Graham cracker tectonics this is another fun activity with a sweet treat reward at the end. This theory also says that most of these plates are in motion, creating. Plate tectonics strand earth patterns, cycles, and change topic investigating plate tectonics primary sol 5. Plate tectonicsgraham cracker lab by junior high school science. To identify and demonstrate the forces that shape the features of the earth 2. Key concepts include e changes in earths crust due to plate tectonics. Dec 17, 2018 this snackable plate tectonics lab provides the perfect combination of science rigor and fun. Second grade lesson incredible edible earth changes.
Plate tectonics graham cracker lab test written observations. Identify the type of boundary associated with each picture below. Every ten seconds, push the graham crackers closer to each other. Copy of the plate tectonic exit ticket for each student. This is an awesome edible science lab that demonstrates plate boundaries by using an oreo as. Plate tectonics lab by the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. Give each student a paper plate covered in frosting and several graham cracker squares. Students will perform an edible plate tectonics lab and start their graphic organizer.
Plate movement directly affects the construction of earths surface because the land recycles and creates new crust by divergent plates. Diverging oceanic plates fruit rollups moving away from one another. Slightly dampen one long side of each graham cracker by exposing them to water for a few seconds. A tectonic plate that gets subducted is a plate recycled. Getting ready our summer travels led us to several volcanoes so naturally my what others are saying. Gently push graham cracker towards the ocean plate fruit roll up until the two overlap. Plate boundary description landformsfeatures materials. In addition, some plates may appear to be inactivity. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water.
Graham cracker plate tectonics lab the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. Break the graham cracker on its seam to make 2 rectangles and place the 2 rectangles, touching, on top of the frosting. Break the other whole graham cracker in half, and then break each half in half again so you have 4 pieces. Plate tectonics lab doral academy preparatory school. Break one whole graham cracker into two square pieces by following the perforations. Exploring the movement of tectonic plates with smores. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. Converging continental plates graham crackers moving toward each other. Schaefer the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. Here is a set of prelab, lab, and postlab lesson plans on plate tectonics.
To represent the natural world by creating models and analyzing their limitations. Plate movement directly affects the destruction of earths surface because the more dense plates sink causing a trench where the plates are thoroughly destroyed. Spread frosting on wax paper to cover an area a bit larger than the graham cracker square. Use only two of the pieces for part 3, saving the other two for part 4.
This theory also says that most of these plates are in. Microsoft word graham cracker plate tectonics lab activity. In this lab activity, what type of plate was represented by the fruit rollup. Movements deep within the earth, which carry heat from the hot interior to the cooler surface, cause the plates to move very slowly on the surface, about 2. The theory also states that the motion of these plates creates a variety of interactions at the plate boundaries. What physical layer of the earth did the frosting represent. In this windows to the universe activity, students use these. Learn how earths tectonic plates interact in this delicious activity.
Dec 04, 2011 place the graham crackers on opposite sides of the plate. This snackable plate tectonics lab provides the perfect combination of science rigor and fun. What happened to the frosting between the crackers. Plate tectonics lab station activity teach science. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab stepbystep photo instructions print out sets of these stepbystep photo instructions to help your students successfully model plate tectonic activity using graham crackers, cake icing and fruit rollups. Stepbystep powerpoint for both you and your students total of 7 steps, pictures of student expectations is included. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of. Graham cracker plate tectonics this quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to explore plate tectonics the movement of the earths crust that leads to the formation of volcanoes, mountains, and oceanic trenches. Name date class period snack tectonics lab exercise.
This lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. Move the two small graham crackers toward each other such that they form a small upside down v on top of the marshmallow fluff. Phet sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, gamelike environment where students learn through exploration and discovery. The theory was formulated in the 1960s and 1970s as new information was obtained about the nature of the ocean floor, earths. If you are low on cash, stick with procedure and skip the rice crispies. In addition, some plates may appear to be inactive.
Just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and. Once the graham crackers have touched each other, note how the marshmallow spreading is a different shape than it was at the start of the experiment. Edible plate tectonics divergent, convergent, and transform. This activity breaks the information up and provides a differentiated learning approach. Students use graham crackers and icing to represent and observe how tectonic plates behave. What can you do with fruit rollups, graham crackers and frosting in your science class. With these photoenhanced instructions, you wont need to lead your students through the lab. Graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan for 7th 10th. The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 16 major pieces or plates. Each piece of graham crackers represents a continental plate. This video walks through the gram cracker plate tectonics lab.
