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Science
Quarter 1 - Module 1
Plate Tectonics

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Quarter 1 – Module 1: Plate Tectonics
Second Edition, Revised 2021

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Published by the Department of Education – Division of Cebu City Schools Division
Superintendent: Rhea Mar A. Angtud, EdD

Development Team of the Module

Writer:
Bonnie James A. Saclolo, Teacher III, Cebu City National Science HS

Content Editors:
Dr. Deogenes R. Adoptante, Principal I, Mambaling National HS
Mrs. Arnolfa A. Demellites, Principal I, Guba National HS

Language Editor:
Mrs. Wilma Y. Villaflor, Principal III , Don Vicente Rama Mem. ES

Management Team:
Dr. Rhea Mar A. Angtud, Schools Division Superintendent
Dr. Bernadette A. Susvilla, Asst. Schools Division Superintendent
Mrs. Grecia F. Bataluna, CID Chief
Dr. Raylene S. Manawatao, EPS – Science
Mrs. Vanessa L. Harayo, EPS – LRMDS

Printed in the Philippines by

Department of Education Division of Cebu City ROVII
Office Address: Imus Avenue, Cebu City
Telephone Nos: (032) 255-1516 / (032)253-9095,
E-mail Address: cebucity@deped.gov.ph

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 Lesson
The Theory of
1 Plate Tectonics

What I Need to Know

This module is based on DepEd’s Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC) for
Science 10, Quarter 1 for Weeks 1 to 3.
Learning Competency:
“Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake
epicenters, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory”
At the end of this module, you are expected accomplish the following specific learning
objectives unpacked from the competency:
1. Locate where earthquakes epicenters are recorded
2. Locate where volcanoes are found
3. Locate where mountain belts are found
4. Describe what the plate tectonic theory tells us about the lithosphere of the Earth.
5. Locate and identify tectonic plates
6. Relate the location of earthquake epicenters, volcanoes and mountains to the
plate tectonic theory

What I Know

PRE-ASSESSMENT: Please answer the pre-test before proceeding. Write the letter
corresponding to the correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1) Which of the following is NOT a sub-layer of the mantle?
A. Asthenosphere C. lower mantle (mesosphere)
B. Mohorovicic discontinuity D. outermost rigid mantle layer
2) Which makes up the Earth’s lithosphere?
A. uppermost solid mantle and crust
B. soil layer and the porous rock layer
C. continental crust and oceanic crust
D. oceans and continental landmasses
3) What theory states that the Earth’s lithosphere is divided into segments called
plates?
A. hotspot theory C. continental drift theory
B. plate tectonic theory D. seafloor spreading theory

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 4) How many MAJOR segments are there in the Earth’s lithosphere?
A. eight B. nine C. seven D. six
5) Where are most earthquake epicenters, volcanoes and mountain belts found?
A. far away from tectonic plate boundaries
B. along or near the tectonic plate boundaries
C. at the center of most continental landmasses
D. at the oceans in between tectonic plate boundaries
6) Which of the following is NOT a minor tectonic plate?
A. African plate B. Caribbean plate C. Nazca plate D. Philippine plate
7) The asthenosphere sublayer of the mantle is said to have some plasticity.
What does this mean?
A. This layer is very rigid and does not flow or move.
B. Organic substances compose the majority of this layer.
C. The temperature of this layer is cooler than those above it.
D. Materials in this layer are partially melted and flow like a fluid.
8) Which plate tectonic boundary is nearest to the Philippines?
A. Pacific plate – Philippine plate boundary
B. Eurasian plate – Philippine plate boundary
C. Philippine plate – Australian plate boundary
D. Philippine plate – North American plate boundary
9) Which of the following is NOT a basis for identifying where the boundaries
between tectonic plates lie?
A. location of volcanoes
B. where mountain ranges are located
C. distribution of earthquake epicenters
D. temperature difference on Earth’s surface
10) What can be inferred about the Philippines based on its location in relation to
the tectonic plates?
A. There are a lot of earthquakes and volcanism.
B. There is very minimal earthquakes and volcanism.
C. There are a lot of earthquakes but minimal volcanism.
D. There are a lot of volcanisms but minimal earthquakes.
11) The Pacific Ring of Fire refers to the edges of the Pacific Ocean where a lot of
volcanoes and earthquakes happen. Which tectonic plates share boundaries
with these edges?
I. Eurasian plate II. North American plate III. Australian plate
A. I and II only B. II only C. I and III only D. I, II and III
12) What tectonic plate includes majority of the landmasses of the South East Asia?
A. Eurasian plate B. Indian plate C. Pacific plate D. Philippine plate
13) Which small tectonic plate is located directly below the South American plate
on the map?
A. Cocos plate B. Caribbean plate C. Indian plate D. Scotia plate
14) Where is it LEAST prone to earthquake tremors?
A. areas sitting on the plate boundaries C. at the center of a tectonic plate
B. countries near tectonic plate boundaries D. on the edges of tectonic plates

