This Teacher idea introduces students to geology. They learn about the Earth's structure and theories of plate tectonics. Students are supported in making links between plate tectonics and geological features and events.
Bruce Baker reflects on the challenges of introducing geology to young students. 'This topic can be one that some teachers ... find challenging to present to students in an inspiring and engaging way.' In particular, Baker notes that students find grasping the enormity of both space and geological time a major challenge. By incorporating TLF learning objects into this unit, Baker believes the unit is revitalised with the needs of the students (or 'digital natives') at the forefront.
The learning objects 'L5827 Tectonics investigator' and 'L5830 Tectonics boundaries' are used to introduce many of the key concepts of the unit. As noted by the author, their graphic nature and interactive qualities provide students with many opportunities to 'engage with material and experiences that they cannot access through practical work in the laboratory or through reasonable (affordable) and safe field activities'.
Baker remarks that a further advantage of the incorporation of these learning objects is the increased student contact time available to the teacher. 'The digital content allowed the classes to be much more student-centred with self-paced learning. It enabled me to move around and monitor student progress while providing individual assistance as needed.' When reading the full story, it is clear that the inclusions of these learning objects significantly enhanced the topic and were of benefit to both students and teacher.
Bruce Baker'The digital content ... allows students to visualise, explore and interact with views of the Earth through space and time ...'
Seymour College, South Australia
Curriculum area
Science
Year level
9
Focus
Plate tectonics and Earth structure.
- Students describe the internal structure of the Earth and provide evidence that contributes to this understanding.
- Students explain the meaning of tectonic plates and the link between plate tectonics and geological features and events.
- Students explain mechanisms for tectonic plate movement.
- Students use appropriate geological terms to describe features and processes associated with plate tectonics.
The resources listed below are related to this Teacher idea. Click on the links below to view the resources.
Expand All 
Collapse All (9 resources)The Le@rning Federation (TLF) digital curriculum resources
Learning objects
Learning objects 
Learning objects
|
|
Tectonics investigator Tectonics investigator TLF ID L5826
Students investigate some of the scientific evidence which leads to our understanding of the current model of the Earth's structure. Photograph of Sir Isaac Newton reproduced courtesy of Photo Researchers, Inc./Photolibrary.com |
|
|
Tectonics investigator: Earth's structure Tectonics investigator: Earth's structure TLF ID L5827
Students investigate, analyse and interpret a model of the Earth's internal structure through animations and scientific data. © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonics investigator: magnetic stripes Tectonics investigator: magnetic stripes TLF ID L5828
Students investigate the formation of magnetic stripes at divergent plate boundaries and interpret the role of magnetic stripes in support of tectonic plate theory. © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonics investigator: hot spots Tectonics investigator: hot spots TLF ID L5829
Students control plate movement to model the formation of hot spots. Students observe how hot spots can create sea mounts and island chains and deduce how this process supports tectonic plate theory. © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonics investigator: series description Tectonics investigator: series description
Read about the full series of 'Tectonics investigator' learning objects. This series includes non-TLF content. See acknowledgements in the learning object for details. |
|
|
Tectonic boundaries Tectonic boundaries TLF ID L5830
Students use models of tectonic processes to understand geologic events on Earth. Students apply their understanding of plate tectonics to world regions and explain how major geological features were created. © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonic boundaries: divergent Tectonic boundaries: divergent TLF ID L5831
Students investigate the Atlantic Ocean (where the South American and African plates meet) and Iceland (where the Eurasian and North American plates meet). © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonic boundaries: convergent Tectonic boundaries: convergent TLF ID L5832
Students investigate the west coast of South America (where the South American and Nazca plates meet), Northern India (where the Eurasian and Indian plates meet) and the South Pacific (where the Pacific and Australian plates meet). © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonic boundaries: transform Tectonic boundaries: transform TLF ID L5833
Students investigate the west coast of the USA (where the North American and Pacific plates meet), the Pacific Ocean (where the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates meet) and the South Pacific (where the Pacific and Australian plates meet). © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonic boundaries: challenge Tectonic boundaries: challenge TLF ID L5834
Students test their understanding of the different tectonic boundaries in a variety of new locations. © Curriculum Corporation |
|
|
Tectonic boundaries: series description Tectonic boundaries: series description
Read about the full series of 'Tectonic boundaries' learning objects. This series includes non-TLF content. See acknowledgements in the learning object for details. |
View Details 
View Content (7 resources)Support materials
Unit of work
| Title/Description | ||
|---|---|---|
|
|
Plate tectonics and Earth structure Plate tectonics and Earth structure
Read the full unit of work developed by Bruce Baker: 'Plate tectonics and Earth structure'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
Teacher-created material
| Title/Description | ||
|---|---|---|
|
|
Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics Preliminary Knowledge Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics Preliminary Knowledge
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics Preliminary Knowledge'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 1 Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 1
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 1: Earth's structure'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 2 Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 2
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 2: Magnetic stripes'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 3 Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 3
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Tectonics Investigator Student Sheet 3: Hot spots'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 1 Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 1
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 1: Divergent'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 2 Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 2
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 2: Convergent'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 3 Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 3
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Tectonics Boundaries Student Sheet 3: Transform'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
The Earth's Moving Crust The Earth's Moving Crust
View the graphic developed by Bruce Baker: 'The Earth's Moving Crust'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Summary Table of Tectonic Plate Boundaries Summary Table of Tectonic Plate Boundaries
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Summary Table of Tectonic Plate Boundaries'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics Post Task Knowledge Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics Post Task Knowledge
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics Post Task Knowledge'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Student Evaluation Questionnaire Student Evaluation Questionnaire
View the printable worksheet developed by Bruce Baker: 'Student Evaluation Questionnaire'. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
|
|
Summary of Student Evaluation Questionnaires Summary of Student Evaluation Questionnaires
Read some of the feedback Bruce Baker received from students after completing this unit. Bruce Baker, Seymour College, South Australia |
