10

Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1A:
Plate Tectonics

Self-Learning Module

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Science - Grade 10
Self Learning Module
Quarter 1 – Module 1A – Plate Tectonics
First Edition, 2020

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 Introductory Message

For the facilitator:

This Self-Learning Module is a stand-alone resource material in Science which
is intended for the learners of the Division of Bacolod City. Learners who could not
afford online or face-to-face learning can utilize this module. It includes a learner-
friendly pretest, self-check exercises, additional activities, and other learning
instructions intended to help learners learn even teachers and learner are
geographically remote from each other. This covers topics in Grade 10 in the 1st
Quarter with corresponding activities for learners to achieve the most essential
learning competencies and lesson objectives. Moreover, each exercise in this module
is designed for independent learning and practice. However, ensure that the learners’
parents, elder siblings, guardians or relatives at home will guide and support them as
they accomplish its given tasks.
Furthermore, explain to students that taking the tests diligently will allow them
to learn their lessons for their academic progress. Most importantly, remind them to
answer the given activities on a separate answer sheet and handle this module with
utmost care.

For the learner:

This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is a learner-friendly resource material in
Science which is specially designed for your learning needs and progress. Your
patience and dedication in reading and answering the exercises will help you
successfully cope with lessons. You are free to ask assistance from your teachers,
parents, siblings, friends, and family members whom you think can help you best.
Read each lesson carefully and follow the instructions for your activities after reading.
Remember to answer the given exercises in a separate sheet of paper. When
you are done, kindly return it to your teacher to check and evaluate your level of
competency.

Good luck and God bless.

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Parts of the Self-Learning Module
The following are the parts of this module that will help you finish your tasks.
Read the following descriptions below to better understand each part.

This part will be your guide to learn in the

I Need to Know specific lessons specifically your skills and
competencies.

This contains a 10-item pre-test that will

I Will Check on This
check what you already know.

This section will give you the topic,

Lesson Overview information and concepts as a brief
discussion for you to learn.

It is in this part that the new lesson will be

introduced to you in different ways: a story, a
I Will Do This poem, a problem opener, an activity, or a
situation. You will be given specific
instructions on how to go about the activity.

In this part helps you generalize your

I Learned This understanding of the concepts. This includes
a short fill-in the blanks summary of the topic.

This provides you questions and exercises to

I Practice This help you deepen your understanding of the
concept.

This section includes an activity or exercises

I Apply This that will help you apply your knowledge into
real-life situations
This is composed of 10-item exercises to
I Test Myself assess if you have attained the learning
competency.

References

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 I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake epicenters,
and major mountain belts to Plate Tectonics Theory (S10ES-Ia-j-36.1). The scope
of this module allows you to use it in many different learning situations. The language
used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged
to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them
can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

This module is divided into different lessons:

 Lesson 1 – Plate Tectonics Theory

 Lesson 2 – Earth’s Plates

After going through this module, you are expected to

1. explain the Plate Tectonics theory,
2. describe the connection between the Continental Drift theory and
Plate Tectonics theory,
3. identify the major plates and minor plates on a map,
4. appreciate the role of these plates in the continuous evolution of the
Earth’s geologic features.

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 I Will Check On This

Read each sentence carefully. Select the letter of the best answer.

1. The massive supercontinent that broke apart over 250 million years ago was
named _______________?
A. Gondwanaland
B. Pangaea
C. Panthalassa
D. Laurasia

2. Continental plates are lithospheric plates that are ___________________ and

less dense while oceanic plates are thinner and denser.
A. heavier
B. thicker
C. lighter
D. greater

3. Which of the following layers of the Earth is moving?

A. inner core
B. lithosphere
C. mantle
D. outer core

4. Which of the following causes the movement of the continental plates?

A. earthquakes
B. convection currents
C. volcanic eruptions
D. revolution and rotation

5. Volcanoes that have not erupted in 10 years and are not showing signs of
eruption are called ________________.
A. active
B. dormant
C. extinct
D. inactive

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6. The following are produced by the movement of plates EXCEPT,
A. mountains
B. oceans
C. tsunamis
D. hurricanes

