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Science
Quarter 1 – Module 4
PLATE TECTONICS:
Processes that Occur Along
Plate Boundaries
Science – Grade 10
Self-Learning Module (SLM)
Quarter 1 – Module 3: Processes that Occur Along Plate Boundaries
First Edition, 2020

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Writer: Kristine Joy D. Bunda

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Introductory Message
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tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the Processes that Occur Along Plate Boundaries. The scope of this module
permits it to be used 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.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Explain the processes that occur along the plate boundaries
2. Determine the consequences of plate movement

What I Know

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. What layers of Earth make up the lithosphere?

a. the crust and lower mantle
b. the crust and upper mantle
c. the continental crust and oceanic crust
d. the upper and lower mantle
2. A _______ boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move towards one another.
a. convergent
b. divergent
c. hydrodynamics
d. transform
3. Tectonics plates float on the _____________________
a. outer core
b. inner core
c. asthenosphere or mantle
d. lithosphere
4. Large pieces of the lithosphere that float on the asthenosphere are called:
a. asthenosphere
b. the mid-ocean ridge
c. deep-sea trenches
d. tectonic plates

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5. The partly melted lower mantle is called:
a. magma
b. lithosphere
c. core
d. asthenosphere
6. A boundary where plates move away from each other is called:
a. divergent
b. convergent
c. transform
d. shear boundary
7. Why is a divergent boundary also called a constructive boundary?
a. Magma flows up between the plates and forms new crust.
b. Animals in the ocean construct nests there.
c. Old ocean floor is re-melted into magma
d. Pacific Ocean becomes wider
8. An example of a transform/shear/sliding boundary is a:
a. volcano
b. mid-ocean ridge
c. deep-sea trench
d. fault
9. A deep crack in the earth’s surface is called a:
a. ridge
b. fault
c. plate
d. mountain
10. How do the plates move at a transform boundary?
a. They move toward each other.
b. They move past each other.
c. They move away from each other.
d. they do not move.
11. Which plate boundary is formed between the Philippine plate and the
Eurasian plate?
a. Convergent
b. Divergent
c. Reverse fault
d. Transform fault
12. At what type of plate boundary do shallow-focus earthquakes occur?
a. Convergent
b. Divergent
c. transform fault
d. all of these
13. What is the name of the Mesozoic supercontinent that consisted of all of the
present continents?
a. Eurasia
b. Laurasia
c. Pangea
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 d. Iseltwald
14. Through which Earth layer are S waves NOT transmitted?
a. continental crust
b. inner core
c. ocean crust
d. outer core
15. What is the primary cause of volcanoes and earthquakes?
a. Crustal plate movement
b. Higher than usual tides
c. Earth’s gravitational force
d. Solar magnetic storms

Great job! You have successfully answered the questions above. In the next part, let
us try to test what have you learned on the previous topic.

Lesson
Processes that Occur Along
6-7 Plate Boundaries

Plate boundaries are areas where deformation of the lithosphere is happening.

This geologic event has a great impact in the environment and human life. Thus,
there is a need to explain the processes occurring therein.

Let us explore this next activity.

What’s In

Activity 1: “PAIR ME UP”

Directions: Cut out the boxes at the bottom of the page. Glue each box under the
correct heading.

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 CONVERGENT DIVERGENT TRANSFORM

What’s New

Activity 2: “PUZZLE PUZZLE”

Directions: Complete the puzzle using the words and definitions below.

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 What is It

GUIDE CONCEPTS
Earth is made up of three types of plate boundaries. These are convergent,
divergent and transform boundaries. Each of these is made up of continental and
oceanic plates.

Convergent Plate Boundary

A convergent plate boundary is a location where two tectonic plates are moving
toward each other, often causing one plate to slide below the other in a process
known as subduction. The collision of tectonic plates can result in earthquakes,
volcanoes, the formation of mountains, and other geological events.

Earth's surface is made up of two types of lithospheric plates: continental and

oceanic. The crust that makes up continental plates is thicker yet less dense than
oceanic crust because of the lighter rocks and minerals that compose it. Oceanic
plates are made up of heavier basalt, the result of magma flows from mid-ocean
ridges.

When plates converge, they do so in one of three settings:

• oceanic plates collide with each other (oceanic-oceanic boundaries),
• oceanic plates collide with continental plates (oceanic- continental
boundaries),
• continental plates collide with each other (continental- continental
boundaries).

