This 2-week project for a 6th grade Earth Science class focuses on plate tectonics. Students will work in groups of 3-4 to choose a topic related to plate tectonics, such as plate boundaries, volcanoes, or earthquakes. They will create a presentation using PowerPoint, Prezi, or Movie Maker to summarize their topic and show how earthquakes and volcanoes are connected to changes in Earth's interior. Students will present their work to the class and during a back to school or open house event. They will be assessed through practice presentations, rough drafts, and a peer evaluation. The goal is for students to understand how convection currents in the mantle create and change Earth's surface

1. P R O J E C T O V E R V I E W page 1
Name of Project: Plate Tectonics Unit Review Duration: 2 weeks
Subject/Course: Teacher(s): Mrs. Rose Grade Level:
Earth Science 6
Other Subject Areas to Be
English--sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, grammar
Included:
Project Idea Bring together key components of plate tectonics and Earth’s structure standards to connect that earthquakes and volcanoes happen because of
Summary of the issue, convection currents in the mantle and they create and change Earth’s surface. Projects will be created in time to review for Periodic
challenge, investigation, Assessment. Students will choose from the following topics: plate boundaries, volcanoes, earthquakes, Alfred Wegener, Theory of Plate
scenario, or problem:
Tectonics, Convection/Conduction/Radiation, Layers of the Earth, Sea-floor Spreading, Tsunamis, Pangaea, Hypothesis of Continental Drift
Students will be able to choose from PowerPoint, Prezi, Movie Maker, or other visual format to summarize and present their topics.
Driving Question How are earthquakes and volcanoes on Earth’s surface connected to changes in Earth’s interior?
Content Standards to be
PT 1a-g
taught and assessed:
21st Century Skills to be taught Collaboration (groups of 3-4 students) X Other: Prezi, Movie Maker (Technology)
and assessed: X
Communication (Oral Presentation) X
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Major Products & Group: Presentation Audience
Plan/Story Board Copy of Final Presentation
Performances X Class
Rough Draft List of Sources/Works Cited School
Community
Final Draft
Individual: Experts
Web
X
Other: Bck 2 Schl/Open House
X
P R O J E C T O V E R V I E W page 2
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2. Entry Event to Present students with the question---- Can mountains grow?
launch inquiry,
engage students:
Assessments Formative Assessments Quizzes/Tests Practice Presentations
(During Project) X
Journal/Learning Log X Notes
Preliminary Plans/Outlines/Prototypes X Checklists
Rough Drafts Concept Maps/Thinking Maps X
Online Tests/Exams X Other:
Summative Written Product(s), with rubric: Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with
Assessments ____________________________________________________ rubric:______________________________________________
(End of Project) Peer Evaluation
Oral Presentation, with rubric X
Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test Self-Evaluation
X
Essay Test Other:
X
Resources Needed On-site people, facilities:
Equipment:
Computer Lab, Video Camera (?), Internet Access
Materials:
Textbooks, Notes, Handouts
Community resources:
Reflection Methods (Individual, Group, Journal/Learning Log X
Focus Group
and/or Whole
Whole-Class Discussion Fishbowl Discussion
Class)
Survey Other:
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