(For Grade 10)

SCIENCE 10
MODULE 1A: PLATE TECTONICS

Name:_____________________________Grade&Section:________________Score:_________
Teacher:____________________________________________Date:_______________________

Learning Competency

Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake epicenters, and
major mountain belts to Plate Tectonic Theory (S10ES – Ia-j-36.1)

DAY 1 - Lithosphere
Objective

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

✔ describe the Earth's lithosphere and differentiate oceanic and continental crust

Introduction

The Earth is composed of four different

layers. Many geologists believe that as the Earth
cooled, the heavier, denser materials sank to the
center and the lighter materials rose to the top.
Because of this, the crust is made of the lightest
materials (rock- basalts and granites) and the core
consists of heavy metals (nickel and iron).

Broadly speaking, the Earth has four

layers: the solid crust on the outside, the mantle,
and the core — split between the outer core and
the inner core. (see Figure 1)

www.sciencenewsforstudents.org
Figure 1. Layers of the Earth

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The Crust

The crust is the outermost layer of the planet, the cooled and hardened part of the Earth
that ranges in depth from approximately 5-70 km. This layer makes up only 1% of the entire volume
of the Earth, though it makes up the entire surface.

The Mantle

The mantle is the layer located below the crust. It is the largest layer of the Earth. The
mantle is composed of very hot, dense rock. This layer flows due to the great temperature
differences from the bottom to the top of the mantle.

The Core

The core of the Earth is like a ball of very hot metals. It is divided into two layers – the outer
core and the inner core.

The outer core is so hot that the metals in it are all in the liquid state. It is composed of
melted metals such as nickel and iron. Its temperature ranges approximately from 2400 0C to 5000
0
C.

The inner core is composed primarily of solid nickel and iron. The reason why metals are
solid in this region is because of the intense pressure. Its temperature is approximately 5400 0C or
as hot as the surface of the sun.

Let’s Recall

DIRECTIONS: Identify what is being asked in each item. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

__________ 1. This layer is made up of melted metals such as iron and nickel.
__________ 2. The layer of the Earth that is divided in two layers.
__________ 3. It is the thickest layer of the Earth.
__________ 4. This layer of the Earth is composed mainly of solid iron and nickel.
__________ 5. It is the thinnest layer of the Earth.

Let’s Understand
The lithosphere is the coolest and most rigid part of the Earth. The word lithosphere comes
from Greek words “lithos” meaning “rocky” or “stone” and “sphaeros” meaning “sphere”. It is the
solid, outer part of the Earth. The lithosphere includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and
the crust, the outermost layers of Earth’s structure. It is bounded by the atmosphere above and
the asthenosphere (another part of the upper mantle) below.

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There are two types of crust: continental crust and oceanic crust.

1. Oceanic crust is composed mostly of dark-colored mafic rocks. The density of oceanic
crust ranges from 2.9 to 3.1 g/cm3. The dark color and relatively high density can be
attributed to the elevated iron, magnesium, and calcium content of mafic rocks. The oceanic
crust is thin with thickness varying from 5 to 18 km. Oceanic crust hosts features such as
volcanoes and canyons. (see Figure 2)

2. The second type of crust, the continental crust, is composed of many rock types. It’s a
major component is granodiorite, a light-colored igneous rock. The thickness of the
continental crust reaches up to 80 km in mountainous areas and has an average thickness
of 30 km. The density of continental crust is lower compared to oceanic crust and may range
from 2.6 to 2.9 g/cm3. It is relatively older than oceanic crust as the rocks along trenches in
oceans are continually recycled through the process of subduction. (see Figure 2)

http://www.differencebetween.net/science/differences-between-the-earths-
lithosphere-and-asthenosphere/
Figure 2. Oceanic and Continental Crusts

Let’s Apply

A. DIRECTIONS: Read each statement carefully about the lithosphere. Write TRUE if the statement
is correct, otherwise, write FALSE. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
______ 1. It is the hottest and least rigid part of the Earth.
______ 2. The lithosphere is in a liquid state.
______ 3. It includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust.
______ 4. It is the deepest layer of the Earth.
______ 5. It is bounded by the atmosphere above and the asthenosphere below.

