Plate Movements on Earth Cause Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Our last experiment (demonstration perhaps is a better word) was on plate movements. We looked at a map of the world’s plates, then made our own out of clay. On each plate was a continent (raised) and ocean (lower parts).

We talked about how plates move around. Under each
plate we put some magma (corn syrup and red food dye).

When the plates are moving nothing happens to the magma
(picture 1)

Sometimes plates rub against each other or one plate
slips up and over another creating earthquakes.
Sometimes when the plates move against each other lava
come up (volcanoes!)

Sometimes the plates press against each other and create
mountains.

Then we talked about the ring of fire, where lots of
earthquakes and volcanoes occur. The ring of fire is located
along the edges of these plates.

Be sure to check out our 100+ page Earth Science Packet!! This includes

Learn how to make a earthquake shake table, more than a dozen hands-on activities on the layers of the earth, volcanoes, earthquakes, plate movement and more!

Topics include: Solar System, Layers of the Earth, Earth’s Axis and the Seasons, Latitude and Longitude, Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, 4 Types of Mountains

Earth Science Packet