7. Most of the active volcanoes are found in the Pacific Ring of Fire because this
where most of the ________________ are located.
A. crater
B. plates
C. subduction zones
D. vent openings

8. A shaking or tremor of the Earth’s surface is known as a/an ____________.

A. earthquake
B. epicenter
C. mountain
D. seismic belt

9. Earthquake epicenters and mountain belts are the results of ____________.

A. active volcanoes
B. earthquakes
C. growing mountains
D. plate tectonics

10. Most of the Earth’s seismic belts are located ____________.

A. along the border of continental plates
B. in the middle of large oceans
C. inside the continental plates
D. on top of mountain belts

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 Lesson

1 Plate Tectonics Theory

Lesson Overview

Have you heard of the word Pangaea? Pangaea or Pangea is a massive

supercontinent that existed millions of years ago. It was surrounded by a single
ocean called Panthalassa. Now Pangaea looks very different. Why did it break
apart?

It seems that the land on Earth is fixed and does not move. In fact, it is
continuously moving. This movement is too slow for us to feel and notice because
it only moves between one to four inches per year. It takes millions of years for the
land to move a noticeable distance.

In this lesson, you will be amazed how incredible our planet is. You will
discover that though you do not see or feel movements, truth is, changes are
happening and the land beneath you is moving – every single second.

Many centuries (century – 100 years) ago, brilliant scientists continued to offer
numerous theories about our planet. One of them is Alfred Wegener (see Figure 2).
He is the scientist who suggested that a massive supercontinent existed 250 million
years ago and named it Pangaea.
However, his fellow scientists did not believe
him. It was only about a hundred years ago when
the modern-day scientists were able to discover
technologies that helped support his theory. Many
evidences proved his theory is credible. Due to his
contributions, he is known as the Father of Plate
Tectonics.

He formulated the first complete Continental

Drift theory. The Continental Drift Theory
suggests that the Earth's continents have moved
Figure 2. Alfred Lothar Wegener
© Kuhlbrodt, E.
from their original position to a different position
over hundred million years.

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 The most obvious reason is that the "continents fit together like a puzzle,"
something that is quite noticeable on any map. It fits perfectly as illustrated in Figure
3. Wegener’s Continental Drift theory resulted to the development of Plate Tectonics
theory.
Figure 4 illustrates the drifting
(pag-anod) or the significant break-up
of Pangaea from Permian period to
the present day. Observe how a single
massive continent broke into smaller
continents.
Figure 3. The present day continents fit
together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Asia North Asia
North Asia North
America America Europe
America Europe
Europe Africa I
Africa n
Africa South
South South India
India America
America America Australia
Australia Australia
Antarctica Antarctica Antarctica

Permian Period Triassic Period Jurassic Period Cretaceous Present day

(250 million) (200 million) (145 million) (65 million)
New Zealand is
The Atlantic and Pangaea broke Central North Madagascar split from
Indian oceans did up into two – Atlantic and drifted away Australia. The
not exist. All the Laurasia and Indian oceans from Africa. The North and South
continents were Gondwanaland. formed due to northward Atlantic oceans
gathered into a India separated seafloor movement of are more open.
single continent from Antarctica. spreading. A new India continued, Africa moved
named Pangaea. Laurasia split valley separated slightly north,
and Australia
There was one from South South America and India is
split from
ocean only, America and from Africa.
Antarctica. joined with Asia.
Panthalassa. Africa.

Figure 4. The breaking of Pangaea to present day.

Image & information courtesy of USGS, Journal of Geophysical Research

Today, the Continental Drift theory has been replaced by the Plate Tectonics
theory. Although Wegener and another scientist, DuToit, presented evidences of the
continental drift, other scientists did not believe it. Some of the evidences they
presented are the fit of the continents (as illustrated in Figure 3) and fossils records
as shown in Figure 5. However, these evidences could not prove that the continents
or the plates of the Earth were really moving.

The theory that was able to prove the movement of the Earth’s plates is the
Plate Tectonics theory.

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 Nonetheless, please take note that the Plate Tectonics theory was developed
because of the Continental Drift theory. Meaning, the theory of Continental Drift plays
a major contribution to the development of the Plate Tectonics theory.

