This lesson plan teaches 6th grade students about plate tectonics by focusing on transform plate boundaries. Students will learn to identify convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. They will learn specifically about the San Andreas Fault, a transform boundary in California, by observing its location on maps and drawings. The lesson uses online resources and a worksheet to help students understand plate tectonics and boundary types while incorporating geography concepts.

1. San Andreas Fault
I. Subject Area: Applying Geography in Geology
II. Grade Level: 6th Grade
III. Science Standard:Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Structure
Plate tectonics accounts for important features of Earth’s surface and major geologic
events. As a basis for understanding this concept: a) Students know how to explain major
features of California geology (including mountains, faults, volcanoes) in terms of plate
tectonics
IV. Time Sequence of Lesson: One class session
V. Learning objectives:
o Identify the three general categories of plate boundaries recognized by scientists:
convergent, divergent, and transform
o Understand how transform boundaries occur.
VI. Assessment: World Map and Boundaries worksheet
VII. Materials, Resources, and Equipment:
Computer, Projector, worksheet.
VIII. Guiding Questions
IX. Instructional Strategies: Procedures and Activities:
1. Explanation of our Science Standard
2. Warm-up: Ask the class what they know about plate tectonics and plate
boundaries.
3. Inform class that we will be learning about Plate Tectonics but focusing on the
plate boundary, Transform Boundary.

2. 4. Use the website: http:/www.kidsgeo.com.
5. Plate Tectonics: Will provide definitions and maps of the plate tectonic around the
world.
6. Divergent Boundaries:Move away from each other.
7. Convergent Boundaries: Come together.
8. Transform Boundaries: Slide against one another.
9. Explain how California has a transform boundary known as the San Andreas
Fault.
10. Google Map of where the San Andreas Fault is located. http://geology.com/san-
andreas-fault/
11. Have students draw the San Andreas Fault on their blank map.
12. Pass out map of the different boundaries in the world.
X. Closing/Reflection: Can we name the three different plate boundaries?

3. What plate boundary is located in California?
What fault is located in California?
XI. Extension Activities: Have students draw a representation of how a transform boundary
occurs.
Lesson Plan by: Nathalie, Sarah, and Jordan.
In this lesson plan, students will understand the Science standards that are being
presented. They will be able to learn the following objectives: Identify the three general
categories of plate boundaries recognized by scientists: convergent, divergent, and transform and
understand how transform boundaries occur. By using the website provided in the lesson plan,
the teacher can successfully teach the how plate boundaries occur.
Geography is being incorporated in this lesson plan by examining where plate tectonic
are around the World. Since we are focusing on the San Andreas Fault, students will have a
better understanding of the whole state of California by seeing an enlarged map. By locating
other plate boundaries in the world, students will also learn of World Geography and how to
locate plate boundaries around the world by completing a worksheet.