Essential Standards

Florida Middle school standards:

- SC.7.N.3.2 - Identify the benefits and limitations of the use of scientific models.
- SC.7.E.6.4 - Explain and give examples of how physical evidence supports scientific theories that Earth has evolved over geologic time due to natural processes.
- SC.7.E.6.5 - Explore the scientific theory of plate tectonics by describing how the movement of Earth's crustal plates causes both slow and rapid changes in Earth's surface, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building.
- SC.7.E.6.7 - Recognize that heat flow and movement of material within Earth causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and creates mountains and ocean basins.

Florida Highschool Standards

- SC.912.E.6.2 - Connect surface features to surface processes that are responsible for their formation.
- SC.912.E.6.3 - Analyze the scientific theory of plate tectonics and identify related major processes and features as a result of moving plates.
- SC.912.E.6.5 - Describe the geologic development of the present day oceans and identify commonly found features.
- SC.912.E.7.3 - Differentiate and describe the various interactions among Earth systems, including: atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Teacher Resources

Student Worksheet:

Editable GoogleDocs Activity - PlateTectonics.org Lab Sheet - Make a copy
Printable PDF - PlateTectonics.org Lab Sheet.pdf

Simulation Lab & Reflection Guide

Objective: Explore how plate motions, internal heat, and surface processes interact over geologic time to reshape Earth’s geosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere.

Part 1: Interacting Plate Boundaries

Navigate through the boundary types in the simulation to investigate the forces shaping our crust.

Divergent Boundaries (SC.7.E.6.5, SC.912.E.6.5):

Describe what happens to tectonic plates at a divergent boundary.

If a continent begins stretching and rifting on land, what feature is created? What happens to this feature over millions of years as spreading continues?

Convergent Boundaries (SC.7.E.6.5, SC.912.E.6.3):

Explain what occurs during the process of subduction. Which type of crust descends beneath the other, and what two geologic hazards/features are created as a result?

When two buoyant continental crusts collide instead of subducting, what structural changes happen to the crust over time?

Transform Boundaries (SC.7.E.6.5):

How do plates move relative to one another at a transform boundary?

Name the type of fault associated with this movement and explain how energy is released along it.

Part 2: Driving Forces & Surface Features

Investigate the internal and external processes that modify the planet's surface.

Hot-Spot Volcanism & Internal Heat (SC.7.E.6.7):

Where does the magma that supplies a hot spot come from?

As a tectonic plate moves steadily over a long-lived, stationary hot spot, what spatial pattern forms on Earth's surface? (Hint: Think about Hawaii).

Continental Accretion & Supercontinents (SC.7.E.6.4):

Explain the process of continental accretion. How does it allow a continent to grow larger?
When a supercontinent eventually breaks apart or assembles, what types of physical evidence do geologists look for on separate, modern continents to support the conclusion that they were once connected?

Ice Ages & Earth System Interactions (SC.912.E.6.2, SC.912.E.7.3):

During an ice age, where is Earth's water stored? How does the expansion and melting of these massive ice sheets directly alter global sea levels?

Describe how a moving glacier changes the physical geosphere (the landscape) as it travels.

Part 3: Critical Thinking & "What We Get Wrong"

Read the developer notes at the bottom of the simulation carefully to answer the following questions.

Evaluating the Simulation (SC.912.E.6.3):
- 1. - The developer states they took "artistic license" to make the game more playable. What is the actual, real-world relationship between continents and tectonic plates?

The Mechanics of Motion (SC.7.E.6.7, SC.912.E.6.3):

Tectonic plates are passive; they do not "want" to move or form supercontinents. Name the three real-world geologic forces and systems mentioned by the developer that actively drive plate motion.

Part 4: Analyzing Scientific Models (SC.7.N.3.2)

In science, various simulations, maps, and even games are used as models to help us understand complex, massive systems like the Earth. Every model has benefits (how it helps us learn) and limitations (how it simplifies or changes reality).

Evaluating the Simulation as a Model:

Benefits: Based on your experience playing the game, how did this visual model help you better understand the way plate boundaries interact or how surface features change over time?
Limitations: Based on the "What We Get Wrong" section, what is a major limitation of this simulation? Why could mimicking real-world geological timescales (millions of years) make the game less playable?