Description:

Framework References:

California Science Framework, 1990; Chapter 4, Earth Science, Section B, Geology and Natural Resources.


Big Ideas from the California Science Framework:

E-1 The Earth has changed through time.

E-3 Geological and geomorphic processes explain the evolution of the Earth.

National Science Education Standards:

1.2 Lithospheric plates on the scale of continents and oceans constantly move at rates of centimeters per year in response to movements in the mantle. Major geological events, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building, result from these plate motions.

8 A SI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry: Grades 5-8

1.4 Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence. Students should base their explanation on what they observed, and as they develop cognitive skills, they should be able to differentiate explanation from description — providing causes for effects and establishing relationships based on evidence and logical argument. This standards requires a subject knowledge base so the students can effectively conduct investigations, because developing explanations establishes connections between the content of science and the contexts within which students develop new knowledge.

1.8 Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry. Mathematics is essential to asking and answering questions about the natural world. Mathematics can be used to ask questions; to gather, organize, and present data; and to structure convincing explanations.

(Use the "hot" link on the PALS home page to check the full text of related National Science Education Standards, if desired.)

Project 2061: Benchmarks for Science Literacy

The Physical Setting: Processes that shape the Earth

Benchmark 4C: Grades 9-12

The solid crust of the earth--including both the continents and the ocean basins--consists of separate plates that ride on a denser, hot, gradually deformable layer of the earth. The crust sections move very slowly, pressing against one another in some places, pulling apart in other places. Ocean-floor plates may slide under continental plates, sinking deep into the earth. The surface layers of these plates may fold, forming mountain ranges.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:

AL1: Understand patterns, relations and functions:
Grades 6-8 f. represent, analyze, and generalize a variety of patterns with tables, graphs, words, and, when possible, symbolic rules

PS2: Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts:
Grades 6-8

Teacher Background:

Geological, geomorphic processes explain the evolution of the earth. Surface features are formed at plate boundaries. Erosion plays a major role in changing surface features.

Mountains form along the boundaries of plates. Two plates meet, and the plate that is denser (usually the oceanic plate) tends to sink and goes under the other plate. As the plate begins to sink, the edges tend to crumble a bit. The edges of the "land" plate also begins to crumble. As more and more of the ocean plate sinks, more crumbling from both plate edges occur. These "crumbles" begin to pile up and form mountains. This type of plate boundary is called subduction. It is also referred to as a subduction zone because this occurs over a large area at any given time. These mountains are also related to the explosive kind of volcanoes that form at these boundaries.

The San Andreas Fault is one of the longest faults in the world. It occurs along the coast of California for more than 500 miles. It is what geologists call a strike-slip fault where the movement is horizontal-one plate moves past the other. Generally speaking, the San Andreas Fault marks the boundary between the Pacific crustal plate and the North American plate. The Pacific plate is moving northward relative to the North American plate. This is occurring at the rate of nearly 5 centimeters per year. This is not very fast for us, but it is fast for geologic time.

The Pinnacles mountains were formed in the Mojave but some of them were moved north to become part of the Pinnacles of San Benito/Monterey County because they were formed at a time when the two plates were in different positions.

Materials for The Fault Line:

Advance Preparation and Instructions for Placement of Materials on Placemat:

Tape will be needed to tape down the North American Plate. To set up this station,

1. Tape the paper model plate marked North American Plate to the work surface where indicated.

2. Tuck the edge of the paper model plate marked Pacific Plate underneath the North American Plate to the indicated line.

3. Line up the lines marked 1994.

The materials for "The Fault Line" are packed in bulk. The model plates are the placemat for the Fault Line. Arrange the model plates as shown in Figure 5.

Safety:

• Be careful.
• Teachers and students should always exercise appropriate safety precautions and utilize appropriate laboratory safety procedures and equipment when working on science performance tasks.