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Understanding Convection Currents in the Earth's Mantle: A Plate Tectonics Experiment, Study notes of Earth Sciences

A detailed lesson plan for teaching grade six students about plate tectonics and convection currents in the Earth's mantle. The lesson includes a demonstration using a convection detector and a lab experiment using water and candles to observe convection currents. Students are encouraged to make predictions, draw observations, and participate in class discussions.

What you will learn

  • How does heat affect the movement of materials in the Earth's mantle?
  • What happens to the water in the lab experiment when a heat source is added?
  • What causes the movement of plates in plate tectonics?

Typology: Study notes

2021/2022

Uploaded on 09/27/2022

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6.3$Plate$Tectonics:$Convection$Currents$in$the$Mantle$
Science$Matters$ $ 1$
Grade Six: Plate Tectonics
Lesson 6.3: Convection Currents in the Mantle
Lesson Concept Crust movement is the result of convection currents in the mantle.
Link The layers of the earth from lesson 6.2 move due to convection
currents in the mantle. Lesson 6.4 demonstrates how the plates
move on top of the mantle layer.
Time 60 minutes
Materials Whole class
H1 Convection detector (see JASON handout)
Lamp
Per Group (groups of 4)
Rectangular aluminum tray with water
3 tea candles
2 blocks or books to raise tray
One bottle of red food coloring
Two popsicle sticks
Optional Lab Materials
Bottle of vegetable oil
Bottle of dried spice (oregano, basil)
Clear Pyrex square dish
4 small pieces of rectangular Styrofoam
1 grease pencil
4 tea candles
Individual
H2 Convection Observation student handout
pf3
pf4
pf5

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6.3 Plate Tectonics: Convection Currents in the Mantle Grade Six: Plate Tectonics

Lesson 6.3: Convection Currents in the Mantle

Lesson Concept Crust movement is the result of convection currents in the mantle. Link The layers of the earth from lesson 6.2 move due to convection currents in the mantle. Lesson 6.4 demonstrates how the plates move on top of the mantle layer. Time 60 minutes Materials Whole class H1 Convection detector (see JASON handout) Lamp Per Group (groups of 4) Rectangular aluminum tray with water 3 tea candles 2 blocks or books to raise tray One bottle of red food coloring Two popsicle sticks Optional Lab Materials Bottle of vegetable oil Bottle of dried spice (oregano, basil) Clear Pyrex square dish 4 small pieces of rectangular Styrofoam 1 grease pencil 4 tea candles Individual

  • H2 Convection Observation student handout

6.3 Plate Tectonics: Convection Currents in the Mantle Advance Preparation 1. Cut out and assemble the convection detector according to the attached directions.

2. Place materials (3 tea candles, 2 blocks of books, one bottle of red food coloring, 2 popsicle sticks) in metal trays for distribution. 3. Place materials (bottle of vegetable oil, dried spice, 4 small pieces of rectangular Styrofoam, 4 tea candles) in clear Pyrex square dish. 4. Get materials from JASON website www.jason.org 5. On the JASON website, you will need to click on the Tectonic Fury tab on the left hand side of the page. Then click on Mission 4: Earth on the Move. Click on Teacher Resources, Lab #1: The Moving Surface. 6. R1 Teacher will distribute water and light candles as indicated in the lesson. See teacher resource. 7. Duplicate handout for observation. Procedure: Engage (10 minutes) the lamp heated the air around it. The warmer, less dense air causes the detector to spin. Teacher Note: Set up the lamp and the convection detector for the demonstration.

  1. Ask students to observe the convection detector without the lamp underneath.
  2. Ask students to make predictions about what will happen when the convection detector is held over the lamp. Charts predictions on the board.
  3. Ask students to observe what happens when holding the convection detector over the lamp. Draw the movement in your notebooks.
  4. Lead a class discussion including these questions: a. What did you observe? b. What is the heat from the lamp doing to the air? c. What do you think is happening when the air heats up? d. How would you draw what was happening as the air was being heated by the light bulb? Use colored arrows to represent the hot and cold air. Explore (20 minutes) The cooler more dense water will sink, pushing the warmer less dense water above the cooler water.

6.3 Plate Tectonics: Convection Currents in the Mantle

  1. Lead a discussion by asking: How might the popsicle sticks represent the plates? How did the material move like the crust? Evaluate (10 minutes) Crust movement is the result of convection currents in the mantle.
  2. Have students write a short summary describing convection currents in the Earth using the following words: a. convection currents b. mantle c. crust d. movement e. heat f. less dense

6.3 Plate Tectonics: Convection Currents in the Mantle

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