The graham cracker represents an oceanic plate, and the rice cake represents a continental plate. This theory also says that most of these plates are in motion, creating. The purpose of this lab is to demonstrate interactions of plate boundaries. I also made a dish for myself so i could model what each boundary should look like for my kids. Where the two graham cracker plates meet is called a plate boundary and they are named by the way the plates move against each other. Graham cracker plate tectonics earth science activities.
The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates. Break the last whole graham cracker in half and place the 2 halves side to side on top of the frosting. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle called the asthenosphere. Graham cracker tectonics by bryce hixson this lab is an introduction to the boundary zones between tectonic plates and how we currently believe they are formed. How do wet crackers act more like real plates than dry crackers. Students will use shaving cream and graham crackers to simulate the three types of plate boundaries transform, divergent, and convergent. These plates ride on the hot plastic upper mantle known as the asthenosphere. What a brilliant way to teach kids how mountains and volcanoes are formed. Dip one end of each of the two cracker pieces into a.
This quick and tasty kids science activity gives little scientists a hands on way to explore plate tectonics. Place one hand on each of the graham cracker pieces and push them together by applying steady, moderate pressure. Apes graham cracker approach to plate tectonics lab. Place the graham crackers on opposite sides of the plate. Earths surface is broken into 12 major tectonic plates. Have students look over their plate tectonics chart to ensure they have completed each of the entries. Plate tectonics and volcanoes lesson this is part 4 of a 6 part handson unit study on earth science. Graham crackers comics 12 locations throughout the u.
Remove one of the fruit roll ups from the frosting. Plate boundaries grandview independent school district. Using the knife respread a thick layer of frosting in the center of the wax paper. Once the graham crackers have touched each other, note how the marshmallow spreading is a different shape than it was at the start of the experiment. Push one cracker past the other to simulate a transform plate boundary like the san andreas fault. Where the two graham cracker plates meet is called a plate boundary and. Graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan for 7th 10th. Converging continental plates graham crackers moving toward each other. Make edible volcanoes, build an erupting ring of fire, demonstrate plate tectonics using graham crackers, form each type of volcano using playdoh, and more. This video walks through the gram cracker plate tectonics lab. This lab will present the students with several opportunities to observe tectonic activity and learn firsthand how the surface of the earth operates on a daily basis. What feature is represented where curling and folding occurred at the ends of the wet graham. To represent the natural world by creating models and analyzing their limitations.
Convergent places where plates crash or push together. What happens to the wet ends of the graham crackers. The graham cracker represents the thin but dense oceanic plate while the foam board represents the thicker but less dense continental plate. The first boundary we recreated was a transform boundary. Place one graham cracker lightly onto the frosting next to the remaining fruit roll up piece. Observe what is happening to the marshmallow spread. Draw what your food looks like after you created the transform boundary in the space provided label drawing as to what each item represents in terms of earth layers or processes of plate tectonics.
Pressing gently on the graham crackers, push one towards you and the other away from you so that they slide past each other. Kimberly miller printed on 12215 edible plate tectonics page 6 converging oceanic or oceanic and continental plates graham cracker and fruit rollup or two fruit rollups moving toward one another creating a subduction zone. Have students gently push the crackers together and have. To study the interactions of the tectonic plates as they move slowly on the asthenosphere. At the plate boundaries, plates may converge collide, diverge separate, or slide past each other in a lateral motion. We respread the frosting asthenosphere, and demonstrate the convergence of oceanic crust and continental crust using the graham cracker oceanic and rice crispy treat continental. Second grade lesson incredible edible earth changes. On top of the mantle we placed two graham crackers to represent the cooler, rigid crust. Take another graham cracker square and break it in half. Draw what your food looks like after you created the convergent continental to oceanic boundary in the space provided 4. The graham crackers represent the earths crust, which is broken up into plates. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab just a little info the theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of seven major plates and numerous smaller plates.
