I have copied the picture and information for continental drift front to back, and the picture and information for plate tectonics front to back. Place the crackers onto the frosting with wet edges touching each other. In this lab activity, what type of plate was represented by the fruit rollup. Observe what is happening to the marshmallow spread. Model the plates movements using frosting and graham crackers to understand how earths landscape can change over time. 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. Break one whole graham cracker into two square pieces by following the perforations on the cracker. Put the two plate models slowly toward each other and observe which plate rides up over the other.
Schaefer the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth. What type of plate was represented by the graham cracker. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of. At the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other transform boundary. Spread a thick layer of frosting on the paper plate. To understand how plate boundaries interact with each other and the features created as they drift atop the slow moving asthenosphere. What happened to the frosting between the crackers. This video walks through the gram cracker plate tectonics lab. Microsoft word graham cracker plate tectonics lab activity. Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic organizer caused mountains to form. Exploring the movement of tectonic plates with smores.
The graham crackers represent the earths crust, which is broken up into plates. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water. Which of the three tests is a model for seafloor spreading. Students use graham crackers and icing to represent and observe how tectonic plates behave. Once the graham crackers have touched each other, note how the marshmallow spreading is a different shape than it was at the start of the experiment. Take two pieces of dry crackers and place them side by side on the frosting. 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 activity, ocean plates are represented by fruit roll ups and continental crust is represented by graham crackers. When a plate descends beneath another plate it is called subduction. Just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and. The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. What can you do with fruit rollups, graham crackers and frosting in your science class. Copy of the plate tectonic exit ticket for each student.
To identify and demonstrate the forces that shape the features of the earth 2. To study the interactions of the tectonic plates as they move slowly on the asthenosphere. Key concepts include e changes in earths crust due to plate tectonics. Break the graham cracker on its seam to make 2 rectangles and place the 2 rectangles, touching, on top of the frosting. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth science. Edible plate tectonics divergent, convergent, and transform. Each piece of graham crackers represents a continental plate.
Graham cracker tectonics this is another fun activity with a sweet treat reward at the end. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. Movements deep within the earth, which carry heat from the hot interior to the cooler surface, cause the plates to move very slowly on the surface, about 2 inches per year on average. Swbat describe the impact that plate tectonics have on the topography of earth.
Plate tectonics graham cracker lab by science station tpt. This theory also says that most of these plates are in. Plate movements introduction the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of less than twenty separate plates that float on the hot plastic mantle of the inner earth. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab stepbystep photo instructions. Model the plates movements using frosting and graham crackers to. Plate movement directly affects the destruction of earths surface because the more dense plates sink causing a trench where the plates are thoroughly destroyed. Kimberly miller printed on 101717 edible plate tectonics lab sheet purpose. This is an awesome upper elementarymiddle school lab that uses graham crackers and cool whip to represent tectonic plates. I use a version similar to this free version of graham cracker tectonics provided by. Slightly dampen one long side of each graham cracker by exposing them to water for a few seconds. Graham cracker cool whip plate tectonics lab by this elementary. For this activity, i grabbed a box of graham crackers, some cool whip, and a plate. At the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other in a lateral motion transform. Plate tectonics lab questions divergent plate boundary discussion questions 1.
Students will use shaving cream and graham crackers to simulate the three types of plate boundaries transform, divergent, and convergent. In addition, some plates may appear to be inactive. Each piece of graham cracker represents a continental plate. Label drawing as to what each item represents in terms of earth layers or processes of plate tectonics.
Diverging oceanic plates fruit rollups moving away from one another. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water about 2 cm. 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. The graham cracker represents the thicker but less dense continental plate, while the fruit roll represents the thin but dense oceanic plate. I am very excited to have you as my student and be a facilitator of your learning. A tectonic plate that gets subducted is a plate recycled. The theory also states that the motion of these plates. Though alfred wegener was the first to suggest the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics in 1915, it wasnt widely accepted until the 1960s and 1970s as new information was obtained about the nature of the ocean floor, earths magnetism, the distribution of volcanoes and. Convergent places where plates crash or push together. Identify the type of boundary associated with each picture below. Dec 17, 2018 this snackable plate tectonics lab provides the perfect combination of science rigor and fun. Plate tectonics lab doral academy preparatory school.
