Earth

Layers and Changes Study Guide

Know the layers of the Earth in order and be able to label a diagram.
o Crust
o Mantle
o Outer Core
o Inner Core

The crust is divided up into tectonic plates that move and shift on top of the
mantle
What evidence do scientists use to support their ideas that the continents
were once joined together? (Remember the continent puzzle pieces we put
together)
o Fossil evidence of the same plants and/or animals on several different
continents
o The shapes of the continents
Know the 3 types of plate boundaries and how they move and what the
effects of their movements are (study your plate boundaries handout)
o Convergent (colliding) mountain ranges
o Divergent (dividing) volcanoes and ocean ridges
o Transform (sliding) earthquakes
What is the relationship between plate boundaries and volcanoes and
earthquakes?
o Volcanoes are often located along plate boundaries (ex. Ring of Fire
around the Pacific Ocean), and earthquakes often happen at plate
boundaries. (Remember the map activity we did on the smartboard)
How does an Island form?
o Be able to write about how underwater volcanoes create islands
o Remember the book An Island grows
Know the definitions of weathering, erosion, and deposition and be able to
give examples of each.
o Weathering breaking rock into smaller pieces, called sediment
o Erosion scraping away sediment
Agents of erosion water, wind, ice, gravity
o Deposition dropping off sediment in a new location
How are rivers and mountains effected by weathering, erosion, and
deposition

o Be able to give another example of a landform effected or created by

weathering, erosion, or deposition.
Know that plants prevent erosion by holding the soil in place and breaking
the wind to prevent wind erosion. Removing to many plants can speed up
erosion. Planting more plants and trees can slow down erosion.
o Example - dune grass helps to keep sand dunes in place, if the dune
grass is gone the sand dunes will erode away from the wind, trees
help to keep mountains from eroding