Then i move on to the two different convergent plate boundary activities. To model the interactions of earths tectonic plates as they move about its surface. Give each pair of students one long graham cracker broken in half. Spread frosting on wax paper to cover an area a bit larger than the graham cracker square. To identify and demonstrate the forces that shape the features of the earth 2. The graham cracker represents the thicker but less dense continental plate, while the fruit roll represents the thin but dense oceanic plate. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, graham. If you are low on cash, stick with procedure and skip the rice crispies. Transform plate boundaries pick the two crackers up off the frosting and turn them around so that two dry edges are next to each other.
To model tectonic plate boundaries, students will use graham crackers to represent earths lithosphere and pudding to represent the flowing asthenosphere upper mantle. As they finish, allow students to choose a type of boundary to imitate with their graham crackers and have their partner guess what type of boundary they are creating. Convergent plate boundaries continental and continental procedure. This graham cracker plate tectonics lesson plan is suitable for 7th 10th grade. Graham cracker plate tectonics lab stepbystep photo. Learn the difference between continents and oceans, dive into the earths layers to find out about plate tectonics. Graham cracker plate tectonics playdough to plato teach kids about plate tectonics with graham crackers and cool whip. Which movement from your plate tectonics boundary graphic. Gently push graham cracker towards the ocean plate fruit roll up until the two overlap. Spread a thin layer of frosting on another quarter of your paper plate. Wherever these plates touch, one of four events occurs.
An illustrated memoir follows cartoonist margaux motin through one of the most transformative periods of her life as she navigates her own heartbreak and subsequent hope with unabashed wit and charm. Each piece of graham cracker represents a continental plate. We took two graham crackers and placed them on a plate with a bit of water. Plate boundary description landformsfeatures materials. Dip one end of each of the two graham crackers into a cup of water. When there is a crack in the plate, we call that a fault. Graham cracker plate tectonics activity kwl chart 16 posters. The crust is broken into pieces, which is why i gave you two graham crackers. To understand how plate boundaries interact with each other and the features created as they drift atop the slow moving asthenosphere. Take two graham cracker pieces and lay the two pieces side by side on top of the frosting so they are touching.
The theory of plate tectonics states that the crust of the earth is composed of 16 major pieces or plates. Convergent plate boundaries continental mountains 1. Our earth science unit covers the solar system, the layers of the earth, plate tectonics. Google graham cracker plate tectonics lab for a variety of different versions used by schools across the country. Graham cracker model of plate tectonics miss hernandez. Draw and label a convergent plate continental and ocean part 3 convergent plate boundaries 1. However, the version i prefer includes the use of a rice crispy treat to illustrate oceanic vs. In this plate tectonics worksheet, students use graham crackers, frosting, water and a paper plate to simulate tectonic processes such as convergent, divergent and transforming plate boundaries. To study the interactions and consequences of the tectonic plates on the earths surface using common snack food for the raw materials. This quick and tasty kids science activitygives little scientists a hands o teaching explore weather vocabulary with preschool and kindergarten students with this free printable weather board game from playdough to plato. The kids will move broken graham crackers on top of a frosted sheet of wax paper to create divergent, convergent, transform fault, and sub.
Graham cracker model of plate tectonics class set do not mark. Plate boundaries are found at the edge of the plates. In addition, some plates may appear to be inactivity. The icing should cover an area large enough for a whole graham cracker. Print out sets of these stepbystep photo instructions to help your students successfully model plate tectonic activity using graham crackers, cake icing and fruit rollups. Exploring the movement of tectonic plates with smores. Put the two plate models slowly toward each other and observe which plate rides up over the other. Frosting rises up graham crackers represent the plates the frosting represents magma a specific location for this kind of boundary is north america and eurasian a ridge. The graham crackers represent the crust of the earth.
Before they became too soggy, ld and i pushed our crustal plates ie graham crackers together. Graham cracker plate tectonics plate tectonics, earth science. With these photoenhanced instructions, you wont need to lead your students through the lab. Remember when we made different models of the earths layers. Copy of the plate tectonic exit ticket for each student. Earthquakes lesson this is part 5 of a 6 part handson unit study on earth science. Plate tectonics graham cracker lab by science station tpt. Label drawing as to what each item represents in terms of earth layers or processes of plate tectonics. Using a marker, divide your paper plate into four equal sections. Materials 2 whole graham crackers wax paper 1 rice krispy treat frosting cup of water plastic.
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