Google graham cracker plate tectonics lab for a variety of different versions used by schools across the. A specific location for this kind of boundary is north america and eurasian. Founded in 2002 by nobel laureate carl wieman, the phet interactive simulations project at the university of colorado boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. At the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other in a lateral motion transform. Draw a picture and draw arrows to show the direction of cracker movement. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle called the asthenosphere.
Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic organizer caused mountains to form. To study the interactions of the tectonic plates as they move slowly on the asthenosphere. The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 7 major plates and numerous smaller plates. Place the crackers onto the frosting with wet edges touching each other. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water about 2 cm. They will work in partners, one person will move the model graham crackers and cool whip and the other partner will diagram the events. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. At the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other transform boundary. Draw what your food looks like after you created the transform boundary in the space provided 4. Kimberly miller printed on 101717 edible plate tectonics lab sheet purpose. This graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan is suitable for 7th 10th grade. Name a specific location on the earth where this kind of boundary activity takes place. Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic organizer formed the midocean ridge.
Model the plates movements using frosting and graham crackers to understand how earths landscape can. The graham crackers represent the earths crust, which is broken up into plates. Graham cracker tectonics by bryce hixson this lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. Immediately remove the crackers and lay them end to end on the frosting with the wet edges nearly touching. Slowly push the graham crackers towards each other. Place two graham crackers next to each other on top. However, the version i prefer includes the use of a rice crispy treat to illustrate oceanic vs. Approximately1 foot by 1 foot square of wax paper knife frosting glob approximately 14 cup or 1 heaping glob full graham cracker fruit rollup dixie or 23 oz cup with water napkin, paper towel, or baby wipes. To model the interactions of earths tectonic plates as they move about its surface. To understand how plate boundaries interact with each other and the features created as they drift atop the slow moving asthenosphere. How do wet crackers act more like real plates than dry crackers. Observe what is happening to the marshmallow spread. Plate tectonics graham cracker lab by science station tpt.
For this activity, i grabbed a box of graham crackers, some cool whip, and a plate. Jan 29, 2015 at the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other transform boundary. Plate movements introduction the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of less than twenty separate plates that float on the hot plastic mantle of the inner earth. In this activity, ocean plates are represented by fruit roll ups and continental crust is represented by graham crackers. Approximately1 foot by 1 foot square of wax paper knife frosting glob approximately 14 cup or 1 heaping glob full graham cracker fruit rollup dixie or 23 oz cup with water napkin, paper towel, or baby wipes procedure.
Google graham cracker plate tectonics lab for a variety of different versions used by schools across the country. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate the different types of interactions at plate boundaries. When a plate descends beneath another plate it is called subduction. The children will experience the grinding and clashing of the earths plates by using an incredible, edible model. I have copied the picture and information for continental drift front to back, and the picture and information for plate tectonics front to back.
First they will follow a given set of directions to explore the idea of plate tectonics. What happens to the wet ends of the graham crackers. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate interactions of plate boundaries. Take two pieces of dry crackers and place them side by side on the frosting. The kids will move broken graham crackers on top of a frosted sheet of wax paper to create divergent, convergent, transform fault, and sub. What type of plate was represented by the graham cracker. Each piece of graham cracker represents a continental plate. Label drawing as to what each item represents in terms of earth layers or processes of plate tectonics. Which of the three tests is a model for seafloor spreading. Plate tectonics lab questions divergent plate boundary discussion questions 1. Buy wax paper, knives, frosting, fruit rollups, and graham crackers.
Graham cracker plate tectonics lab stepbystep photo. Place the graham crackers on opposite sides of the plate. These plates move on the top of the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. At the stations they will learn about tectonic plates, plate boundaries, earthquakes, major plates, and seafloor spreading. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth. After completing the previous labs on volcanoes and earthquakes, sixth graders use the gained knowledge to explore plate boundaries and the movement of earths. Students will use shaving cream and graham crackers to simulate the three types of plate boundaries transform, divergent, and convergent. To introduce, model, and demonstrate how earths plates move. I use a version similar to this free version of graham cracker tectonics provided by. Movements deep within the earth, which carry heat from the hot interior to the cooler surface, cause the plates to move very slowly on the surface, about 2 inches per year on average. This is a nice way to teach plate tectonics to high school students. In this plate tectonics worksheet, students use graham crackers, frosting, water and a paper plate to simulate tectonic processes such as convergent, divergent and transforming plate boundaries. This process that creates new ocean floor from diverging plates is seafloor spreading. What is the process that creates new ocean floor from diverging plates.