Student Learning Map for Unit: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (4.1)
Key Learning(s):
The Earth is made up of different layers that are dynamic. There is a connection between the features of the Earth and the rock
cycle. Phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanoes result from tectonic activity. The current location of the continents is the result
of past plate movement and is continually changing. Sand forms in many different ways. There are differences between
active/passive and primary/secondary coasts. Humans make modifications to the coastline for many reasons.
Unit Essential Question(s):
How is Earth’s inside different from its outside?
What is Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading?
What can sediments tell you about biological productivity and ecological concerns?
How do we classify sediment?
How do sedimentation processes differ based on their location?
How are coasts classified and how do they change over time?
Concept:
The Earth
Inside and Out / Concept:
The Theory of
Continental Drift / Concept:
The Theory of
Seafloor Spreading / Concept:
The Unifying Theory:
Plate Tectonics
Lesson Essential Question(s):
How do scientists classify Earth’s internal layers? (A)
What is the Rock Cycle? (A)
How does Archimedes’ Principle relate to the structure of the Earth? (A)
What is isostatic equilibrium? (ET)
KEY:
(A) – Acquisition Lesson
(ET) – Extended Thinking / Lesson Essential Question(s):
What are Pangaea and Panthalasa? (A)
What is the Theory of Continental Drift? (A)
What evidence did Wegener use to support the Theory of Continental Drift? (ET)
Why didn’t scientists originally accept the Theory of Continental Drift? (ET) / Lesson Essential Question(s):
How did the invention of SONAR contribute to information about the ocean bottom? (A)
What is the Theory of Seafloor Spreading? (A)
What evidence supports the Theory of Seafloor Spreading? (ET) / Lesson Essential Question(s):
What 2 theories does the Theory of Plate Tectonics unite? (A)
According to the Theory of Plate Tectonics, what does the lithosphere consist of? (A)
According to the Theory of Plate Tectonics, what happens at a boundary (divergent, convergent, and transform)? (ET)
What is the Hot Spot Theory? (A)
What forces cause tectonic plates to move? (A)
What changes will occur in the oceans and the continents over the next millions of years? (A)
Vocabulary:
  • Asthenosphere
  • Earthquake
  • Erosion
  • Fault
  • Igneous
  • Internal layer
  • Isostatic equilibrium
  • Isostatic rebound
  • Lithosphere
  • Lava
  • Metamorphic
  • Rock cycle
  • Sediment
  • Sedimentary
  • Thermal plumes
  • Weathering
/ Vocabulary:
  • Drift
  • Gondwanaland
  • Laurasia
  • Pangaea
  • Panthalassa
  • Theory of continental drift
/ Vocabulary:
  • Hydrothermal vent
  • Magnetometer
  • Mid-ocean ridges
  • Radiometric dating
  • Rift valley
  • Theory of seafloor spreading
  • Trenches
/ Vocabulary:
  • Convection current
  • Convergent boundary
  • Core
  • Crust
  • Divergent boundary
  • Fault
  • Hot spot
  • Island arc
  • Magma
  • Mantle
  • Principle of uniformitarianism
  • “Ring of Fire”
  • San Andreas Fault
  • Subduction zone
  • Theory of plate tectonics
  • Transform boundary
  • volcano

Model from Learning-Focused Strategies. Thompson, M., Thompson, J. (2008)