Plate Tectonics 3/10/18

Summary:

       This week in science we learned about Plate Tectonics. Plates have been on Earth for thousands of years and are consistently moving (very slowly). Through this the Earth can recycle our land, by destroying the old land, and creating new land. These plates are made of rock and are in the lithosphere layer of the Earth. Another thing I know is that there are 3 different type of plate boundaries. Those three types of plate boundaries are convergent boundaries, divergent boundaries, and transform boundaries. Convergent boundaries are when two plates collide and their are two different types of convergent boundaries. The two types of convergent boundaries are collisional boundaries and subduction zones. A collisional boundary is when two plates with the same density collide. Because they are the same density the plates buckle and warp. The land then pushes up into jagged peaks forming a mountain. Subduction zones are when one dense ocean plate converges with a lighter continental plate. The heavier plate gets pushed below down into the Mantle which is how old land gets destroyed and starts going through the process of being recycled. Divergent boundaries are when two plates spread/pull apart. Divergent boundaries are how the old land that got destroyed in the subduction zone gets turned into new land and starts being used again. Divergent boundaries are how new land forms. Transform boundaries are when two plates slide past each other. The plates in transform boundaries move in a direction that is parallel to the boundary line. Transform boundaries can create very destructive geological activity known as earthquakes. Meaning that California is currently on a transform boundary. A way to model transform boundaries is to put your hands knuckle to knuckle then push as hard as possible but try to not let your knuckles fall into the gap in between each knuckle. When your knuckles fall into the gaps, it will create an earthquake, this basically the same thing that happens in transform boundaries. Everytime the slide, it creates an earthquake. Sometimes big, and sometimes small.

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S&EP 2-Developing and Using Models:

       This week in science we developed and used models to truly visualize and understand the different types of plate boundaries. The model we used was something called "Snack Tectonics." Basically what we did was used snacks to help us understand the different plate boundaries. The snacks we used were frosting to represent the asthenosphere, fruit roll-ups to represent the oceanic crust, and graham crackers to represent the continental crust. We then followed steps to help us see how each type of boundary looked like. For example, to represent a subduction zone what we did was we got a large amount of frosting and spread it across wax paper (we used wax paper so we wouldn't get anything messy or dirty). We then placed a fruit rollup down onto the frosting and pressed it down softly. After that we placed a graham cracker onto the frosting (right next to the fruit roll up) and slid it towards the fruit roll up and had the two overlap so that the graham cracker was on top. The fruit roll up represented the oceanic crust and the graham cracker represented the continental crust. This model we created helped me visualize and understand plate tectonics in a very creative and fun way.
     
XCC-Cause and Effect:

       The cause and effect relationship I identified this week is between plate tectonics and geological activity. The cause in this relationship plate tectonics, and the effect of plate tectonics is geological activity. For example, when their is a convergent collisional boundary, mountains form. When their is a transform boundary, earthquakes occur. When their are divergent boundaries and subduction zones, volcanoes form. Basically, certain geological activity occurs because of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics are how these things occur. So the cause and effect relationship I found this week is between plate tectonics and geological activity.
     
Multiplier-Learner:

       This week in science I was a learner. I was a learner this week in science because I truly didn't know anything about plate boundaries or plate tectonics in general until now. So this week I was trying to learn about, understand, visualize, and memorize the different types of plate boundaries. I made sure that I knew everything I could and I was consistently saying in my mind, "I want to know..." I would always ask questions and ask my friends to quiz me on the different types of plate boundaries. I was truly wanting to learn more. This is why this week in science I was a learner.