Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION SCIENCE 10

Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
Quarter 1
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
Baganian National High School

Name of Learner: ______________________________ Score: ________________

Section: ___________________ Date: ________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

WHY DO LITHOSPHERIC PLATES MOVE?

Overview

The Earth's crust is broken up into pieces called plates. The crust moves because of
movements deep inside the earth. You have also learned the types of plate movements-
separation of two plates (divergent), collision of two plates (convergent) and sliding past each
other (transform fault). But do you know what facilitates the movement of these plates? In this
lesson, you will learn what are the possible causes of plate movement.

In Grade 7, you have learned how heat transfer occurs. The three types of heat transfer
are radiation, conduction, and convection. In Grade 8, you have also learned the internal
structure of the Earth through the help of earthquake waves. Let us try to recall by doing the
following activities.

Activity 1. Simple Recall

Identify what is being described in the following statements by choosing your answers from the
box below.

Convection Conduction Radiation Heat transfer Heat

______________1. The transfer of heat is through direct contact.

______________2. This process happens depending on the density of the material. The denser
masses of the gas or liquid move in to fill the space left by the heated particles.
______________3. A phenomenon related to a change in temperature or a change in the
relative hotness or coldness of an object.
______________4. It is the transfer of heat in rays, from a hot object, without needing a medium
to pass through.
______________5. refers to thermal energy 'in transit' or in the process of being transferred

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 Activity 2. What’s my Name?
Label the diagram below with the name of the layers of the Earth.
Background of the Lesson
Retrieved from https://www.windows2 universe .org/
earth/interior/how_plates_move.html
Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/ physical geo
logy2ed/chapter/10-5-mechanisms-for-
platemotion/
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1.
2.
3.
4.
One of the possible causes of plate movement
is convection current. Heat is produced in the core that
produces convection in the mantle. This convection
causes the plate to move around. A convection
current is a heat transfer process that involves the
movement of energy from one place to another. The
convection currents tend to move a fluid, gas particles,
or molten rock. These are due to the differences in the
densities and the temperature of a specific gas or a
fluid. Due to this temperature difference, the hot fluid
tends to rise as it expands, whereas cold fluid tends to
sink because it contracts.
As an oceanic crust moves away from a
divergent boundary, it becomes denser than the
newer oceanic crust. As the older seafloor sinks, the
weight of the uplifted ridge pushes the oceanic crust
toward the trench at the subduction zone. This
process is called ridge push.
Slab pull is the other possible involved in the
tectonic plate movement. The weight of the
subducting plate pulls the trailing slab into the
subduction zone just like a tablecloth slipping off the
table and pulling items with it.
Learning Competency with Code

CODE

Describe the possible causes of plate movement. (S10ES-Ia-j-36.5)

Objective:
Recognize the process of convection current in the mantle.
Explain the possible causes of plate movement.

Pre-requisite Knowledge: (S7LT-IIIh-i-12)

1. Infer the conditions necessary for heat transfer to occur
2. Explain how earthquake waves provide information about (S8ES-IIc-17)
the interior of the earth

How to use this Learning Activity Sheet?

Directions/Instructions.
1. Use the Learning activity sheet with care.
2. Read and analyze thoroughly the instructions given per activity.
3. Write all your answers in this LAS.
4. Submit on the agreed schedule.
5. Be honest in doing all the tasks.
6. Do not forget to write your name.

Exercises/Activities

Activity 3: Trust the Process!

Directions. Based on the given statements below, arrange the convection current process that
occurs in the mantle. Write your answers inside the box. The first step is already done for you.

 The hot magma flows out of the mantle and cools down to form the new ocean crust.
 These forces lift and split the lithosphere at divergent plate boundaries.
 The hot, less dense rising material spreads out as it reaches the upper mantle causing
upward and sideward forces.
 The convection currents rotate very slowly, as they move and drag the plates along.
 The tectonic plates are able to move slowly along the tectonic boundaries.

The less dense particles rise while denser particles sink .

1.
4.

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2.
5.
 3.
6.

Now that you know the process of convection current, it’s time to perform the next activity
for you to better understand how convection current works. All the materials needed in this
experiment are available at home.

Activity 4: Heat Convection in Liquids

(Adapted from https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/convection-movement-heat-
fluids/)
Materials
 Clear liter container or jar
 Water
 Freezer (you may use any closed container with ice cubes)
 Coffee mug or other container that can withstand heat
 Blue food coloring (you may use plant pigment)
 Spoon
 Dropper

Procedure
1. Fill the clear jar halfway with cold water.
2. Place the jar inside the freezer or in closed container with ice
cubes for 15 minutes. 
3. Fill the coffee mug about ¼ full with hot water.
4. Add 10 drops of blue food coloring to the hot water and stir.
5. Remove the jar from the freezer and set it on the table.  Wait
until all the sloshing around from moving it has stopped.
6. Fill the dropper with hot blue water.
7. Lower the tip of the dropper until it is near the bottom of the
large jar.
8. Carefully release two drops of hot blue water onto the cold
water.  Observe what happens, looking at the side and top of
the jar.
9. Add ten more drops, two drops at a time, observing what
happens between each.
10. Once you have added all the hot blue liquid drops, observe
the jar for an additional five minutes.
https://
www.education.com/
Guide Questions. Read carefully the following questions then science-fair/
write your answer in the space provided. (3 points each) article/convection-
movement-heat-fluids/)
1. What have you observed when you added drops of hot water
with blue dye near the bottom of the jar?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. After five minutes, what happened to the hot blue drops?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. How will you relate this phenomenon to convection current in the mantle?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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 Activity 5: Say Something About Me!

Directions. In your own words, briefly discuss the following terms:

1. Convection current

2. Ridge Push

3. Slab Pull

Rubric for Scoring

RUBRIC FOR SCORING

Excellent (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs

Improvement (1)

Idea Understanding Understanding Understanding Understanding

Explanation of the lesson is of the lesson is of the lesson is of the lesson is
very evident. evident. somewhat not evident.
evident.
Coherency Extremely Coherent writing Somewhat Lacks
coherent writing coherent coherency

Grammar Few errors Some errors Many errors Many errors that
hurt
understanding

Reflection:
Complete the statements below.

I have learned in this lesson that

___________________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
I don’t understand about
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
I need more information about
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

References for Learners:

Science 10 Learners Material

Electronic Sources

 Patel, A. (2015). Plate Tectonics. Retrieved August 27, 2021 from

https://www.haikudeck.com/copy-of-plate-tectonics--education-presentation-ifV584OxV3
 Convection Current in Liquids (n.d).Retrieved August 28, 2021 from
https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/convection-movement-heat-fluids/
 Plate Tectonics.(n.d). Retrieved August 28, 2021 from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zss8rwx/revision/3
 Continental Movement by Plate Tectonics. Retrieved August 28,2021 from
https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/node/1348
 Earle S. (n.d.) Mechanisms for Plate Motion.Retrieved August 29, 2021 from
https://opentextbc.ca/physicalgeology2ed/chapter/10-5-mechanisms-for-plate-motion/

Answer Key
Activity 1

1. Conduction
2. Convection
3. Heat Transfer
4. Radiation
5. Heat

Activity 2
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Outer Core
4. Inner Core

Activity 3
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 Expected Answers in Activity 4

Prepared by:

MITCHELLE DAWN E. PAYE

Name of Writer

Note: .

Practice Personal
Hygiene Protocols
at all times.

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