Plate Tectonics Theory

Fig. 5. Glossopteris leaves that are found in
Australia and Antarctica. © James St. John
states that the slow and constant
movement of the Earth’s plates
produce earthquakes, mountains,
volcanoes, and other geologic
features. The slow and constant
movement of the continental
plates is due to convection
currents. Convection currents
are formed as molten magma
under the Earth’s surface is
heated.

I Will Do This

Activity 1: Pangaea to Present day

Arrange the jumbled illustrations in proper order by connecting the dots of

period in Column A and position of continents in Column B.

Column A Column B

1. Permian
250 million years ago

2. Triassic
200 million years ago

3. Jurassic
145 million years ago

4. Cretaceous
65 million years ago

5. Present day

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Analysis Questions:

1. Why did the supercontinent Pangaea break-up? It broke apart because the
Earth
A. is continuously moving.
B. has plates that are moving.
C. is growing bigger.
D. has plates that are shaking.

2. Aside from being a physicist and meteorologist, who is Alfred Wegener? He

A. proposed the Continental drift theory.
B. proposed the Plate tectonics theory.
C. proved that the plates are moving

3. The ____________ theory states that ____________ of the Earth are slowly
but continuously ____________.

4. Why was the continental drift theory replaced by plate tectonics theory?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

I Learned This

Fill-in the blanks. Select your answer from the word box.

Alfred Wegener continental drift theory Pangaea

plates plate tectonics theory

I have learned that 1. __________________ is a physicist who formulated the

complete 2. __________________. This theory states that there was once a
supercontinent called 3. __________________ which separated into smaller
continents by drifting apart from each other. The theory proposed by Wegener lacked
evidences so it was by a new one. The 4. __________________ states that the slow
and constant movement of the Earth’s 5. __________________ produce earthquakes,
mountains, volcanoes, and other geologic features

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 I Practice This

Arrange the periods of continental drift by writing the letters (A – E) in the boxes
provided. Write the name of the period on the blanks provided and label the continents.
Please answer on your Answer Sheet.

I Apply This

Write the answer on the blank and put a yellow star on the picture. Answer on
your Answer Sheet.
1. Who developed the complete theory
of the Continental Drift? _____________

2. Pangaea is the supercontinent which broke apart

millions of years ago because the ___________
are moving as proven by the Tectonic plates
theory.

3. The fossil record of a leaf called _____________

was found in different continents that were far away
from each other but once together.

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 I Test Myself

Multiple Choice. Read each item carefully. Select the letter of the best answer.
1. The massive supercontinent that broke apart over 250 million years ago was
named _______________?
A. Gondaland
B. Laurasia
C. Pangaea
D. Panthalassa

2. Wegener’s Continental Drift theory states that the continental plates _______.
A. broke apart because of earthquakes.
B. drifted away from each other
C. suddenly disappeared
D. were too massive that it can’t move

3. The _____________ theory states that the slow and constant movement of
the Earth’s plates produce earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains.
A. Continental Plates
B. Plate Continental
C. Plate Tectonics
D. Tectonic Plates

4. The split of the Australian continent from Antarctica happened in ____ period.
A. Cretaceous
B. Jurassic
C. Permian
D. Present day

5. Which of the following causes the movement of the continental plates?

A. earthquakes
B. plate movement
C. volcanic eruptions
D. rotation of earth

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 Lesson
Lesson
The Earth’s Plates
2 2

Lesson Overview

Do you still remember how Pangaea broke into the present day continents?

In Lesson 1, it was mentioned that the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart

because the plates were constantly moving. The continents of the Earth are all parts
of the lithosphere.

The lithosphere is the layer of the Earth that moves. It is hard, solid, and the
outermost part of our planet. It is subdivided into two – the crust and the upper
mantle. The crust and upper mantle are composed of different types of rocks.

Figure 1 is a closer look at the crust and the upper mantle.

The entire lithosphere of the

Earth is made of different
divisions called plates. The
lithospheric plates can be
categorized according to its
density and its size.