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 15) There are twenty-two (22) active volcanoes in the Philippines. Australia on the
other hand has none. Why is this the case? It is because the Philippines
______________ while Australia ____________________.
A. is near the equator, is far from the equator
B. has a lot of earthquakes, has a lot of mountains
C. is part of a smaller plate, is part of a major tectonic plate
D. is near a plate boundary, is at the center of a tectonic plate

What’s In

Since the topics of earthquakes and volcanoes were already discussed in Grades 8
and 9, I am confident that you can do this review task without any problem. Identify
the correct concept as defined.
Ring of Fire Epicenter Earthquake Magma Volcano
Epicent
__________1. A sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great
er
destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.
__________2. A mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through
which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are being or have been erupted from
the earth's crust.
__________3. Hot fluid or semifluid material below or within the earth's crust from
which lava and other igneous rock is formed on cooling.
__________4. The point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an
earthquake.
__________5. A major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

What’s New

Activity 1: Tectonic Plate Boundaries, Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Mountain

Belts

According to the Tectonic Plate Theory, the Earth’s lithosphere is divided into
segments called tectonic plates. Crucial to the conceptualization of these plates are
data from earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain belts.

On this activity we will find out how the location of earthquake epicenters, volcanoes
and mountain belts are related to the location of the tectonic plates.

Instructions: Examine the maps on the next four pages and accomplish the tasks
written after.

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The tectonic plates dividing the Earth’s lithosphere are shown to have boundaries illustrated in the map below. Each line is a border
between two different tectonic plates.

Map 1: Boundaries between tectonic plates

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Now, let’s take a look at the earthquake epicenters that we have detected in the recent years. Each dot on the map represents an
earthquake epicenter.

Map 2: Recorded earthquake epicenters in recent history

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How about volcanoes? Where do we find them? The map below gives us their locations. Each triangle pinpoints a known volcano.

Map 3: Location of volcanoes on the surface of the Earth

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Finally, let us observe the mountain belts of the world. They are shown by the map below. The areas colored in white are regions
where we find the fold mountains of these belts.

Map 4: Mountain belts of the world

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TASKS:
1) Recreate the distribution of recorded earthquake epicenters, volcanoes, and
mountain belts into map number 1. Mark the approximate location of earthquakes,
volcanoes and mountain belts shown on the other maps directly into the locations on
map 1. To distinguish among earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain belts, use
different colors of ink for each.
2) Examine the result of your work from the above instruction. Which of these
observations were you able to see? Write a checkmark “√” if you agree and an “X” if
you disagree.
Agree or
Observation
Disagree
Earthquakes are likely to happen far away from volcanoes.
Most volcanoes are near or along the tectonic plate boundaries.
The mountain belts are at the center of the tectonic plates.
Epicenters of earthquakes are randomly distributed.
They DO NOT form a pattern.
Locations of volcanoes, mountains, and earthquakes are related to
plate tectonic boundaries.
Conclusion:
How are earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain belts distributed in relation to the
location of the tectonic plates and their boundaries?

