9.3 Bell Ringer• Fossils of a fresh water

swimming reptile, Mesosaurus (Figure 2) have been found on the east coast of southern Brazil and the west coast of Africa. This reptile could not possibly have swum the 3,000-mile distance across the South Atlantic Ocean.

• How could we possibly explain this? Write your claim and evidence.

Discovering Plate Tectonics: The Mystery of the Brachiosaurus

• Mystery of the Brachiosaurus Uncovered

Puzzle Key and Landmasses

• Try to figure out how to answer the question of how Mesosaurus appeared on two continents

1. Assemble the pieces so that they fit together like a puzzle

2. When finished, raise your hand to be checked.

3. Answer the questions #1-5 in Part 1 on your worksheet

Continental Puzzle Analysis Questions

1. What made you put the puzzle pieces the way that you did? Were there any clues that helped you put the pieces a certain way?

2. What three kinds of evidence support Wegner’s theory that South America was at one time joined with Africa? Be specific! (hint: look at the key)

3. What dinosaur is found on almost every continent?4. Since a dinosaur cannot swim, explain how a fossil can

be found on all continents? 5. It is generally considered that dinosaurs live in warm

climates, yet fossil remains are found in Antarctica. How can this be explained?

Convection Current Demonstration

• http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=137741• http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=261126&title=Convection_Currents

Action of the Red Dye• What temperature was the red dye?• In what direction did the red dye move?• What do you think the density of the red dye is

compared to the water? Why?Foam Plates• What caused the foam plates to move?• Describe the movement of the foam pieces when

the dye started to rise. Could you see a pattern?

Plate Tectonics: Understanding Earth’s Shifty Surface Versatile• Finish for homework–Write letter and word for answers–Cite evidence for each questions by highlighting/underlining passage in reading that supports answer–All 12 numbers should be displayed on reading to get credit!

Summary

• Answer questions #6 and #7 on your sheet

6. The foam plates can be compared to the continental plates on the earth’s surface. By observing this lab, why do you think the continental plates move on the earth’s surface?

7. How does this experiment model the moving tectonic plates?

9.4 Bell Ringer

• What cases Earth’s tectonic plates to move? Write your claim and at least 2 pieces of evidence: A. earth’s rotation on its axisB. earth’s revolution around the SumC. tides and wind currentsD. convection currents in the mantle

Topic: The Lithosphere, Pangaea, and Plate Tectonics

Continental Drift Cornell Notes

Key Terms Notes

Summary:

1. Q: What is the lithosphere made up of?

A: Crust and Upper Mantle

Continental Drift• Wegener came up with a theory in

1910 called Continental Drift. • His theory said that the continents

had started as one big “super continent” called Pangea.

Continental Drift

• Over millions of years, Pangaea broke apart into the 7 continents.

Continental Drift

• During Pangaea, continents had completely different environments.

Evidence that supported Wegener’s Theory

1. Change in Climate–Example: Glaciers in Africa

Glacial striations, the parallel "scrape" marks on rocks caused by moving glaciers, have been found on rocks in South America, Africa and Australia and are of similar orientation to striations found on Antarctica

2. Puzzle-like Fit of the Continents-Example: Africa and South America

In several cases, modern shorelines of continents look as though they were once joined

Evidence that supported Wegener’s Theory

3. Landforms-Example: Mountain chainsSome mountain chains, have very similar rocks and structures (i.e., folds and faults) to mountain belts found on other continents

4. Fossil Evidence-Example: Mesosaurus There are many examples of fossils found on two continents that are currently separated by vast oceans

Continental Drift Rejection

• Scientists at the time rejected his theory because he could not come up with an explanation why the continents were actually moving.

Theory of Plate Tectonics

• The lithosphere (crust and upper mantle) is made of moving plates that float on the asthenosphere.

• Convection currents cause magma in the asthenosphere to rise and sink.

• The plates are slowly moving and bump into each other

Discovering Plate Tectonics: Changes in Earth’s Surface

Continental Drift Reading

“Draw a picture”- As I read the passage aloud, draw (pictures) of what you are hearing about evidence of continental drift. *Try to draw at least one picture per paragraph

Pangea Writing Prompt

• You are Wegener’s defense attorney. Using your knowledge of the lithosphere, asthenosphere, Pangaea, and evidence for continental drift (190-195), write two paragraphs that defend his hypothesis of Continental Drift.

• Paragraph #1: Evidence• Paragraph#2: Why do plates move? (what

he didn’t know, but we know now!)

9.5 Bell RingerWhich of the following was NOT one of the pieces of evidence that Alfred Wegener proposed to support his ideas about Pangea. Write your claim and at least 2 pieces of evidence A. He noticed that the coastlines of Africa and South

America looked like they might fit togetherB. He found old aerial satellite photographs taken of

Pangea during the days of ancient RomeC. He discovered evidence that the same plant and animal

fossils were found along the coasts of these continents, although they were now separated by vast oceans

D. He noticed that geologic formations, like mountain ranges, on the two continents also matched up

Friday Stations

• Sketch a picture (if not finished)• Types of Boundaries Graphic Organizer• Questions and Answers Using Reading

– Support questions using evidence.– Must NUMBER and HIGHLIGHT/UNDERLINE– Write out entire answers (not just letter)

• Teacher Directed: Grade notebook1. Continental Drift Puzzle & Convection Currents

Video2. Earth’s Shifty Surface Versatiles (evidence underline

& numbered)3. Continental Drift Cornell Notes4. Pangea Writing Prompt5. Continental Drift Reading: Sketch a Picture