Oceanic-Continental Boundary

When continental and oceanic plates collide, the thinner and denser oceanic
plate is overridden by the thicker and less dense continental plate. The oceanic plate
is forced down into the mantle in a process known as "subduction." As the oceanic
plate descends, it is forced into higher temperature environments. Materials in the
subducting plate begin to approach their melting temperatures and a process of
partial melting begins. This partial melting produces magma chambers above the
subducting oceanic plate.

For the oceanic crust, one important geologic feature is formed, and that is the
trench. Also called submarine valleys, ocean trenches are the deepest part of the
ocean. One of the deepest is the Philippine trench with a depth of 10,540 meters.

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Effects of a convergent boundary between an oceanic and continental plate include:
a zone of earthquake activity at varying depths
• ocean trench
• volcanic eruptions

Oceanic-Oceanic Boundary

When a convergent boundary occurs between two oceanic plates, one of those
plates will subduct beneath the other. Normally the older plate will subduct because
of its higher density. The subducting plate is heated as it is forced deeper into the
mantle, and at a depth of about 100 miles (150 km) the plate begins to melt. Magma
chambers are produced as a result of this melting, and the magma is lower in density
than the surrounding rock material. Magma chambers that reach the surface break
through to form a volcanic island arc parallel to the trench. In the early stages of this
type of boundary, the cones will be deep beneath the ocean surface but later grow to
be higher than sea level. This produces an island chain. Many parts of the Philippines
originated from oceanic-oceanic convergence.

Effects that are found at this type of plate boundary include:

• a zone of progressively deeper earthquakes;

• an oceanic trench;
• a chain of volcanic islands

Continental-Continental Boundary
Continental-continental convergent boundaries pit large slabs of crust against
each other. This results in very little subduction, as most of the rock is too light to
be carried very far down into the dense mantle. Instead, the continental crust at
these convergent boundaries gets folded, faulted, and thickened, forming great
mountain chains of uplifted rock.

Divergent Plate Boundary

Formation of rift valleys and oceanic ridges are indications that the crust is
spreading or splitting apart. In this case, the plates are forming divergent
boundaries wherein they tend to move apart. Most divergent boundaries are situated
along underwater mountain ranges called oceanic ridges. As the plates separate,
new materials from the mantle ooze up to fill the gap. These materials will slowly cool
to produce new ocean floor.

Transform Plate Boundary

In the transform fault, where plates slide past one another without the
production or destruction of crust. Because rocks are cut and displaced by movement
in opposite direction, rocks facing each other on two sides of the fault are typically
of different type and age. These structures are so-called strike-slip faults.

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When strike-slip movement halts due to increased friction at some location, stresses
can build up that are released in sudden slips. These may result in some of the most
damaging earthquakes on continental crust. The San Andreas Fault, the North
Anatolian Fault (Turkey) or the Dolores-Guayaquil Megafault in the northern Andes
are some examples of huge strike-slip faults transecting continental crust.

What’s More

Activity 3: Understanding Science Words

Great work! You can still recall your previous lessons. This time, you will
discover and explain different processes that occur along the plate boundaries. In
this activity you will use Oreo cookies in making a model to explain the interactions
of tectonic plate boundaries.

Time Frame: 5 days

Material:

• 2 packs Oreo Cookies/ Presto Cream Cookies

• Paper
• Pen/Pencil
• Coloring Materials

Activity 3: Convergent Boundary

Objectives:
• Explain the processes that occur along convergent boundaries
• Determine the consequences of colliding plates

A. Converging Continental Plate and Oceanic Plate

Procedure:

1. Carefully remove the top biscuit of

an Oreo cookie.

2. Once removed, break the biscuit

(the one without the creamy
center) in half. This will be your
Plate A.

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 3. Put the broken biscuit on top of
the other biscuit which is the one
with the creamy white center.
4. Gently press down the two
broken biscuit and push towards
each other.

5. One half of the broken biscuit

should be below the other half
biscuit.
6. Illustrates the model and label
the parts inside the box below

Drawing

Questions:

1. What type of plate is the top part of the biscuit?

______________________________________________________________________
2. Describe what happens to Plate A as it collides with Plate B? Why?
______________________________________________________________________
3. What do you think may happen to the leading edge of Plate A as it continues
to move downward? Why?
______________________________________________________________________

4. What do you call this molten material?

______________________________________________________________________
5. As the plates continue to grind against each other, what other
geological events could take place? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________

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B. Convergence of Two Oceanic Plates
Procedure:
1. Carefully remove the top
biscuit of an Oreo cookie.

