144 POGIL® Earth and Space Science Activities | Designed to Support the NGSS

Student Activity 5

Where Are Tectonic Plate Boundaries Located?

Why? You know that large chunks (tectonic plates) of oceanic crust and continental crust are dragged along by mantle rock moving very slowly beneath them. How can we identify the edges of these tectonic plates on a map of the world? In this activity, we will investigate the relationships among earthquakes, volcanoes and tectonic plate boundaries as clues to the shapes and locations of tectonic plates.

As you work through the following questions, be sure to follow your team role(s).

Model 1—Earth Movements at Tectonic Plate Boundaries

POGIL® Earth and Space Science Activities | Designed to Support the NGSS 145

Student Activity 5

Use the information in Model 1 to answer Questions 1–6.Reach an agreement with your team before writing down your consensus answer.

1. Write the names of the two types of plate boundaries shown in Model 1.

2. Describe the meaning of the symbol in Model 1.

3. Describe the meaning of the symbol in Model 1.

4. Fill in the empty boxes in Model 1. Use the other information in the model to help you.

Read This!

Volcanoes are surface features on the Earth where magma (molten mantle rock) erupts or haserupted through the crust to form new solid rock. Underwater volcanoes erupt through oceanic crust. Above-ground volcanoes erupt through continental crust.

5. Look closely at the sideview drawings of plate boundaries. Circle every volcano shown in thesedrawings.

Check your answer with your teacher before you continue.

Read This!

Geologists use the term earthquake to describe the shaking that occurs any time chunks ofoceanic or continental crust pull away from or crash into one another.

6. Based on the information from Model 1 and from Model 4, mark each statement as TRUE (T)or FALSE (F).

T Fa. Earthquakes occur at all convergent plate boundaries.

b. Earthquakes occur at all divergent plate boundaries.

c. Volcanoes occur at all convergent plate boundaries.

d. Volcanoes occur at all divergent boundaries.

e. Volcanoes occur at every location where earthquakes occur.

f. Earthquakes occur at every location where volcanoes occur.

Check your answer with your teacher before you continue.

146 POGIL® Earth and Space Science Activities | Designed to Support the NGSS

Student Activity 5

Use the information in Model 2 to answer Questions 7–9.Reach an agreement with your team before writing down your consensus answer.

7. Look closely at Model 2. What does the symbol represent?

8. Identify the period of time represented by the data in Model 2.

One month Eleven months One year Cannot tell from the model

9. Based on your answers to Question 6, estimate the locations of divergent and convergent plate boundaries. Use a highlighter to mark your estimates of the plate boundaries.

Check with your teacher before you continue.

Model 2—Earthquakes Around the World

8.0-

7.0-7.9

6.0-6.95.0-5.94.0-4.9

Legend