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The Fault Line
Task with Student Directions
Contributed by: California Systemic Initiative Assessment (CSIA)



Part 1-Partners

The Fault Line-Part A



  • You will have 10 minutes to complete this hands-on investigation with your partner. Put all materials back where you found them when you are done.

  • Record all your own data, observations, and notes on your own Data Sheet. You will use this Data Sheet to answer the questions in Part 2. Your Data Sheet will not be graded.

  • Your teacher will help you to keep track of the time.

Time is limited.

Work quickly and carefully.

There is not enough time to repeat the experiments.




Directions:

In this investigation you will work with your partner to examine the process that causes rock layers to fold.

Set up your plate model as shown in the picture below.



1. Check that the lines marked "1997" are lined up.

2. Place about 100 ml of sand on your plate model as in the picture above.

3. Smooth the sand into a thin layer.

4. Slowly slide the Pacific Plate along the "1997" line until "Stop" is even with the edge of the North American Plate.




Do not move your plate model. Do not move the sand.

Record your notes and observations on the Rock Layer-Data Sheet






Part 1

The Fault Line-Part B


Directions:

1. Without disturbing the sand from Part A, line up the lines labeled 1997 on both plates. Your model should look like the drawing below.





2. Slowly slide the paper marked "Pacific Plate" until the lines marked "3097" are lined up.





3. Record your notes and observations on the Rock Layer-Data Sheet.





Part 1

Investigating the Fault Line-Data Sheet


Rock Layer - Data Sheet


Observations on the process that caused rock layers to fold

Part A











Part B
















Part 2-On Your Own

The Fault Line-Questions



  • You will have 8 minutes to answer the following questions on your own.

  • You may use your notes and observations from your Data Sheet to answer the questions.

  • You may not return to this section after you answer the questions.

  • You may not discuss the questions or your answers with your partner.

  • Your teacher will help you keep track of time.




Directions:

Use your own notes and observations from your Rock Layer - Data Sheet to answer the following questions. Your answer will be graded on how well you show your understanding of science and on how well you can explain it to others. You may include a picture to help explain your answer.

1. Describe what happened to the sand when you slid one plate beneath the other.







2. Based on your observations of plate movements, explain how mountains are made.







3. Look at the map below. The mountains in the Pinnacles National Monument and the mountains at Tejon Pass were once located next to each other and were part of the same mountain range. Now they are separated by over 240 kilometers (km). Using the data from your investigation, explain how the mountains at Pinnacles National Monument and the mountains at Tejon Pass were separated from each other.



 


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