Geology: Plate Tectonics & Virginia

Unit Plan:

This unit puts the pieces together. Having learned about rocks and what they can tell us, now the students will explore the earth and Virginia in more detail, to learn what stories the rocks and the motion of those rocks teach us. The students will learn about the structure of the earth, with a focus on the lithosphere (crust & outer mantle). How these crustal plates interact as they move create tectonic activity and shape the surface of the earth. Students will learn about the features of the plate boundaries, their associated faulting, volcanic and mountain building activity, and how these processes are reflected in the 5 physiographic provinces of Virginia in its billion year old (and modern!) rocks.

Additional Activities, Review Materials, etc.

Unit Review Warm-Up (student) (teacher)

Unit Review Presentation

Unit Review Worksheet

2018 Standards/CF

7a-d (7a,b)