What causes earthquakes? How do mountains form? These are some of the most frequent questions curious children ask about the Earth. To understand plate tectonics, it can be helpful to have powerful visuals and fun activities, which is exactly what Plate Tectonics: The Changing Continents provides. Designed for grades K-5 and to be done at home or with small groups, this interactive multi-activity mini-course introduces children to how the shifting pieces of Earth's crust are constantly reshaping our planet. The mini-course includes a richly illustrated story-based lesson as well as games, activities, and projects that incorporate a broad range of teaching styles.
Children are introduced to the topic of plate tectonics through a whimsical story, Continent Beehive. Not only do children learn about the various plates and their movement through history, they also learn such important concepts such as transform, divergent, and convergent boundaries between plates. They then solidify their familiarity with the plates in the Plates Puzzle activity, in which children reconstruct their own, beautiful map of fifteen of the largest plates. Once children can visualize the plates, it's time for the Plate Boundaries Game, in which they learn the consequences of different types of plate boundaries. In Hot Spots!, kids will have fun with multiple movement-based activities that demonstrate how hot spots result in volcanoes and islands like Hawaii. Finally, the included Research Journal and Science Trip Planner, guide children to learn about plate boundaries in their own area (or other area of interest.)
Most materials needed to complete the mini-course can be cut from the book itself (or, if preferred, downloaded and printed using an included link). The mini-course requires only a few common household items to complete the activities: Crayons or colored pencils, pen or pencil, scissors, clear tape, poster board or butcher paper, red magic marker, large piece of newsprint, blanket or sheet, red construction paper or piece of red clothing, masking tape (optional).
Upon completing the mini-course, children will be provided with links to additional online resources and will earn new concept badges for their Science Tool Kit (included in the mini-course)-including Plate Boundaries, Volcano, the Earth's Structure, and Oceanic Trench.