This document provides instructions for an investigation into Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift and the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea. Students are asked to cut out continents from a page of "continental pieces" and fit them together based on matching boundaries, fossils, and glacial patterns to recreate Pangaea, as Wegener had done using available evidence. They are then to glue the recreated continents and a key to a separate piece of paper and answer questions about which continents fit together best and other evidence that could support the existence of Pangaea.

1. Name ____________________________ Period:____ Date:___________________
Investigation – Pangaea
Introduction:
In 1912 Alfred Wegener proposed a theory called “Continental Drift”. He based
this theory on scientific research and facts. He noticed that on maps of the world, the
continents appeared to fit together like puzzle pieces. He also noted that fossil remains
of terrestrial organisms were widely separated by oceans and that certain rock types on
different continents appear to be of the same structure and composition.
Objective:
In this investigation you will use the same evidence that Wegener used and try to
recreate the super continent of Pangaea.
Vocabulary:
Wegener-
Pangaea-
Sea-floor spreading-
Subduction-
Procedure:
1. On the “Continental Pieces” page cut out the continents on the dashed lines as well
as the Key.
2. On a separate paper, fit the land masses together to form one large land mass.
Make sure boundaries, fossils, and glacial patterns line up.
3. Glue or tape the continents and the Key to a piece of paper.
Question:
1. Which continents seem to fit together best?
Conclusion:
What evidence other than fit could be used to piece together Pangaea?