Use the Lecture Note Page for websites that may help you out on each of the projects.

TOPIC: CONTINENTAL DRIFT
1. Using a map of the world, make a jigsaw puzzle for the world’s continents. Include on the continents colored symbols for the rock and fossil types found there that provide evidence for the theory of continental drift.

TOPIC: PLATE TECTONICS

2. Diagram or identify the major plates on a global map. Here is an excellent map to use for the project! Label the directions that these plates are moving.

3. Construct models that represent the types of movements that occur along the boundaries of crustal plates. This should include the movement types that are found at divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

4. Write and perform a skit that represents the types of movements that occur along the boundaries of crustal plates. This should include the movement types that are found at divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.

5. Observe the process of convection in water. From your observation, describe how this process could move the lithospheric plates.

TOPIC: CRUSTAL DEFORMATION

6. Using simple materials from home, prepare demonstrations for the principles of isostasy, faulting, and folding.

7. Write and perform a skit or skits that demonstrate the principles of isostasy, faulting, and folding.

8. Using modeling clay or another material of your choice, construct models of the 3 main forces that deform rock: Compression, tension, and shearing.

9. Using modeling clay or another material of your choice, construct a model of a anticline, and a syncline.

10. Using modeling clay or another material of your choice, constructs models of the four basic types of faults: Normal, Reverse, Thrust, and Lateral. Identify area in the world where these types of faults are found.

TOPIC: MOUNTAIN FORMATION

11. Write a series of myths that illustrate how geologic processes formed the major mountains of the earth. Each myth should describe a major process that creates mountains.

12. Draw diagrams or construct models of the four types of mountains and attach a detailed description how they were formed.

TOPIC: EARTHQUAKES

13. Using a slinky, demonstrate the difference between P and S waves. Then draw a simple sketch of how each wave affects the molecular structure of a substance.

14. Perform a dramatization of P and S waves moving through a substance.

15. Create a world map that depicts the major earthquake and volcanic regions of the world. Attach a one page paper to the map explaining any relationships that are depicted on your map.

TOPIC: VOLCANOES

15. Create a world map that depicts the major earthquake and volcanic regions of the world. Attach a one page paper to the map explaining any relationships that are depicted on your map.

16. Prepare a chart or poster of the different types of volcanoes, pyroclastic eruptions and fragments, and the types of magma associated with each.

ALTERNATIVES:

17. Create your own story for any of the topics listed. The story must describe how each of the geologic process occurs. The story can be any type of fiction as long as the processes are described in a scientific manner.

Back to project index