What is it

The activity above further shows that earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain
belts are related to each other because they follow the same pattern – they mostly
occur near or along the boundaries of the tectonic plates. But what are tectonic plates?
Plate Tectonic Theory
Let us recall that the
layers of the Earth are as
follows – Inner Core, Outer
Core, Mantle and Crust. To
elaborate on this, the mantle
is further divided into 3 parts:
uppermost solid mantle,
asthenosphere and lower
mantle (mesosphere). The
uppermost solid mantle is
rigid but the asthenosphere
has some plasticity -
meaning it is solid but is
partially melted and therefore
flows very slowly like a liquid.

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 Although the uppermost mantle is of different composition from the crust,
together they form a mechanical layer called the lithosphere.
The major concept explained by the Plate Tectonic Theory is that the Earth’s
lithosphere is fragmented into several segments called tectonic plates. These tectonic
plates are “floating” above the asthenosphere which has a fluid-like nature. Each
lithospheric segment share borders with other plates. We call these borders tectonic
plate boundaries.
How do we know where the tectonic plate boundaries lie?
In module 3, you will learn that the theory of plate tectonics explains how
earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain belts are formed. In fact, it predicts that most
of the tectonic activities should occur near or along the boundaries between tectonic
plates. All the scientists had to do was plot out where these activities occur and
collectively, they traced out the boundaries. Recently, modern technologies like Global
Positioning System (GPS) and satellites are able to confirm the locations of the
borders of these plates by observing the slight movements of the plates over time.

What’s More

Activity 2: Names and Locations of Tectonics Plates

The biggest segments of the Earth’s lithosphere are called the 7 major tectonic plates.
These are the African plate, Eurasian plate, Australian plate, North American Plate,
South American plate, Antarctic plate and Pacific plate. As you can tell, these were
named after an ocean or continent or a big landmass that is part of the plate. With a
background on geography, research from a world map or help from your parents, you
should be able to identify these easily.

There are also minor plates that are smaller. The location of each is described below:

1) Nazca plate – the biggest plate in between the South American and Pacific
plates
2) Philippine plate – between the Pacific and Eurasian plates
3) Scotia plate – a small plate underneath the South American plate
4) Indian plate – includes the subcontinent and country of India
5) Arabian plate – shares borders with the African, Indian and Eurasian plates
6) Cocos plate – shares borders with the Pacific, Nazca and North American
and Caribbean plates
7) Caribbean plate – shares borders with the Nazca, North American, South
American and Cocos plate

Do you think you can locate all of the seven major and seven minor tectonic plates of
the Earth on the map?

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Task:
Given what you have learned above, draw the plate boundaries and label each major and minor plate with its correct name.
Use the map below.

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 What I Have Learned

To summarize what you have learned, complete the following sentences:

1) The Earth’s surface has a mechanical layer called the ________. It is made
up of the _________ and the _________ of the mantle. This mechanical
layer is “floating” above the semi-melted layer of the mantle referred to as
the ___________.
2) The lithosphere is fragmented into several segments called __________.
3) A great majority of earthquake epicenters are found ______________.
4) Most volcanoes are located _______________________.
5) Mountain ranges are located _________________.
6) The boundaries between tectonic plates are drawn on the map based on
information and data gathered from
a. ______________
b. ______________
c. ______________
d. ______________

What I Can Do

Let’s make these concepts closer to home:

The Philippines – its location with respect to the tectonic plates
Locate the Philippines in the world map in relation to where the lithospheric plates and
tectonic boundaries are. Answer the following questions:
1) What major and minor tectonic plates are near the Philippines?
2) On which tectonic plate are majority of the Philippine Islands located?
3) Is the Philippines near a tectonic plate boundary? What tectonic plate
boundary is this?
4) What does the answer in question number 3 tell us about earthquakes and
volcanoes in the country?
5) Why is this information relevant to us as citizens of the Philippines?

