Earth's Moving Plates Create Change

Grade 6 Science Exploring Plate Tectonics How Earth's Surface Changes

What Do These Events Have in Common?

Earthquakes shake the ground Volcanoes erupt with lava Mountains rise over time Ocean floors spread apart

Earth's Tectonic Plates

Earth's outer layer is broken into large pieces called tectonic plates These plates float on hot, flowing rock called magma Plates move very slowly - only a few inches per year When plates interact at their boundaries, big changes happen

Three Types of Plate Boundaries

Divergent: Plates pull apart Convergent: Plates push together Transform: Plates slide past each other Each type creates different surface changes

Plate Boundaries Create Surface Features

{"left":"Divergent boundaries create new ocean floor and rift valleys.\nConvergent boundaries form mountains, volcanoes, and deep ocean trenches.","right":"Transform boundaries cause earthquakes along fault lines.\nAll three types reshape Earth's surface over millions of years."}

The Ring of Fire

Check Your Understanding

Which type of boundary causes most earthquakes? How can moving plates create volcanoes? What happens when plates pull apart under the ocean? Can you explain your foam plate model to a partner?