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B. DIRECTIONS: Using the Venn diagram, compare and contrast continental and oceanic crust by
providing three (3) differences and similarities. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Continental Crust Oceanic Crust

Let’s Analyze

DIRECTIONS: Read the questions carefully. Answer the questions in 2-3 sentences. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What makes Earth’s crust conducive for living organisms to survive?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

2. What makes mining possible in continental crust?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

3. Why is it important to identify the two types of crust?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 DAY 2 – Tectonic Plates
Objective

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

✔ infer that the Earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates

Let’s Recall

DIRECTIONS: Read each item carefully. Write CC if the statement describes continental crust while
OC if the statement describes oceanic crust. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

_____ 1. A crust that is thin with thickness varying from 5 to 18 km.

_____ 2. The crust that contains light-colored igneous rock.
_____ 3. A crust where its thickness can reach up to 80 km thick.
_____ 4. A type of crust whose density ranges from 2.9 to 3.1 g/cm3.
_____ 5. It is composed mostly of dark-colored mafic rocks.

Let’s Understand

Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide
over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell
compared to Earth's mantle.
A tectonic plate (also called a
lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly
shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of
both continental and oceanic lithospheres. Plate
size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to
thousands of kilometers across; the Pacific and
Antarctic Plates are among the largest. Plate
thickness also varies greatly, ranging from less
than 15 km for the young oceanic lithosphere to
about 200 km or more for the ancient continental
lithosphere (for example, the interior parts of
North and South America).
These plates are pieces of the
planet's lithosphere, which is the outermost shell
of the earth made up of the earth's crust and
upper part of the mantle, and for this reason, https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-03-27/plate-tectonics-
tectonic plates are sometimes called 'lithospheric earth-may-have-been-covered-one-giant-shell
plates.' These plates float on top of the hotter
Figure 3. Lithospheric Plates

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and more fluid asthenosphere, which is the layer below the lithosphere. There are seven major
tectonic plates that very slowly move around on the surface of our planet along with several minor
plates. (see Figure 3)

Let’s Apply

DIRECTIONS: Read the questions carefully. Choose the letter of your answer. Write your answers
on a separate sheet of paper.

1. It is a theory that the Earth’s crust is divided into plates.

A. Asthenosphere B. Lithosphere C. Plate Tectonics D. Tectonic Plates
2. It is the outermost shell of the earth that is made up of the earth’s crust and upper part of the
mantle.
A. Asthenosphere B. Lithosphere C. Plate Tectonics D. Tectonic Plates
3. It is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental
and oceanic lithospheres.
A. Asthenosphere B. Lithosphere C. Plate Tectonics D. Tectonic Plates
4. In which layer of the earth do the lithospheric plates float?
A. Asthenosphere B. Core C. Crust D. Mantle
5. What is the other term for tectonic plates?
A. Asthenospheric Plate C. Lithospheric Plate
B. Atmospheric Plate D. Volcanic Plate

Let’s Analyze

DIRECTIONS: Read the questions carefully. Answer the questions in 2-3 sentences. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. If the Earth is represented using a boiled egg, which part of the boiled egg represents the
tectonic plates? Why?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. Why are there several tectonic plates? What is the importance of studying tectonic plates?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 DAY 3 – Major Tectonic Plates
Objective

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

✔ identify the major lithospheric plates

Let’s Recall

DIRECTIONS: Read each statement carefully. Fill in the blanks with letters to complete the term
being described in each item. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. It is the layer where the plates float.

A __ __ __ E __ __ S __ H __ __ E
2. It is the theory that tells Earth’s outer shell is divided into several pieces.
__ L __ __ E T __ __ T __ __ I __ __
3. It is the outermost shell of the earth made up of crust and upper mantle.
__ I __ __ O __ __ H __ __ E
4. It is the largest tectonic plate of the Earth.
P __ __ I __ __ C P __ A __ E
5. It is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock.
__ __ C __ __ N __ __ __ __ A __ E

Let’s Understand

The outer shell of the earth, the lithosphere, is broken up into tectonic plates. The seven
major plates are the African plate, Antarctic plate, Eurasian plate, Indo-Australian plate, North
American plate, Pacific plate, and South American plate.
✔ The North American plate is one of the major plates of the lithosphere and extends
from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to the West Coast of North America. The same
can be said for the South American plate, which is another of the seven major plates
and extends from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to the west coast of South America.
✔ Pacific Plate lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. Not only is this the only major plate that is
mainly underwater, but it is also the largest, spanning over 100 million square
kilometers.
✔ In the southern Atlantic Ocean, South American plate meets the African plate which is
the major plate that includes Africa and surrounding oceanic crust. They meet at the
Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is a large underwater mountain range on the floor of the
Atlantic Ocean caused by diverging tectonic plates.

