Developmental Lesson Plan

Teacher Candidate: Maggie McFadden Date: 3/1/2020

Group Size: 25 Allotted Time 30 Grade Level 4th

Subject or Topic: Science- Plate Tectonics

Common Core/PA Standard(s):
3.3.4.A1- Describe basic Landforms. Identify the layers of the Earth. Recognize that that the
surface of the Earth changes due to slow processes and rapid processes.

Learning Targets/Objectives:
The 4th grade students will be able to identify and describe the 3 different boundaries in plate
tectonics, including divergent, convergent and transforming plates.

Assessment Approaches: Evidence:

1. Formative- matching the boundaries to the 1. Collecting the matching worksheet
description that explains each boundary. 2. Observational
2. Guided notes …
….
Assessment Scale:
 Students will need to correctly match the description of the boundary to the name of
the boundary. If students get all 3, they are proficient. If they get 2 out of 3, they are
basic. If they get one or less, they are below basic and need additional support.

Subject Matter/Content:
 Plate Tectonics
o Convergent boundaries
o Divergent boundaries
o Transforming boundaries
Prerequisites:
 Need to know soil is the top layer of Earth

Key Vocabulary:
 Plate Tectonics- the theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that
glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core.
 Lithosphere- Earth's outer shell, it makes up the crust and uppermost part of the
mantle.
 Convergent boundary- plates move into one another.
 Divergent Boundary- plates move away from each other.
 Transforming Boundary- plates move sideways in relation to each other.
 Pangea- the supercontinent that existed before the process of plate tectonics separated
each of the component continents into their current configuration.
  Landforms- a natural landform of the Earth’s surface.

Content/Facts:
 Plate Tectonics- the different movements of the plates are what cause the different
boundaries. Normally we do not feel the movement, but sometimes we feel it in
Earthquakes. The plates are found in the Lithosphere. The Lithosphere is part of the
Earth’s outer shell. It is not smooth, because it is broken up into the different plates.
 Divergent Boundary- This is what happens when plates move apart from each other.
The ocean floor gets renewed. This boundary is responsible for the continents shifting.
 Convergent Boundary- This is what happens when plates move into each other. This is
mainly what causes new landforms such as mountains and volcanos. This boundary
also causes mountains to grow and get taller.
 Transforming Boundary- This is what happens when plates scrape up against each
other. This is the boundary that we be most likely to feel because this boundary causes
Earthquakes.
 Pangea- Pangea was all of the continents smashed together. At one point all the
continents fit together. But due to the plates shifting, the continents shifted and broke
apart to what you see today. As long as the plates keep moving, the continents will also
continue to move and shift.

Introduction/Activating/Launch Strategies:
 Review what was talked about yesterday. What soil is and what weathering, erosion,
and deposition do.
 Explain that today we will be talking about plate tectonics.
 Ask students if they have ever heard of them before.
 Give time to answer.
 Play video on plate tectonics.

Development/Teaching Approaches

 Ask students what they learned from the video.

 Present guided notes.
 Go through guided notes presentation.
 Give students time to write down what they need to.
 Explain real life examples of what plate tectonics can cause.
 Ask students if they noticed the continents could all fit together.
 Explain Pangea.
 Explain to students that each boundary looks different.
 Have them draw each boundary.
 Tell them to list what the movement of the boundary is.
 Have them give 1 example of what the boundary can cause.
 Explain the matching activity to them.
Closure/Summarizing Strategies:
 Review the boundaries.
 Have them complete the matching activity.
  Explain that tomorrow you will be discussing what landforms are caused by each
boundary.

Accommodations/Differentiation:
 For my students on a first grade level, they will be given the guided notes already filled
in. They will just need to highlight the words everyone else is writing down.
 They will be given 3 questions for the matching activity and they will only need to
trace the dotted lines that match up.

Materials/Resources:
 YouTube plate tectonic video
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OinfMLdornU
 Guided note sheet
 Doc Cam/ projector
 PowerPoint showing pictures of the different plates
 Pencils
 Matching activity worksheet

Reflective Response:
Report of Student Learning Target/Objectives Proficiency Levels

Remediation Plan (if applicable)

Personal Reflection Questions

Additional reflection/thoughts

Google slide presentation: