Lewiston High School Understanding by Design (UbD)

Content Area: Science Course: Grade 7 Earth Systems Science

Quarter 4: Unit Title: Plate Tectonics & Earthquakes
Stage 1 – Desired Results
Established Goals:
A1-Students apply an understanding of systems to explain and analyze manmade and natural phenomena.
D2- Students describe and analyze the biological, physical, energy, and human influences that shape and alter Earth
G Systems.
D3- Students describe the structure, behavior, and interactions of matter at the atomic level and the relationship
between matter and energy.
Understandings:
Students will understand that...
• the shape and geology of the continents suggests that they were once joined together.
• convection currents in the mantle cause tectonic plates to move.
U • volcanoes, mountains, and deep-sea trenches form at the boundaries between tectonic plates.
• seismic waves can be used to make images of the internal structure of Earth, as well as to measure the strength and
location of earthquakes.
• forces involved in tectonic plate movement are thought to be concentrated along tectonic plate boundaries.
Essential Questions:
(O) How are the rock cycle and plate tectonics interrelated systems?
E (T) How are earthquakes related to plate tectonics?
(T) How do scientists use technology to measure ocean floor topography, sea-floor spreading, and earthquakes?
Students will know…
• Definitions of unit vocabulary: Continental Drift, Seafloor Spreading, Pangaea, Subduction, Transform Boundary,
Divergent Boundary, Convergent Boundary, Hot Spot, Oceanic Crust, Continental Crust, Lithosphere, Asthenosphere,
Mantle, Inner Core, Outer Core, Tectonic Plates, Fault, Strike-slip Fault (transform fault), Seismic Waves, Stress,
K Focus, Epicenter, Pancaking, Seismometer, Magnetometer, Travel-time Curve, Richter scale, Magnitude, Intensity,
Modified Mercalli Scale, Tsunami.
• the different types of plate boundaries and the land forms created at each boundary.
• the energy transformations involved in earthquake formation.
Students will be able to…
S • map earthquakes and volcanoes in real-time by understanding latitude and longitude.
• calculate the range/sound speed/travel time of sonar used to map the ocean floor.
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence
Performance Tasks:
• Students will work in groups to create an Earthquake Disaster Poster that illustrates the science of earthquakes as
T well as the types of disasters that result from them. (Explanation)
. conduct an earthquake drill in the campus showing the correct way of responding to the eventualities of an
earthquake.
Other Evidence:
Quizzes (vocabulary and concepts)
Homework checks on textbook questions
OE Worksheets
Evaluation of earthquake and volcano map and student analysis
Unit 4 Test
Stage 3 – Learning Plan
L Learning Activities:
(Potential Related Science Topics for Study and Discussion):
(W) PowerPoint: Earth's Shifting Crust / Note-taking
(W) Video: Amazing Earth
(H/O/E) Observing real-time earthquakes and volcanoes on government web sites, and then creating an earthquake and
volcano map of current plate tectonic activity.
(R/E2) Revise earthquake and volcano maps after teacher evaluation. Self-assessment of maps and quality of work
done.
Lewiston High School Understanding by Design (UbD)
Content Area: Science Course: Grade 7 Earth Systems Science
Quarter 4: Unit Title: Plate Tectonics & Earthquakes
(O/T) Interactives-Dynamic Earth. Students test their knowledge of plate tectonics through an on-line interactive.
They may take the test as many times as is necessary to successfully pass the test.
(E) Earthquake WebQuest (to accompany the Earthquake Disaster Poster).
(E) students will interpret earthquake and volcano maps from past years and will determine changes in patterns of
concentrations of tectonic activity to that of the present year (on the map they have constructed).

Habits of Mind:
Persisting- Students will work through online quizzes until they have achieved passing scores. This involves re-reading
HM information to gain a more thorough understanding of it before submitting online test scores to the teacher.
Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision- Students create and present posters clearly and precisely.
Technology Skills: Students will be able to:
TS Use a computer to complete an online guided-tutorial/test.