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 ✔ The Eurasian plate is the third largest major plate. It consists of most of Europe,
Russia, and parts of Asia. This plate is sandwiched between the North American
and African Plate on the north and west sides.
✔ The Antarctic plate holds the entire continent of Antarctica including its surrounding
oceanic crust. This plate shares boundaries with the African, Australian, Pacific,
and South American Plate.
✔ The Indo-Australian plate is a major plate combining the Australian and Indian Plate.
The Indo-Australian plate stretches from Australia to India. It also includes the oceanic
crust from the Indian Ocean. The north-east side of the Australian plate converges with
the Pacific Plate.

https://earthhow.com/7-major-tectonic-plates/
Figure 4. Tectonic Plate Map

Let’s Apply

DIRECTIONS: Match the definition in column A with the correct term in column B. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper

COLUMN A COLUMN B
_____ 1. It extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the West Coast of South
America. A. Pacific Plate
_____ 2. It is a major plate that includes Africa and the surrounding B. Eurasian Plate
oceanic crust. C. Indo-Australian Plate
_____ 3. It is the largest plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. D. North American Plate
_____ 4. It extends from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to the West E. Antarctic Plate
Coast of North America. F. African Plate
_____ 5. It shares boundaries with African, Australian, Pacific, and G. South American Plate
South American Plate.

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 Let’s Analyze

DIRECTIONS: Read the questions carefully. Answer the questions in 2-3 sentences. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Why were these seven plates considered as the major plates?

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

What is the importance of identifying the major plates?

_________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

DAY 4 – Scientific Bases in Dividing Plates

Objective

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

✔ determine the scientific basis for dividing the lithospheric plates

Let’s Recall

DIRECTIONS: Cut the puzzle and paste it in a bond paper. Then, encircle the seven (7) major
plates which can be found in the puzzle.

I D H K A D G E S J S H A A
E N D G A F R S O G A S E N
D O D H K T F C U Z X A F T
H R X O H A H T T R A D R A

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 K T C J A B C X H D Q G S R
A H V R F U D V A S E Y K C
F A B S R S S G M G T T L T
J M N G I E D T E J K R R I
E E M V C D C R R D D R Y C
A R A R A J H R I A S K S Y
F I F F N T K S C H L V A Y
K C E A F H G F A R R I F H
P A C I F I C G N W D H A G
J N K L U G E U R A S I A N

Let’s Understand

Earthquake epicenters were used as the basis for identifying plate tectonics. For want of a
better term, these are called ‘plates’. And because earthquakes are a form of tectonic activity, the
plates are called ‘tectonic plates’. This deals with observations made from the surface.

As you get further from the margins of the plates, the depth of the earthquakes increases on
only one side of the margin. This implies that the layer generating the earthquakes sinks into the
mantle. By examining the seismic waves, it became apparent that the layer going down into the
mantle involved more than just crust.

The map below displays the location of earthquake epicenters around the world. The dots
represent the different earthquake epicenters which were recorded by the seismograph. These
records were used by the geologists as a basis to understand the division of different tectonic
plates. (see Figure 5)

www.dochub.com
Figure 5. Location of Earthquake Epicenters

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 Let’s Apply

DIRECTIONS. Identify the tectonic plates by connecting the dots. Each dot represents a different
earthquake epicenter. Trace your answer (connected dots) in a separate sheet of paper. Be sure to
follow the sequence from 1 – 25 and from A – Q. Then, answer the guide questions in 1-2
sentences.

