Plate Tectonic 
FOURTH GRADE
4 week unit

1. Students should begin to visualize how the interior of the Earth looks like in three dimensions.
2. Students should be able to construct a three dimensional model of either a shield, composite, or cinder volcano.
3. Students should be able to understand that the structure of various volcanoes relates to how it has erupted through history.
4. Students should begin to understand how earthquakes are measured by either the Mercalli or Richter scale.
5. Students should think about how different structures react during an earthquake.
6. Students should start understanding that earthquakes and volcanoes provide data for interpreting how the Earth's outer surface moves.
7. Students should be able to distinguish the layers of the Earth.
8. Students should realize the outer features of the Earth provide clues of that is going on inside the Earth.
9. Students should understand that the intensity of an earthquake determines the damage.
10. Students should begin to understand that building structures can be engineered to withstand shaking.

WEEK 1.
PRE: Comparing different structures of volcanoes.
LAB: Modeling three types of volcanoes.
POST: Illustrating a volcanic eruption.

EARTHQUAKES

WEEK 2.
PRE: Comparing the Richter and Mercalli scales of earthquake measurement.
LAB: Testing how different shapes react during an earthquake.
POST: Describing a seismogram.

PLATE TECTONICS

WEEK 3.
PRE: Distinguishing the different layers of the Earth.
LAB: Observing the effects caused by plate movements.
POST: Exploring the reason for earthquakes and volcanoes.

HAZARDS

WEEK 4.
PRE: Exploring about structural damage caused during an earthquake.
LAB: Comparing structural damage caused by earthquakes.
POST: Contrasting the Richter and Mercalli scales.