: paper and ball pen
What to do:
1. Using the diagram below, briefly answer the following guide questions.

Source:https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-iPYEb3nFVRmU4bEdrUk9yQzg/edit

Guide Questions:

1. Where does the heat come from that drives this convection current in the mantle?

2. Where is the density of the material greater, at point a or b? Explain why?

3. What happens to the temperature and density of the material between points B and
C?
4. What causes the convection cell to turn down at point C?

Reflection:
We know Earth’s plates move – drawing apart from each other, rubbing together or
colliding, which pushes one plate down and another up and creating numerous geographical
features. Cite one example of a geographical feature (mountains, island arcs, valleys, hills, hot
springs, active faults) created by plate tectonics common in your place and describe its structure
and importance in the community.

Scoring Rubric for Reflection

Response demonstrates an in-depth reflection on, and personalization of, the theories,
4 concepts, and/or strategies presented in the course materials to date. Viewpoints and
interpretations are insightful and well supported. Clear, detailed examples are provided,
as applicable.
Response demonstrates a general reflection on, and personalization of, the theories,
3 concepts, and/or strategies presented in the course materials to date. Viewpoints and
interpretations are supported. Appropriate examples are provided, as applicable.
Response demonstrates a minimal reflection on, and personalization of, the theories,
2 concepts, and/or strategies presented in the course materials to date. Viewpoints and
interpretations are unsupported or supported with flawed arguments. Examples, when
applicable, are not provided or are irrelevant to the assignment.
Response demonstrates a lack of reflection on, or personalization of, the theories,
1 concepts, and/or strategies presented in the course materials to date. Viewpoints and
interpretations are missing, inappropriate, and/or unsupported. Examples, when
applicable, are not provided.
Source: https://teachingcommons.lakeheadu.ca/4-rubrics-assessing-reflective-writing

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
References for learners:

Bercovici, David Bercovici. Mantle Convection. People.earth.yale.edu. Encyclopedia of Solid Earth

Geophysics, Harsh Gupta (ed.), Springer, December 20, 2010. Accessed on Dec. 2, 2020.
Retrieved from
https://people.earth.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Bercovici/17_MantlConvection-
ESEG2011-2_0.pdf.
Dubec, Rhonda. 4 Rubrics for Assessing Reflective Writing. Teaching Commons.
teachingcommons.lakeheadu.ca, September 16, 2019. Accessed on December 2, 2020.
Retrieved from https://teachingcommons.lakeheadu.ca/4-rubrics-assessing-reflective-
writing.

Guzman II, Alfonso Vincent A, Ernesto A Dizon Jr, Zoraida S Dizon, Eddie L Listanco, and
Catherine C Abon. Teaching Guide for Senior High School EARTH SCIENCE. C.P. Garcia
Ave., Diliman, Quezon City. Commission on Higher Education, 2016; Accessed on
December 2, 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/document/336321453/Earth-Sci-Initial-Release-June-14-
pdf.

Hatfield, Stanley, Kenneth G. Pinzke, Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, and Dennis Tasa.
Study Guide: Earth Science, 13th Ed. Amazon. Prentice Hall, 2012. Accessed on December
2, 2020.Retrieved from: https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Science-13th-Edward-
Tarbuck/dp/0321688503.

Pidwirny, M. CHAPTER 10: Introduction to the Lithosphere H. Structure of the Earth. Physical
Geography. PhysicalGeography.net FUNDAMENTALS eBOOK. Accessed December 2,
2020. Retrieved from http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/10h.html

Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN

School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SIARGAO
email address: [email protected]
 email address: [email protected]
Division: SIARGAO
School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN
Activity 2
Guide Questions:
1. When sea floors A and B move towards opposite directions, what
do you think will happen to the magma beneath the seafloor?
Answer: As the sea floors A and B move towards the opposite
directions, magma will come up through the gap in between.
2. What geologic features are formed during the movement of sea
floors A and B and Plates 1 and 2?
Answers: Ocean ridges; rift valleys
3. When plate 1 is pushed towards plate 2, what do you think will
happen?
Answer: Trench forms on the subducting plate side and extensive
volcanism on the overriding continental plate.
4. What geologic features are formed during the movement of plates 1
and 2?
Answer: Trenches and volcanic arcs
5.Imagine the model scaled up to the size of our Earth's crust. What
might occur at these boundaries?
Answer: The friction and movement would be larger. There might be
earthquakes, and landslides. Roads, boulders, and homes could fit
inside the large faults.
Activity 1
Activity 1
Guide Question:
1. Volcanism and seismicity are associated with plate boundaries.
Why there are earthquakes generated during the movement of
the plate boundaries?
Possible answer: Tectonic plates are constantly moving
slowly, but sometimes friction between them causes them lock
together and become unable to move. This movement causes a
tectonic earthquake. The waves of released energy move
through the Earth's crust and cause the shaking we feel at an
earthquake site.
Answer Key
 email address: [email protected]
Division: SIARGAO
School/Station: DAPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Author: CHARLS ASTER E. ORTOJAN
Reflection
Answers may vary for this part.
Activity 3
Guide Questions:
1. Where does the heat come from that drives this convection current in the mantle?
Answer: The Core
2. Where is the temperature of the mantle greater, at point A or B? Explain why?
Answer: Point A because it is closer to the core.
3. Where is the density of the material greater, at point b or c? Explain why?
Answer: Point C because it is getting heavy and about to sink.
4. What happens to the temperature and density of the material between points B and C?
Answer: Temperature goes down and density increases.
continent
ocean
Mantle Answer here
Figure 4 Figure 3