HYPERLINK
Guide Questions:
"https://www.shakeout.org/california/downloads/ShakeOut_ES4_FindingPlates.pdf"
https://www.shakeout.org/california/downloads/ShakeOut_ES4_FindingPlates.pdf
1. What do the dots in the activity represent?
________________________________________________________________________
Figure 6. Earthquake Epicenter Activity

2. What have you noticed on the connected dots and on Figure 5?

________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the importance of identifying these earthquake epicenters in understanding the

Earth?
________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Analyze

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DIRECTIONS: Read the questions carefully. Answer the questions in 2-3 sentences. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Why do earthquake epicenters most likely to happen near the plate boundaries?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

If no epicenters were found, what do you think will be the other basis for dividing the
lithospheric plates?
2. _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Try (Evaluation)

DIRECTIONS: Read the statements carefully. Identify what is being asked on each statement.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

__________ 1. It is the largest tectonic plate.

__________ 2. It is a lower density type of crust.
__________ 3. It is a theory that the Earth’s crust is divided into different tectonic plates.
__________ 4. It is one of the major tectonic plates that include Africa and the surrounding
oceanic crust.
__________ 5. It is where the lithospheric plates float.

DIRECTIONS: Read each statement carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is correct. If it is false,
CHANGE the underlined word/s to make the statement correct. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. North American Plate shares boundaries with the African, Australian, Pacific, and South
American Plate.
2. The tectonic plate is also known as the lithospheric plate.
3. Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.
4. The scientists used fossils as a basis for identifying the major tectonic plates.
5. One of the major plates that combine two (2) plates is the Australian plate.

Let’s Create

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 DIRECTIONS: Using the words in the box, create a concept map that connects each word correctly.
Be guided with the rubrics below. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Tectonic Plate Oceanic Crust Pacific Plate South American Plate

African Plate Indo-Australian Plate Eurasian Plate Sphaeros
Antarctic Plate Asthenosphere Continental Crust North American Plate
Lithosphere Earthquake Epicenter Lithos Plate Tectonics

______________________________________
(Title of Concept Map)

STANDARDS:
CRITERIA 16-20 points 11-15 points 6-10 points 1-5 points
Organization All key words and Most keywords Many keywords Many keywords
concepts and concepts from and concepts and concepts
necessary to the units are from the unit are from the unit are
promote an covered in a covered and are missing.
overview of the meaningful way somewhat
unit are used and and are organized.
well-organized to thoughtfully
give added organized.
meaning.
Content Shows an Makes some Makes many Shows no
understanding of mistakes in mistakes in understanding of

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 the topic’s terminology or terminology and the topic’s
concepts and shows a few shows a lack of concepts and
principles and misunderstandings understanding principles
uses appropriate of concepts
terminology
Connections Connections Connections are Connections are Connections
among indicate superior clear and somewhat clear aren't clear, they
concepts organization/ logical. They and convey convey little
understanding connect concepts some meaning. meaning and do
and enhance to promote clarity not promote
meaning. Arrows and convey clarity.
easily connect meaning.
concepts in an
informative
manner.

REFERENCES:
Andre, M. (2018). What are the layers of the Earth?. Retrieved from
https://www.zmescience.com/other/science-abc/layers-earth-structure/

EarthHow (2020). Tectonic Boundary and Movement. Retrieved from https://earthhow.com/

Gillapsy, R. (n.d.). Major Plates of the Lithosphere: Earth’s Tectonic Plates. Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/major-plates-of-the-lithosphere-earths-tectonic-
plates.html#:~:text=The%20outer%20shell%20of%20the,plate%20and%20South%20American%20
plate.

Hardy. L. (2017). What is the Science behind dividing the Earth’s lithosphere into several plates.
Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-science-behind-dividing-Earths-lithosphere-into-
several-
plates#:~:text=The%20lithosphere%20is%20divided%20into,to%20be%20a%20techtonic%20plate.

National Geographic Headquarters (n.d.). Lithosphere. Retrieved from

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/lithosphere/#:~:text=The%20lithosphere%20is%2
0the%20rocky,Illustration%20courtesy%20USGS

National Geographic Xpeditions (n.d.). Earth Science Activity #4: Finding Plates by Potting Quakes.
Retrieved from https://www.shakeout.org/california/downloads/ShakeOut_ES4_FindingPlates.pdf

Quipper Limited (2018). Earth’s Internal Structure – Study Guide. Pp. 9 -11

Oskin, B. (2017). What is Plate Tectonics?. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/37706-

what-is-plate-
tectonics.html#:~:text=Plate%20tectonics%20is%20the%20theory,shell%20compared%20to%20Ea
rth's%20mantle.

Oregon State University (2020). The Earth’s Layers Lesson #1. Retrieved from
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/earths-layers-lesson-1

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