Earth Science: Plate Movements & Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Mountain-Making

Here's our hands-on studies of tectonic plate movements, 2nd grade style.
We used:
a tray with a thin layer of chilled jello (jelly)
graham crackers for the earth's crustal plates
colored icing (green-continents and blue-oceans)

You can see LD putting the continent and ocean onto his plate (ie. graham cracker).

We read about the plates and tectonic plate movement and looked carefully at this map.  We talked about how when earth was one giant super-continent (Pangaea), India was actually tucked in close to Africa, Australia and Antarctica rather than being a part of Eurasia.  This fact is rather important as you'll see later below.

We put two crustal plates  directly onto the red "mantle."  Then I pulled the plates apart and asked the kids what they saw.  Obviously they saw the red "lava" and I talked about how new rocks are being formed all the time under the oceans (the Mid-Atlantic Ridge).  I read that section from one of our science books. As Gardner's book put it, "When two plates separate, there is a weakness in the Earth's crust. Hot magma from the Earth's mantle may come up between the plates. As the liquid magma cools, it adds new crust to the plates." (p. 32, Earth Shaking Science Projects About Planet Earth)

Next, we pushed the plates together and showed how at times the magma is forced up between the plates... ie forming volcanoes.  We looked at a map that shows the Pacific Ring of Fire (the ring of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean region). Here's an example of the Ring of Fire.

We took two graham crackers and placed them on a plate with a bit of water.  Before they became too soggy, LD and I pushed our crustal plates (ie graham crackers) together.  This, I told him, is what is happening in India as it pushes into Eurasia.  "COOL!  Mountains!"  LD exclaimed! And do you know what mountains this would be? the tallest ones in the world?  "Oh yes, the Himalayas."  What a terrific teaching moment!

Here were some of the other activities we did for Pangaea and Plate Movement (included in our Earth Science Packet below):

Don't miss our latest plate movement activity with sponges: Earth Science: Plate Movement Activity over at our new location, homeschoolden.com

Be sure to check out our 150+ page Earth Science Packet! Our Earth Science Unit (post) is here to find out more!!

Here is a Quick Preview of the Earth Science Packet.

Learn how to make a earthquake shake table, more than a dozen hands-on activities on the layers of the earth, plate movement, convection currents, earthquakes, volcanoes, and more!

Topics include: Solar System, Layers of the Earth, Earth’s Axis and the Seasons, Latitude and Longitude, Plate Tectonics, Faults, Earthquakes, Earthquake Waves, Volcanoes, 4 Types of Mountains

 We have a 150+ page Earth Science Unit!

 

Earth Science Packet  150+ pages

Our Earth Science Unit covers the solar system, the layers of the Earth, plate tectonics, the ring of fire, faults, earthquakes, volcanoes and more.

It also includes instructions for more than a dozen hands-on activities we did with this unit. This includes activities about plate tectonics, convection currents, using a compass, earthquakes, volcanoes,  instructions on how to make a shake table and more!

Our packet is $9.99. 

We did this unit twice: My kids were in Grades 1, 4, and 6 when we did this unit the first time. They were in Grades 4, 7 and 9 when we covered it again (and added to the packet!).

Scroll down for more pictures and information!

When you click on the Buy Now button below, it will take you to Paypal. Upon receipt of payment you will immediately get a link to download this pdf in your browser. You will also receive an email from SendOwl Downloads to your PayPal email address which will give you a link to download.  Be sure to check your spam folder if that email doesn't appear.

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 Purchase the Earth Science Packet

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Don't forget to check your PayPal email address for the download link!

More pictures of what is included:

 Layers of the Earth Activities

   
Pangaea and Plate Movement Activities  

Types of Plate Boundaries

Faults
The types of earthquake waves

 Volcanoes

Types of Volcanoes Activities

In this unit, we especially liked these resources. These are affiliate links:

• Geology Rocks
• How the Earth Works: 60 Fun Activities for exploring Volcanoes, Fossils, Earthquakes and More
• Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes
• Earth-Shaking Science Projects about Planet Earth (Rockin' Earth Science Experiments)

See how to make a shake table here:

See our Gelatin Volcano Earth Science Activity here:

Se our Tissue Paper Volcano Activity here:

Hope you visit our new location at homeschoolden.com (the links above take you there!) or come visit us at our Homeschool Den Facebook Page. :) ~Liesl

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.

P.S. We have lots of other units. Here are the links to check those out

Characteristics of Animals - Vertebrates and Invertebrates Unit

Simple Machines

Skeletal System

Digestive System Unit 

A Study of Cells 

Civics and Government 

 States of Matter- Changing States of Matter Unit

Solids, Liquids, Gases

 

 Animal Unit

Biology Unit

 Ocean Unit Packet

Electricity and Circuits: STEM Unit