Earth's Moving Plates and Earthquakes
Understanding Our Dynamic Planet Grade 4 Science
What's Inside Our Earth?
Earth has layers like an onion The crust is the thin outer layer we live on The mantle is hot rock underneath The core is the center - very hot!
The Earth's Crust is Broken into Pieces
The crust is like a cracked eggshell These pieces are called tectonic plates There are about 15 major plates They fit together like a giant puzzle
Plate Movement Activity
Take two pieces of paper Slowly push them together Watch what happens at the edges This is how Earth's plates move!
How Do Plates Move?
Hot rock in the mantle moves like thick soup This movement pushes the plates around Plates move very slowly - only inches per year It's like your fingernails growing!
What Happens When Plates Meet?
{"left":"Plates can crash into each other\nPlates can slide past each other\nPlates can pull apart from each other","right":"Mountains form when plates collide\nValleys form when plates separate\nEarthquakes happen at plate edges"}
What Are Earthquakes?
Earthquakes are the ground shaking They happen when plates suddenly move The shaking can last seconds or minutes Most earthquakes are too small to feel
Famous Earthquake Locations
Think and Discuss
Why do you think California has more earthquakes than other states? What would happen if plates stopped moving? How might earthquakes change the land over time?
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What We Learned Today
Earth's crust is broken into moving plates Plates move very slowly due to hot mantle rock Earthquakes happen when plates suddenly shift Most earthquakes occur where plates meet Scientists study plates to understand our changing Earth