Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: Plate Tectonics Name: Lilian Rubi

Content Area: Earth Science Grade Level:11
CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):
NGSS:
o HS-ESS1-5. Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of
crustal rocks. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the ability of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks. Examples include evidence of the
ages oceanic crust increasing with distance from mid-ocean ridges (a result of plate spreading) and the ages of North American continental crust
increasing with distance away from a central ancient core (a result of past plate interactions).]
ELA:
o RST.11-12.1. Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to
any gaps or inconsistencies in the account.
o RST.11-12.8. Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating
or challenging conclusions with other sources of information.
Big Ideas/Unit Goals:
Students will have a general understanding of the unifying theory of plate tectonics and can answer the following questions:
What is the theory of plate tectonics and what evidence do we have to support it?
Why do the continents move, and what causes earthquakes and volcanoes?
How can we use the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks?
21st century skills:
o Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes:
Global Awareness and Environmental Literacy: This unit provides understanding of academic content and promotes global awareness and
environmental literacy of topics such as natural hazards.
o Learning and Innovation Skills:
Communication and Collaboration: Working in groups will build up these skills and prepare them for todays work environments.
o Information, Media and Technology Skills:
ICT Literacy: Using Software programs to create presentations and assignments such as Word and PowerPoint will allow them to build valuable
skills needed to succeed in a technology-driven environment.
o Life and Career Skills:
Social and Cross-Cultural Skills: Working in groups will build up these skills and prepare them for todays culturally diverse work environments.
Unit Summary:
This unit briefly covers the development/history of the theory of plate tectonics and the evidence that supports the theory. The unit also covers the key principles of the
theory of plate tectonics, the three main boundaries that occur at these boundaries (i.e. convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries), and how we can tell the ages of
crustal and oceanic rock using plate tectonics and the rocks at these boundaries (i.e. magnetic reversals at opposing ends of mid-ocean ridges, etc.).
Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level:
Brainstorm- Students will fill in an online
survey/questionnaire before the start of the unit to tap
into their prior knowledge of the subject and to let me
assess where they are at and modify my lessons as
needed.
Lesson 1 (Teacher Lecture)
Student Learning Objective:
Students will be able to
explain the theory of plate
tectonics and cite textual
evidence to support it.
Students will be able to
explain the differences
Formative:
Guided Notes- These notes will be given for students
to fill out during the Plate Tectonics Lecture (See
Lesson 1). The notes will guide their note-taking during
the lecture but the chart on the second page will assess
their knowledge on the various plate boundaries we
discussed. I can assess their understanding of the
lecture and content based on the accuracy of their
guided notes.
Webcercise- This exercise will be given during the
Webcercise lesson (See Lesson 2). They will have to go
to various websites and read, analyze, interact and
understand various material related to the objectives of
the unit. Having them complete this exercise and fill out
the corresponding questions will allow me to assess
their understanding of the material based on the
accuracy and completeness of their responses.
Popplet- This mind map will be given during the
graphic organizer lesson (See Lesson 3). It will be
given to them after the lecture, webcercise, and a Plate
Tectonics lab. The final product will allow me to assess
the students understanding of the difference between
the two distinct types of crustal rocks and their
relationships with Plate Tectonics. The rubric for this
Popplet will be what I use as my assessment guide.
Quizzes- Students will have random pop quizzes
throughout the unit to keep them on their toes. The
quizzes will be on key vocabulary, concepts, and related
previously covered material. The quiz questions will be
responded with short written responses, quick
sketches, and filling in diagrams.
Acceptable Evidence Lesson Activities:
Formative Assessment: Students will receive an interactive lecture introducing the theory of plate tectonics, the evidence that
These notes will be given for supports the theory, and the various plate boundaries and their characteristics. During the lecture the
students to fill out during the students will follow along with guided notes to focus their notes on the important concepts.
Plate Tectonics Lecture. The
notes will guide their note-
taking during the lecture but
Summative:
Exit Cards- After each class period students will have
to fill out exit-cards which can be multiple choice
questions, matching, short written responses, or survey
questions. These cards will be collected digitally or on a
piece of paper and collected before the students leave
for the day. They will let me assess whether they
understood my lesson for the day and whether my next
lesson needs to be modified or if I should review. This
is essentially a summative assessment for each part of
the lesson.
Unit Exam- Exam covering the entire unit consisting of
matching, short written responses, filling in diagrams,
and drawing concepts. This exam will assess whether
they understood the key concepts of the unit.
Class Presentation- After the students have completed
a Plate Tectonics Lab the students will work in groups
to create a presentation about their plate boundaries.
This presentation will let me assess what they learned
from the lab and whether they understand the distinct
types of plate boundaries and what types of geological
hazards and features that are found at those
boundaries.
between divergent, the chart on the second page
convergent, and transform will assess their knowledge
boundaries. on the various plate
boundaries we discussed. I
can assess their
understanding of the lecture
and content based on the
accuracy of their guided
notes.
Lesson 2 (Webercise/ iPad Lesson)
Student Learning Objective: Acceptable Evidence: Lesson Activities:
Students will be able to Formative Assessment: Students will be given this lesson to complete on a Computer Lab Day. They will follow the links in the
explain the theory of plate This exercise will be given document and respond to the questions corresponding with that website. The websites chosen and the
tectonics and cite textual during the Webcercise lesson. questions asked to cover the following topics: the theory of plate tectonics was developed, what it is, what
evidence to support it. They will have to go to types of plate boundaries there are and their motions, and what hazards are associated with each.
various websites and read,
analyze, interact and
understand various material
related to the objectives of
the unit. Having them
complete this exercise and fill
out the corresponding
questions will allow me to
assess their understanding of
the material based on the
accuracy and completeness of
their responses.
Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)
Student Learning Objective: Acceptable Evidence: Lesson Activities:
Students will be able to Formative Assesment: Students will be given this assessment after Lessons 1,2, and the Plate Tectonics Lab (described under
explain the differences This mind map will be given summative assessment page in DUP site). Students will follow the instructions given to create a mind map
between divergent, during the graphic organizer on the app Popplet. The Popplet will explore the differences between the two distinct types of crustal rocks
convergent, and transform lesson It will be given to them and their relationships with Plate Tectonics.
boundaries. after the lecture, webcercise,
and a Plate Tectonics lab. The
final product will allow me to
assess the students
understanding of the
difference between the two
distinct types of crustal rocks
and their relationships with
Plate Tectonics. The rubric for
 this Popplet will be what I use
as my assessment guide.