2. Once removed, break the

biscuit (the one without the
creamy center) in half. This
will be your Plate A.

3. Put the broken biscuit on top

of the other biscuit which is
the one with the creamy white
center.
4. Gently press down the two
broken biscuit and push
towards each other.
5.One half of the broken biscuit
should be below the other
half biscuit.
6.Illustrates the model and label
the parts inside the box below

Drawing

Questions:

1. What are the geological processes/events that occur because of plate

movement as shown by the activity?
__________________________________________________________________
2. What geological features might form at the surface of Plate A?
__________________________________________________________________
3. If the edge of plate A suddenly flicks upward, a large amount of water maybe
displaced. What could be formed at the surface of the ocean?
__________________________________________________________________

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C. Two Continental Plates Converging
Procedure:
1. Carefully remove the top
biscuit of an Oreo cookie.

2. Once removed, break the

biscuit (the one without the
creamy center) in half. This
will be your Plate A.

3. Put the broken biscuit on

top of the other biscuit which is
the one with the creamy white
center.
4. Gently press down the two
broken biscuit and push
towards each other.
5.Observe what happen when
the plates are pushed towards
each other
6.Illustrates the model and label
the parts inside the box below

Drawing

Questions:

1. What happened to Plate A as they were pushed from opposite ends?

__________________________________________________________________
2. If Plate A represents the earth’s lithosphere, what do you think is formed in the
lithosphere?
_________________________________________________________________
3. What are the other geological events that could take place with this type of plate
movement?
_________________________________________________________________
4. In terms of consequences on the Earth’s lithosphere, how will you
differentiate this type of convergent plate boundary with the other two.
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Activity 4: Divergent Boundary
Objectives:

• Explain the processes that occur along divergent boundaries.

• Determine the results of plates that are moving apart.

Procedure:
1. Carefully remove the top biscuit
of an Oreo cookie.

2. Once removed, break the biscuit

(the one without the creamy
center) in half. This will be your
Plate A.

3. Put the broken biscuit on top of

the other biscuit which is the
one with the creamy white
center.
4. Gently press down the two
broken biscuit as you slowly
push them down and away from
one another in opposite
direction.
5. Observe what happen when the
plates are away from each other 6.
Illustrates the model and label
the parts inside the box below

Drawing

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Questions:

1. What does the Plate A represent? ___________________________________

2. What happened to the creamy white center of the two broken biscuit as you
pressed? __________________________________________________________
3. What landform is being formed in this kind of plate boundary?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 5: Transform-Fault Boundary

Objective:

Determine the effect of transform-fault boundary on the Earth’s crust

Procedure:
1. Carefully remove the top biscuit of an Oreo cookie.

2. Once removed, break the biscuit (the one without

the creamy center) in half. This will be your Plate
A.

3. Put the broken biscuit on top of the other biscuit

which is the one with the creamy white center.

4. While gently pushing the biscuit together, slide

one biscuit towards you and another biscuit away
from you so they grind against one another.
5. Observe what happen when the broken biscuit
grind against one another.
6. Illustrates the model and label the parts inside
the box below

Drawing

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Questions:

1. Provide an example of a location where this type of boundary is found on

Earth. (Recall your previous lessons). ___________________________________
2. What real geologic event is simulated when the crackers finally move past
each other? ____________________________________________________________
3. What will happen to the crackers when the pressure is increased? Explain
how this is similar to the situation along the San Andreas Fault.
________________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Directions: Complete the Concept Map using the terms in the
list below and answer the following questions.

Mid-ocean ridges Volcanic islands major earthquakes

rift valleys deep -sea trenches volcanic mountains

Plate
Boundaries

Convergent Divergent Transform

Questions:

1. Convergent Plate Boundary will result to earthquakes, volcanoes, formation

of mountains, and other geological events. Explain how these geological
processes/events occur due to this plate movement?
_______________________________________________________________________________

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2. Site an evidence that prove Divergent Plate Boundaries can produce new
ocean floor. _____________________________________________________________________
3. Explain the interaction between two plates sliding past each other. What
geological process/event may occur? _____________________________________________

What I Can Do

At this point, we are quite aware that our country is susceptible to different
disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruption, and tsunamis. Therefore, it is a
must for us to prepare and ensure our safety and survival when these disasters
strike.
For this activity, your goal is to help your family prepare for an impeding
emergency. Your task is to prepare an emergency kit for the whole family. Decide
what items should be in your emergency kit.
Draw essential tools needed for your emergency kit.