Buy wax paper, knives, frosting, fruit rollups, and graham crackers. Break the other whole graham cracker in half, and then break each half in half again so you have 4 pieces. 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. Break one whole graham cracker into two square pieces by following the perforations. Plate tectonics strand earth patterns, cycles, and change topic investigating plate tectonics primary sol 5. Name a specific location on the earth where this kind of boundary activity takes place. In addition, some plates may appear to be inactivity. Use only two of the pieces for part 3, saving the other two for part 4. Approximately1 foot by 1 foot square of wax paper knife frosting glob approximately 14 cup or 1 heaping glob full graham cracker fruit rollup dixie or 23 oz cup with water napkin, paper towel, or baby wipes procedure. Does anyone have a copy of the lab report he refers to throughout the video.
Stepbystep powerpoint for both you and your students total of 7 steps, pictures of student expectations is included. On the actual surface of the earth, the lower plate is subducted. Plate tectonics pieces of map showing movement of plates great idea even for. Place the graham crackers on opposite sides of the plate. Every ten seconds, push the graham crackers closer to each other. This graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan is suitable for 7th 10th grade. Plate boundaries are found at the edge of the plates. Draw what your food looks like after you created the transform boundary in the space provided 4.
Gently put the wet cracker section and a dry cracker section on the layer of frosting. Name date class period snack tectonics lab exercise. Plate tectonics graham cracker lab test written observations. Students will perform an edible plate tectonics lab and start their graphic organizer. Plate tectonics lab by the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. To introduce, model, and demonstrate how earths plates move. Plate tectonicsgraham cracker lab this is also called snack tectonics. The kids will move broken graham crackers on top of a frosted sheet of wax paper to create divergent, convergent, transform fault, and sub. Finally we used our last graham crackers to make a subduction zone what happens when a more dense oceanic plate is thrust under a less dense continental plate. This theory also says that most of these plates are in motion, creating.
Give each student a paper plate covered in frosting and several graham cracker squares. This blog will help you achieve your big goals of meeting or exceeding your individual science map growth goal, achieving 80% or higher on your 6th grade science objectives, and meeting or exceeding satisfactory on your science fair project. Spread frosting on wax paper to cover an area a bit larger than the graham cracker square. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. Print out sets of these stepbystep photo instructions to help your students successfully model plate tectonic activity using graham crackers, cake. The theory of plate tectonics provides geology with a comprehensive theory that explains how the earth works. Converge come together diverge move apart procedure. A specific location for this kind of boundary is north america and eurasian. Plate tectonicsgraham cracker lab plate tectonics, graham. After completing the previous labs on volcanoes and earthquakes, sixth graders use the gained knowledge to explore plate boundaries and the movement of earths. Cabbage rolls polish golabki easy to follow, step by step recipe duration. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate the different types of interactions at plate boundaries.
Unit 5 covers standards relating to earths systems. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers two centimeters into a cup of water. These plates move on the top of the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. My 5 year old instantly recognized this boundary as its what led to the formation of all the volcanic mountains that surround us. Here is a set of prelab, lab, and postlab lesson plans on plate tectonics. Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic organizer formed the midocean ridge. However, the version i prefer includes the use of a rice crispy treat to illustrate oceanic vs. Immediately remove the crackers and lay them end to end on the cool whip with the wet edges nearly touching. First, we took two graham crackers and put frosting on the plate.
Immediately remove the crackers and lay them end to end on the frosting with the wet edges nearly touching. Learn how earths tectonic plates interact in this delicious activity. Gently push graham cracker towards the ocean plate fruit roll up until the two overlap. Converging continental plates graham crackers moving toward each other. This lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate interactions of plate boundaries. For this plate tectonics worksheet, students use graham crackers, frosting, water and a paper plate to simulate tectonic processes such as convergent, divergent and transforming plate boundaries. This snackable plate tectonics lab provides the perfect combination of science rigor and fun. The theory also states that the motion of these plates creates a variety of interactions at the plate boundaries. Sketch this model on your lab sheet and answer the questions. To represent the natural world by creating models and analyzing their limitations.
Jan 29, 2015 at the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other transform boundary. Dec 04, 2011 place the graham crackers on opposite sides of the plate. After learning about plate tectonics, students will model how plates move when a prompt is given. What physical layer of the earth did the frosting represent. 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. Graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan for 7th 10th. What is the process that creates new ocean floor from diverging plates. Slowly push the graham crackers towards each other. In this windows to the universe activity, students use these items to model the. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, andor atmosphere interact. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle called the asthenosphere. Plate movement directly affects the construction of earths surface because the land recycles and creates new crust by divergent plates. Google graham cracker plate tectonics lab for a variety of different versions used by schools across the.
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