Demonstrate the movement of lithospheric plates due to convection in Earth's mantle. Learners then model the movements that occur along plate boundaries using colored clay. 

Concepts

plate tectonics

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Additional Tags

plate boundary, tectonic plate, litohspheric plate, science

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Pros

• Can be used to help meet Next Generation Science Standards for middle school earth science
• Comprehensive worksheet helps yountsters to assimilate concepts modeled

Cons

• The demonstration method might be unreliable; consider setting it up in a Pyrex baking dish and setting it on a hot plate to start the convection current rather than using gravel, a bottle of hot water, and ice