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What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?
Bellringer
Bellringer
"Two islands are 1,000km apart. The rocks on both islands have the same mineral composition, the same rare fossils, and mountains of identical age and structure.
Formulate a hypothesis to explain those similarities.
Task 1: Watch Video and complete Check-In
Task 2: Explore and take notes on Continental Drift
Continental Drift
The KEY INFO
What is it and Who Came Up With It?
The hypothesis of continental drift was developed by scientist Alfred Wegener.
He claimed continents drifted apart from one giant single landmass "Pangea" meaning "all land" or "all earth" over time into smaller individual continents in their present locations
His Supporting Evidence
Shape - He noticed the plates seem to "fit" like puzzle pieces
Fossils - The same fossils of plants and animals were found on the coastlines of different continents
Rocks - Mountain ranges on different continents consist of rock with identical mineral content.
Ex: Appalachian Mts. & Caledonian MountainsGlacial Evidence - Traces of glaciers found in many tropical regions. When glaciers melted away leaving tracks, and polishing rock surfaces
Coal Deposits have been found in temperate and polar regions; however, coal is formed in tropical regions.
There were skeptics
Despite this evidence Wegener collected supporting the hypothesis, his ideas were met with strong opposition from scientists claiming that it did not satisfactorily explain the force causing continental drift.
Sketch the graphic organizer below in your notes and fill it in using the information above
Sketch the graphic organizer below in your notes and fill it in using the information above
Task 3: Continental Drift - The Breakthrough
Task 4: Wegener's Continental Drift Theory Debate
RULES
EACH GROUP WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK
AFTER EACH GROUP HAS SAID THEIR CONVINCING STATEMENT, MR. GUNTER WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO QUESTIONS
YOU MUST RAISE YOUR HAND TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE SPEAKING
YOU CANNOT SPEAK UNLESS YOU ARE HOLDING THE BALL
Debate Prep & Instructions
Debate Prep & Instructions
IN YOUR GROUPS- YOUR JOB WILL BE TO DEVELOP AN ARGUMENT AND COUNTER ARGUMENTS THAT WILL EXPLAIN WHY YOUR PIECE OF EVIDENCE BEST SUPPORTS WEGENER’S CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY
Develop Arguments
Develop Questions for other groups
Be ready to support arguments with evidence
Be ready for rebuttals
Research other evidences or claims that failed or have been disproven
Debate Starter Questions
debate alternative activity:
OR debate in two groups to debate the merits and flaws of Wegener's hypothesis. One group research specific examples of evidence that supports the idea of continental drift.
Other group identifies weaknesses of the hypothesis and present alternative explanations for the evidence suggested by the first group.
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