Figure 1. The crust and upper mantle. © U.S.
Geological Survey
According to density,
there are two divisions – the
continental plates which are
thicker but less dense (lighter)
and the oceanic plates which
are thinner but denser (heavier).

According to size, there are two divisions – the major plates and the minor
plates. The major plates are larger with an area of greater than 20,000,000 km2
while minor plates have an area of less than 20,000,000 km2 but greater than
1,000,000 km2. You may find in other references of a third division labeled as
microplates. Microplates are plates that have an area of less than 1,000,000 km2.

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 Figure 2 shows the major and minor lithospheric plates of the Earth. Look for
the arrow which points to the Philippine plate which is one of the minor plates of the
Earth.

Figure 2. Detailed description of plate boundaries

Image courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

The movement of the major and minor plates is very slow but continuously changes
how the Earth looks. The plate movement produces geologic features like long
mountain ranges, deep-blue oceans and monstrous volcanoes.

As breathtaking as it sounds, it can at the same time, set off negative major
catastrophes like deadly earthquakes which happen around faults and trenches,
sudden tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.

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 I Will Do This
Activity 1: Major and Minor Lithospheric Plates

Distinguish the major plates by coloring them green and minor plates by
coloring them red. And, label the map by writing the names of the plates near the
letter or number. Answer on your Answer Sheet. Read Table 1 to help you out.

Table 1. Lithospheric Plates

Figure 3. The Earth’s Plates

Table 1. Earth’s Plates

Major Plates Minor Plates

1. Pacific Plate A. Juan de Fuca Plate
2. North American Plate B. Cocos Plate
3. South American Plate C. Nazca Plate
4. African Plate D. Carribean Plate
5. Eurasian Plate E. Scotia Plate
6. Indo-Australian Plate F. Arabian Plate
7. Antarctic Plate G. Philippine Plate

Analysis Questions:

1. In what category does the Philippine plate belong to?

A. Major
B. Minor

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 2. How can major plates be distinguished from minor plates?
A. Major plates are greater than 20 million km2.
B. Minor plates are lesser than 20 million km2 but greater than 1
million km2.

3. What are the major lithospheric plates?

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

4. What are the minor lithospheric plates?

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

5. Based on the map, what do you think will happen when plates move
toward or against each other?
A. Mountains, earthquakes and continents may appear or disappear
B. Typhoons, tornadoes and new pandemic may appear

6. Observe the 7 minor plates on the map, which of the minor plates is the
smallest.
A. Juan de Fuca Plate
B. Nazca Plate
C. Philippine Plate

I Learned This

Fill-in the blanks. Select your answer from the word box.

lithosphere major geologic features

minor continental

I have learned that the 1. ____________ is the layer of the earth that slowly but
continuously moves. Its different parts are called plates or lithospheric plates. The 2.
____________ plates are bigger in size while the 3. ____________ plates are smaller.
The oceanic plates are thinner but denser compared to 4. ____________ plates which
are thicker but less dense. When the plates move beautiful 5. ____________ are
produced like mountains and oceans. However, it can also produce catastrophes like
earthquakes and tsunamis.

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 I Practice This

Color the major plates green and the minor plates red. Label each plate.

Figure 4. The Earth’s Plates

1. What are the 7 major plates?

a. ________________ e. ________________
b. ________________ f. ________________
c. ________________ g. ________________
d. ________________

2. What are the 7 minor plates?

a. ________________ e. ________________
b. ________________ f. ________________
c. ________________ g. ________________
d. ________________

3. How can you tell a major plate from a minor plate?

___________________________________________________________

4. How are mountains, oceans, and islands produced?

___________________________________________________________

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 I Apply This

Put a yellow star on the geologic feature/catastrophe caused by the movement

of plates?

Mt. Kanlaon Pacific Ocean Sierra Madre Mountains

Earthquake Tornado Volcanic Eruption

Banaue Rice Terraces Cuernos de Negros Typhoon

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 I Test Myself

Multiple Choice. Read each item carefully. Select the letter of the best answer.

