Violent Earth

This term we will be looking at the violent side of Planet Earth.

We will take a journey to the centre of the Earth.

We will marvel at volcanoes and try to outwit earthquakes.

What’s at the centre of our Earth?

To describe the structure of the Earth

To explain how and why plates move

To discover the supercontinent of Pangea

Key terms: Crust, mantle, inner core, outer core, plates.

N

What is the greatest threat to life on Earth?

Tsunamis

Hurricanes

Pandemics

Nuclear war

Volcanoes

Tornadoes

World wars

Global warming

Floods

Earthquakes

Zombies?

TASK Complete the mindmap below with a partner

Is our Earth itself the greatest threat to life?

These are all images of tectonic hazards. Tectonic hazards are created when the surface of Earth breaks open or moves! To find out why the Earth moves we need to look at its structure.

The Structure of Earth

TASK Fill in your structure of the Earth sheets

The Layers of the Earth RapThrow your hands up for the layers of the Earth!Throw your hands up for what’s below the surface!Throw your hands up and let’s discuss…The inner core, outer core, mantle and crust!

As you listen to the rap, write down five NIFs (new interesting facts) about the layers of the Earth.

The crust is made of rock. But it is not a smooth, unbroken surface.

The crust a cracked, broken surface like a jigsaw. Each broken piece of the crust is called a plate.

The ShatteredCrust

African Plate Indo

Australian Plate

North American

Eurasian

Pacific

Nazca

Antarctic

South American

The Plates

TASK Label your plates map. What are the plates named after?

QUESTION What do these arrows show?

An Earth on the MoveNEWSFLASH The surface of the Earth moves! At the rate your finger nails grow.

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS? Because the continents used to be joined together! Look at South America and Africa. They fit together! The world used to look very different.

WHY DOES THE SURFACE MOVE? Because the crust is broken into plates and… The plates sit on top of the mantle. This is a molten layer that moves!Watch the PANGEA CLIP.

Recap Questions1. Can you name the layers of the

Earth?

2. What is the crust broken up into?

3. How many plates can you name?

4. What evidence is there to tell us that the continents once joined together?

5. Why do the plates move?

6. How quickly do the plates move?