Unit Resources:
https://www.nextgenscience.org/
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/elaresources.asp
http://www.authorstream.com/
https://www.britannica.com/science/plate-tectonics/Development-of-tectonic-theory
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/plates1.html
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/learning/1_plate_tectonics/activities/aplates.html
http://popplet.com/
http://www.pics4learning.com/
http://www.visualdictionaryonline.com/
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

Useful Websites:
http://www.pics4learning.com/ - Look up images/clip art
http://www.visualdictionaryonline.com/- Look up images/clip art
https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/earth_science/ - Earth Science related news and articles by ScienceDaily
https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/index.html - Earth Science related news and articles by NASA
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0804/es0804page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization -Plate boundary animations for divergent,
convergent, and transform plate boundaries
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0803/es0803page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization Midocean ridge animation
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/learning/2_midocean_ridges/activities/midocean_ridge.html - Midocean ridge activity that helps you learn the locations of the ridges and
the plates that meet at those ridges.
https://quizlet.com/187308032/plate-tectonics-flash-cards/ - Flash cards that help you learn the vocabulary for the Plate Tectonics Unit
https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/amnh/earthquakes-and-volcanoes/plate-tectonics/a/plates-on-the-move - Need extra help understanding Plate Tectonics go to
Khan Academy for help.