Plate Tectonics Cycle - Earth's Moving Force
by J.R. Blueford, Ph.D.
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K
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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Volcanoes
(1
week)
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Volcanoes
Produce Rocks
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Volcanoes
have Definite Shapes
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Products
of Volcanoes
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Creating
Rocks from Lava
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3
Basic Types of Volcanoes
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Volcanoes
produce Different Rocks
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Location
of Volcanoes
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Earthquakes
(1 week)
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Shaking
during an Earthquake
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Earthquakes
Release Energy
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Earthquake
Faults
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Seismic
Waves cause Damage
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Measuring
Earthquake Intensities
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Wave
Movements and Seismograms
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Dividing
the Earth by Waves
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Plate
Tectonics
(1
week)
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Continents
and Oceans
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Moving
Continents
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Evidence
from Continents
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Pressure
in the Earth
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Diverging,
Converging, Transform Boundaries
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Crustal
Movement
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Definition
of Plate Boundaries
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Hazards
(1
week)
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Earthquakes
and Volcanoes cause Damage
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Volcanic
Eruptions
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Where
of you go for Help?
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Historical
Damage (Volcanoes)
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Damage
during Earthquakes
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Mudslides
and Volcanoes
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"Earthquake
Proof" Structures
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In
the Plate Tectonic Cycle students learn that the Earth is dynamic as it spins on
its axis, revolving around the Sun. The Earth is restless inside, as it tries to
cool its interior. Emphasis in the elementary grades is to understand the
divisions of the Earth, movements of the crust and upper mantle, and causes of
earthquakes and volcanoes. When convections currents come together
in the (asthenosphere), convergent plate boundaries are formed on the
Earth's crust (obduction and subduction). When the convection currents pull the crust apart in two
different directions divergent plate boundaries are
formed (rifting). A consequence of the Earth's surface moving faster along the equator
than at the poles creates tension which in part, helps form transform
boundaries. Earthquakes and volcanoes are created by these complex
interactions.
Volcanoes - The Earth is
moving and volcanoes provide structural evidence. Students learn about the
different types of volcanoes and the significance of where they occur.
Earthquakes - The moving
Earth also creates earthquakes. However when an earthquake occurs it is just a
release of energy that occurs for only a short period of time.
Plate Tectonics - The data
collected from volcanoes and earthquakes allows scientists to understand that
our Earth is moving in a very directed motion.
Hazards - Students need to
be aware that all around the world there are risks involved with earthquakes and
volcanoes.
Rock
Cycle - Understanding the Earth's Crust