Plate tectonics – the magical force of nature responsible for shaping our planet. Maybe you don’t think this is something middle schoolers will get excited about, but just wait. Once you start talking about volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and puzzle-piece-like continents, students will begin to see the appeal. Teaching plate tectonics in a way that grabs students’ attention means connecting the theory to real-world phenomena and making the science relatable and hands-on.
Let’s break down how to teach the complex topic of earth’s moving pieces to students so that they understand the vastness of earth sciences. First up, if you’re new to teaching this concept, what are we talking about when we say “plate tectonics?”
Teaching plate tectonics to middle schoolers means helping them visualize how plate movement causes events such as volcanic activity, earthquakes, and formation of mountain ranges. Picture the earth as a giant egg with a cracking shell, or a huge jigsaw puzzle. The tiny cracks between the pieces, which we call “plates,” are where all the action happens.
The earth’s surface is divided into about 15 to 20 major tectonic plates that are constantly on the move, though rather slowly. The plates float on a semi-liquid mantle. Now, think about asking your students: “If there are a bunch of puzzle pieces floating on liquid, what types of things may happen?” You will hopefully spark a conversation about how the plates can collide, slide past one another, and pull away from each other. These types of movements have been occurring for millions of years, and the different types are what result in mid-ocean ridges and deep subduction zones, among other things.
It may also be helpful for students to see a world map and think about the shapes of the continents. Do they notice how North America and South America seem like they could snuggle up next to Africa and fit like a puzzle? That’s because millions of years ago, all of the continents were connected in one massive landmass called Pangaea. Over geologic time…a VERY long time…the plates moved apart to form the earth’s continents that we know today. This drift caused the physical changes that we see today in our mountain ranges and oceanic crust.
Okay, so how to we get this idea to stick in the minds if your middle school students? Let’s chat about some activities!
Teaching plate tectonics through the following activities will help students understand the scientific theory behind the movement of the earth’s crust.
Maybe it’s been a while since your middle schoolers have played with Legos, but most of them will remember pretty well. Try starting your plate tectonics unit with an earthquake simulation involving building Lego houses and testing their resilience on a shaky foundation to simulate tectonic plate movement.
Setup: Fill a shallow tub with rocks to represent the earth’s crust. Then have groups of students build small Lego houses and place them on top of the rocks. Explain that the rocks represent the earth’s continental crust and oceanic crust, and their Lego houses represent the structures that humans build. Finally, have students take turns *gently* shaking the tub to simulate plate motion causing an earthquake!
Class Discussion: After students complete the modeling and have some fun investigating with different types of Lego structures, begin a class-wide discussion. Did certain buildings collapse more easily than others?
This is a great time to introduce the types of tectonic boundaries! Transform boundaries are where plates slide past one another, and convergent boundaries are where plates collide. Have students research some real-world earthquakes like the ones that have occurred in California along the San Andreas Fault. Maybe you’ll have a few students who have experienced an Earthquake in their lifetime!
Lastly, nudge your class to start thinking about how tectonic plate movement may impact certain careers – city planning, natural disaster preparedness, and more!
What student doesn’t love an activity with a SNACK involved?? Check out this Snack Tectonics Activity PDF. You’ll find detailed instructions for helping students create a hands-on model using graham crackers, frosting, and fruit roll-ups.
Students will manipulate graham crackers and fruit roll-ups atop frosting to simulate the movement of tectonic plates. They’ll model subduction zones, divergent boundaries, and even simulate the formation of volcanic activity. My favorite part of this activity is having students push the graham crackers together to see how the frosting moves to create mid-ocean ridges and subduction zones, which can sometimes be challenging to understand without a manipulative.
This Plate Tectonic Puzzle Activity is a fantastic way to get students to piece together the shapes of the continents. Students work in in pairs to cut out puzzle pieces that represent the landmasses scientists believe covered the earth 220 million years ago. Then, they will attempt to reconstruct Pangaea using a globe or map of earth as a reference. After students construct their puzzles, you can do a gallery walk so that students can compare their puzzles to their classmates’! You may want to have a prize ready for the student pair who achieves the closest representation of Pangaea!
If you’re looking for a more structured activity that incorporates literacy and critical thinking, check out this Guided Reading Activity available in my shop. This resource integrates scientific vocabulary with questions that encourage students to reflect on and predict how the movement of the earth’s continents and major tectonic plates impacts human life. You’ll cover key topics such as convection currents, Alfred Wegener, the Ring of Fire, and landforms found at each boundary. With this activity, you’ll have the opportunity to instruct in whole or small groups as well as model and teach Close Reading strategies and annotation. It’s also a great extension activity for early finishers or for students who show a special interest in the topic!
Looking for standardized test practice or emergency sub plans? Look no further than this Plate Boundaries Color By Number Activity! I love color by number resources to provide simple yet comprehensive practice. This is a perfect resource for independent work time or stations because students can find errors themselves when the picture doesn’t make “sense.” Plus, middle school students love any chance they get to whip out some coloring supplies! As they enjoy coloring, they will review content and connect how types of plate boundaries and their movements cause physical changes in the earth’s surface.
Teaching plate tectonics is one science topic that is far from boring. With interactive activities like Lego simulation, Snack Tectonics, and puzzle building, students will easily engage in understanding how the earth’s crust moves. Not only will students easily grasp how volcanoes, mid-ocean ridges, and convection currents form, but they’ll enhance their critical thinking skills along the way!
So, dive into the world of tectonic plates with your classes this school year and watch as these activities and interactive models bring your lessons to life! Who knows?! Maybe you’ll inspire the next generation of geologists and environmental scientists!