Question:
What can you do to prepare for a disaster in your community? How can you
help others affected by disasters? ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

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 Assessment

Answer the following questions. Encircle the letter of the correct answer

1. Predict what geologic features could result out of this plate boundary

a. Mountains
b. Volcanoes
c. Trenches
d. None of the above
2. Right in the middle of an island, you can find a rift valley as shown by the
diagram below. What type of plate boundary exists?

a. Convergent
b. Divergent
c. normal fault
d. transform fault
3. Plates A and B shows a divergent boundary. If plate C is adjacent to both
plates and does not show any relative motion, what type of plate boundary
is present between A and C?
a. Convergent
b. Divergent
c. normal fault
d. transform fault
4. What geologic event is most likely to happen at the given type plate
boundary in number 4?
a. earthquake
b. Divergent
c. normal fault
d. transform fault
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 5. What do you expect to find parallel to a trench?
a. Hot spot
b. Ocean Ridge
c. rift valley
d. d. volcanic arc

Direction: Complete the table below and answer the following questions.

Diagram Type of Diagram Type of

boundary, boundary,
motion and motion and
brief brief
explanation of explanation
the processes of the
occurring at processes
boundary occurring at
boundary

6. 8.

7. 9.

10. Which of the above boundaries can produce volcanoes? ________________

11. At which of the above boundaries is sea floor created? _________________
12. At which of the above boundaries is sea floor destroyed? _______________
13. What are the three sub-types of convergent plate boundaries? __________
14. Which of the above boundaries can generate tsunamis? ________________
15. How can transform-fault boundary may generate a strong earthquake?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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 Additional Activities

Direction: Label each plate boundary by using the following vocabulary word bank.
Some words may be used more than once.
Vocabulary Terms:

-Volcanic arc -Continental crust

-Lithosphere -Mountain range
-Oceanic Crust -Volcanic Island
-Asthenosphere -Mid-ocean ridge
-Trench -Magma
-Crust -Rift Valley
-Rift

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References
Printed Material:

Acosta, H., Alvarez, L., Angeles, D., Arne, R., Carmona, M., Garcia, A., Gatpo, A.,
Macaida, J., Olarte, M., Rosales, M., Salazar, N. (2015). First Edition. Science 10
Learner’s Material. Department of Education. Republic of the Philippines

Acosta, H., Alvarez, L., Angeles, D., Arne, R., Carmona, M., Garcia, A., Gatpo, A.,
Macaida, J., Olarte, M., Rosales, M., Salazar, N. (2015). First Edition. Science 10
Teachers Guide (Unit1). Department of Education. Republic of the Philippines

Electronic Sources:
Brooks Mitchell (March 19, 2020). “Introduction to Convergent Plate Boundaries”
Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/convergent-plate-boundaries3866818
“Convergent Plate Boundaries” (Geology.com). Retrieved from:
https://geology.com/nsta/convergent-plate-boundaries.shtml
“Tasty Tectonics” (rcsdk12.org). Retrieved from:
https://www.rcsdk12.org/cms/lib/NY01001156/Centricity/Domain/9785/tasty_t
ectonics.pdf

“Plate Boundaries” (geo.fu-berlin.de). Retrieved

from:https://www.geo.fuberlin.de/en/v/geolearning/mountain_building/pl
ate_tectonics/plate7/index.html

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 EDITOR’S NOTE
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) was developed by DepEd
SOCCSKSARGEN with the primary objective of preparing for and
addressing the new normal. Contents of this module were based on
DepEd’s Most Essential Competencies (MELC). This is a
supplementary material to be used by all learners of
SOCCSKSARGEN Region in all public schools beginning SY 2020-
2021. The process of LR development was observed in the production
of this module. This is Version 1.0. We highly encourage feedback,
comments, and recommendations.

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – SOCCSKSARGEN
Learning Resource Management System (LRMS)

Regional Center, Brgy. Carpenter Hill, City of Koronadal

Telefax No.: (083) 228 8825 / (083) 228 1893
Email Address: region12@deped.gov.ph