1. Which of the following layers of the Earth is moving?

A. inner core
B. lithosphere
C. mantle
D. outer core

2. The following below is produced by the movement of plates EXCEPT,

A. eruptions
B. hurricanes
C. mountains
D. oceans

3. Lithospheric plates that are less than 20 million square kilometers but not less
than 1 million square kilometers are called ___________________ plates.
A. continental
B. major
C. minor
D. oceanic

4. Continental plates are plates that are ___________________ and less dense
while oceanic plates are thinner and denser.
A. greater
B. heavier
C. lighter
D. thicker

5. Major plates have an area of more than ___________________.

A. 200,000 km2
B. 2,000,000 km2
C. 20,000,000 km2
D. 200,000,000 km2

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References
https://www.livescience.com/38218-facts-about-pangaea.html
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-pangea-1435303
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/pangaea-present-lesson-2
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pangaea_to_present.gif
https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/crediting-usgs
https://www.livescience.com/37529-continental-drift.html
https://www.tiarastantrums.com/homeschool/kids-drift-theory
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Wegener
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/continental-drift/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2017/01/06/alfred-wegener
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/historical.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dafni/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/15448560516
https://www.livescience.com/38218-facts-about-pangaea.html
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-pangea-1435303
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/pangaea-present-lesson-2
https://www.livescience.com/37529-continental-drift.html
https://www.tiarastantrums.com/homeschool/kids-drift-theory
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Wegener
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/continental-drift/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2017/01/06/alfred-wegener
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-tectonic-plates-on-earth.html
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Education-and-Careers/Ask-a-Geologist
https://earthhow.com/7-major-tectonic-plates/
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/339-plate-tectonics
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Plate_tectonics
https://www.ilibrarian.net/science/tectonic_plates_lg.png
https://study.com/academy/answer/what-are-lithospheric-plates.html
Blair, M. Sutori. HSTRY LTD. Available at: https://bit.ly/3dj0jiV
Kollegova, N. Needpix. Creative Commons. Available at: https://bit.ly/2Ye2sIz
Velasquez, RF. 2013. Wikipedia. Creative Commons. Available at:
https://bit.ly/2YME9R7
Maji, S. 2020. Facebook. Available at: https://bit.ly/2ASgXsy
Martin, L. 2010. Flickr. Creative Commons. Available at: https://bit.ly/37Lwgzl
Hobson, J. 2007. Justin1569 at English Wikipedia. Available at:
https://bit.ly/37OPCDW
.0202 .‫דקי‬Creative Commons. Available at: https://bit.ly/2N9Teqr
Nicdao, J. 2008. Flickr. Creative Commons. Available at: https://bit.ly/2YehApm
Princeofmagatas. 2014. Creative Commons. Available at: https://bit.ly/3hHexO7

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 ANSWER SHEET
Quarter 1 – Module 1A: Plate Tectonics
Lesson 1: Plate Tectonics Theory

Name: _________________________________________________
I Will Check On This (Capital letters only)
1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.

I Will Do This

1. Permian
250 million years ago
2. Triassic
200 million years ago
3. Jurassic
145 million years ago
4. Cretaceous
65 million years ago

5. Present day

Analysis Questions:
1.
2.
3. ____________________, ____________________, ____________________
4. _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

I Learned This
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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I Practice This

I Apply This
1.

2.

3.

I Test Myself
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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 ANSWER SHEET
Quarter 1 – Module 1A: Plate Tectonics
Lesson 2: The Earth’s Plates

I Will Do This

Figure 3. The Earth’s Plates

Analysis Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

I Learned This
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I Test Myself
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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I Practice This

Figure 4. The Earth’s Plates

1. a. _____________________ e. _____________________
b. _____________________ f. _____________________
c. _____________________ g. _____________________
d. _____________________
2. a. _____________________ e. _____________________
b. _____________________ f. _____________________
c. _____________________ g. _____________________
d. _____________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________

I Apply This

Mt. Kanlaon Pacific Ocean Sierra Madre

Mountains

Earthquake Tornado Volcanic Eruption

Banaue Rice Terraces Cuernos de Negros Typhoon

25
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – SDO-Bacolod City

(Office Address): Rosario-San Juan Sts., Brgy. 14, 6100, Bacolod City

Telefax:

Email Address: bacolod.city@deped.gov.ph

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