Name ___________________________ Date______ Period_____

Plate Tectonics Unit Assessment. DUE Friday October 14th

You will select one of the projects below to demonstrate your understanding of the theory
continental drift, the theory of plate tectonics, and how plate movement shape and change
Earths surface. You will have a choice in how you present your understanding of these key
concepts from the listed projects below.
You will have time to complete this in class on Friday October 7th and Tuesday October 11th.
The final product is due Friday October 14th.

Key vocabulary to use in all of the projects below. It needs to be clearly evident that you
understand what each of these concepts mean, how they relate to one another, and then
present it accurately and in detail in your selected project.

Continental Drift
Alfred Wegener
Plate Tectonics
Faults
Divergent Boundary
Convergent Boundary
Transform Boundary
Convection currents
arthquakes, rift valleys, deep sea trenches,
Additional Vocabulary that may be helpful: e
mountains, volcanoes, mid ocean ridges, Alfred Wegener, subduction zone

Project Choices:
[ ] Option 1: Create a childrens book that teaches the reader about how earth has changed
from one large land mass of Pangaea to their current locations.
Childrens book should be no larger than standard 8.5x11 paper.
There should be text that is neatly written or typed and printed.
The majority of drawings should be hand drawn and all should be colored.
Make sure to include a cover page.

[ ] Option 2: You are a geologist and just had the pleasure of watching Ice Age Continental Drift.
You need to write a review of the movie from a geologist's perspective (or yourself as a
student learning about how earths surface has changed) and describe in writing and
images what is inaccurate and accurate about the movie. You should have a total of at least 6
things you comment on as being accurate or inaccurate. You should also make a suggestion
for how they could make it more accurate if they were to recreate the film. *You already have to
be very familiar with this movie in order to select this option and may need to rewatch it at
home*
See attached example for requirements for a movie review.
[ ] Option 3: Create a brochure or advertisement about a new thrilling trip, back to the time of
Pangaea. This experience will take participants to rewind time 220 Million years. Describe what
major earth changes they will see along the way.
Brochure should be a trifold brochure on an 8.5x11 paper. Advertisement should be no
larger than 8.5x11
All panels must include information (visual and or written)
LucidPress is a google app that is free and a good electronic option if youd like to create
it on the computer. You may create it by hand.

[ ] Option 4: The word fault has multiple meanings. W rite a play with the option of a video
performance in which the main character constantly confuses the meanings, possibly with
disastrous results!
You may turn in either a well written script or video performance.
Play should be between 3-5 minutes in length.
You may seek the help from other students or family members outside of class time.
Be sure to work into your play the key concepts from class and in the vocabulary list.
If submitting a script, it must be typed and written in script format (see below)
If submitting a video, it must be uploaded to your google drive and shared with your
teacher.
Ex: Script Format

[ ] Option 5: You be the person(Video). You are Alfred Wegener in 1915 and have just
published your theory of continental drift. You are attending a conference where you are
addressing other scientists and need to convince them to believe your theory by sharing
evidence you have found. You will also need to express your disappointment that they arent as
excited about your theory and let them know what evidence you are still seeking to convince
them moving forward. You will write a script and record yourself for this project.
The video must be uploaded to your google drive and shared with your teacher.
Must include some additional details about Alfred Wegener not discussed in class.
Need to present the three key pieces of evidence Wegener used to develop his theory of
continental drift.
Must describe missing pieces of evidence you hope will be discovered in the future.
Project Rubric

Name:______________________________________ Section:_________

Content Not Present, basic Present, shows Your Score

Present/Not definition only evidence that
Accurate the meaning is
understood

Continental 0 2 4
Drift

Alfred 0 2 4
Wegener

0 2 4
Plate Tectonics

Faults 0 2 4

Divergent 0 2 4
Boundary

Convergent 0 2 4
Boundary

0 2 4
Transform
Boundary

Convection 0 2 4
currents

_______/32
QUALITY Poorly Done Good, basic Excellent! No Your Score
effort mistakes/
Evident that
time and effort
was put in

Neatness/ 1 2 3
Organization

Grammatically 1 2 3
correct/
Spelling
correct/

Effort/ 1 2 3
Creativity/
Originality

_______/9

Other Points:

Finished 1 2 3 4 5
on time:
One point
lost per
day late

Made 0 1 2 3 4
effective
use of in
class time

_____/9

_________________/50
Option 2 Outline:
MOVIE REVIEW TEMPLATE
Note: DONT FORGET that movie titles are written within quotation marks!

HEADLINE: Include the title of the movie (try to use a pun!)

PARAGRAPH #1: Introduce the movie by stating that youve just seen this
movie and would like to give an opinion about it. Mention a couple of details that
might help the reader understand what type of movie you are talking about. Give
credit to the company that published it.

PARAGRAPH #2: Summarize the plot (story). Where and when did it take
place? Who are the main characters? What is the story about?

PARAGRAPH #3: Talk about the inaccuracies about the movie (at least 3, you
will need a total of 6 between inaccuracies and accuracies in the next paragraph).
Be sure to explain why they are inaccurate and any evidence or theories that
explain otherwise. How could they have made it more accurate?*Include pictures
from the movie and other diagrams to reinforce your analysis*

PARAGRAPH #4: Talk about what is accurately portrayed related to continental

drift and plate tectonics. (at least 2)

PARAGRAPH #5: Overall what did you learn from the movie about continental
drift and plate tectonics? Do you recommend others watch this movie to learn
more about how earths surface has changed?

RATING SYSTEM: Give the movie a score. You can do grades (A,B,C,D,F+ or
-), stars (*** out of *****), numbers (3 out of 5) or something totally original
just dont use thumbs up or thumbs down.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY: Explain who you are, what grade youre in, interesting
things you like to do. Talk about yourself in the 3rd person, that is, pretend
someone else is writing the bio about you.