Topic outline

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  • Continental Drift and Plate Tectonic Theory
    

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  Continental Drift

  • Plate Jigsaw - Student Activity File

    In this activity students create their own version of our tectonic plates as a jigsaw, using bread and paints.

  • Plate Jigsaw - Teacher Notes File
  • Learn more about Continental Drift here.

  • Primary & Secondary Data Collection - Student Activity File

    Students learn a little of the history of Earth Science whilst distinguishing the difference between primary and secondary data.

  • Primary & Secondary Data Collection - Teacher Notes File
  • Continental Drift – Review (Student) File

    Reviews important concepts with a word sleuth and short answer questions.

  • Continental Drift – Review (Teacher) File
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  Plate Tectonics

  • Plate Tectonics - Teacher Background File

    Provides vital background for teachers before approaching this topic.

  • Tectonics History - Student Worksheet - NEW File

    Students explore the history of the development of the theory of plate tectonics, completing a cloze exercise along the way.

  • Tectonics History - Teacher Notes - NEW File
  • Supercontinents - Student Worksheet - NEW File

    Students research supercontinents and explore Australia's continental history.

  • Supercontinents - Teacher Notes - NEW File
  • 1. Evidence for Seafloor Spreading
    

  • Seafloor Model - Student Activity File

    Students create their own model to demonstrate seafloor spreading, using simple materials.

  • Seafloor Model - Teacher Notes File
  • Rock Age Data - Student Activity File

    Students consider how we 'age' rocks and interpret data to find answers in this exercise.

  • Rock Age Data - Teacher Notes File
  • Earth’s Magnetosphere - Student Activity File

    Students examine magnetic fields to help them understand the Earth's magnetosphere.

  • Earth’s Magnetosphere -Teacher Notes File
  • Magnetic Stripes – Student Activity File

    In this activity students apply their understanding of magnetism to minerals on our seafloor.

  • Magnetic Stripes - Teacher Notes File
  • Make Your Own Compass – Student Activity File

    Students use simple materials to create their own compass.

  • Make Your Own Compass – Teacher Notes File
  • Polar Reversal - Student Activity File

    Students investigate polar reversals and consider their possible impacts on society.

  • Plate Tectonics – Review (Student) File

    Students review the section on seafloor spreading via a word sleuth and short answer questions.

  • Plate Tectonics – Review (Teacher) File
  • 2. Folding and Faulting
    

  • Folding & Faulting - Teacher Background File

    Essential background for teachers on folding, faulting and Australia.

  • Three Types of Fault - Student Activity File

    Students model the three major types of fault and examine their features (using playdough or similar).

  • Three Types of Fault - Teacher Notes File
  • Fold Movement - Student Activity File

    Two demonstrations and a student activity enable students to visualise folds and their impacts on our landscapes.

  • Fold Movement – Teacher Notes File
  • Folding and Faulting - Review (Student) File

    Folding and faulting is reviewed via a word sleuth, short answer questions and a diagram.

  • Folding and Faulting - Review (Teacher) File
  • 3. Heat Energy
    

  • Convection Currents - Student Activity File

    Students model convection currents and apply kinetic theory to processes within Earth (*note please see 'Reconsidering Convections Cells')

  • Convection Currents - Teacher Notes File
  • Reconsidering Convection Cells – Teacher Notes File

    An outline of evidence regarding other forces at work within our Earth.