Assessment

It’s time to check what you have learned! Select the letter corresponding to the correct
answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

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 1) What does the Plate Tectonic Theory explain about the lithosphere of the
Earth?
A. It is fragmented into several segments
B. The lithosphere is rotating around the mantle
C. The lithosphere is not rigid and therefore flows like a fluid
D. It is one whole integrated system that floats on top of the mantle
2) How many MAJOR tectonic plates are there in the Earth’s lithosphere?
A. eight B. nine C. seven D. six
3) Which of the following are sub-components of the mantle?
I. Asthenosphere
II. Lower Mantle (Mesosphere)
III. Outermost rigid mantle layer
A. I and II B. II and III C. I and III D. I, II and III
4) What layer of the Earth is made up of the crust and the uppermost mantle?
A. Lithosphere C. Continental crust
B. Mantle D. Tectonic Plate boundary
5) Which geologic activities are found near or along tectonic plate boundaries?
I. Volcanism II. Earthquakes III Mountains
A. I and II only C. I, II and III
B. II and III only D. None of them
6) What can be traced when volcanoes, earthquake epicenters and mountain
ranges are marked on the map?
A. places where archipelagos exist
B. countries with thin oceanic crust
C. boundaries between tectonic plates
D. areas prone to typhoons and storms
7) Which of these observations indicates that the Philippines has
active volcanoes and a high frequency of earthquakes?
a. The Philippines is near a big body of water.
b. The country is far from a tectonic plate boundary.
c. The country is near the boundary of two tectonic plates.
d. The Philippines is located at the center of a tectonic plate.
8) What type of a tectonic plate is the Scotia plate?
a. major plate C. microplate
b. minor plate D. it is not a plate
9) What property is referred to as the ability of partially melted solid to flow like a
liquid?
c. Plasticity C. Flammability
d. Viscosity D. Thickness
10) Where can we find the Philippines in reference to the Eurasian plate –
Philippine plate boundary?
e. The country is very far away from it
f. The country is very near this boundary
g. The Philippines is above the boundary itself
h. The Philippines is where this boundary ends

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 11) Which major tectonic plate is located directly above the Scotia plate on the
map?
A. African plate C. North American plate
B. Eurasian plate D. South American plate

12) Which location experiences less earthquakes?

A. countries near tectonic plate boundaries
B. areas sitting on the plate boundaries
C. on the center of a tectonic plate
D. on the edges of tectonic plates

13) Australia does not have a single volcano that is active for thousands of years.
What could be the reason for this?
A. the size of its landmass
B. its location within the tectonic plate
C. the frequency of earthquakes in the country
D. its lithosphere composition is different from others

14) The Ring of Fire is an area located at the edges of an ocean. There are a lot of
volcanoes and earthquakes in this area. Which tectonic plate do most of these
edges belong to?
A. Arabian plate C. African plate
B. Pacific plate D. South American plate

15) Which of the following countries is NOT part of the Eurasian plate?
A. Australia C. Indonesia
B. Philippines D. Malaysia

Additional Activities

The activities below are only supplemental. If you have internet access, you may
visit these sites.

1) Interactive Earth – a digital globe where the tectonic plates and corresponding
boundaries are shown in 3 dimensions.
Visit the link (https://rb.gy/7xfpre) and click on “Plate Tectonics”.
Can you locate all the major and minor tectonic plates?

2) Google Earth – interactive display of the 10 000 years of volcanoes

Visit the link (https://earth.google.com) and click on “Launch Earth”.
Use the search box and type “years of volcanoes” and click on the first result.
What tectonic plate boundaries can you make out from the location of volcanoes?

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 Answer Key

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References

Books:
SCIENCE 10 Learner’s Module, Department of Education, Republic
of the Philippines

SCIENCE 10 Teacher’s Guide, Department of Education, Republic

of the Philippines

Images:
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24 Jul, 2020]

Extending the Collapse Time of Non-Engineered Masonry Buildings Under

Seismic Loading - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from:
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Visionlearning.com. 2020. [online] Available at:

<https://www.visionlearning.com/img/library/large_images/image_5577.png>
[Accessed 24 July 2020]

2020. I.Pinimg.Com.
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"Tectonic". 2020. D3tt741pwxqwm0.Cloudfront.Net.

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2020. I.Pinimg.Com.
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jpg [accessed 24 Jul, 2020]

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 For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Division of Cebu City

Office Address: Imus Road, Cebu City
Telephone Nos.: (032) 255-1516 / (032)253-9095
E-mail Address : cebucity@deped.gov.ph

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