Fossils and Plate Motion

Fossils, Plate Motion, and Patterns

Reorder

Put the labeled rock formations in order from youngest to oldest.

• 3

• 1

• 6

• 2

• 5

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Put the labeled rock formations in order from youngest to oldest.

• R

• H

• M

• F

• B

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

A German Scientist who proposed the idea that the Earth's continents were slowly moving over time. His biggest piece of evidence was the shape of the continents and how they looked like they fit together like puzzle pieces.

​

Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift

Multiple Choice

Which of these can fossils not be found in?

• Ice

• Sedimentary Rocks

• Amber

• Igneous Rocks

Multiple Choice

Which of these could be used as evidence for plate motion?

• A fossil of a camel found in a desert

• A fossil of a shark tooth found in the ocean

• A fossil of a tropical plant found in Antartica

• A fossil of a mammoth found in an Arctic glacier

Multiple Choice

What's the name of the most recent supercontinent that scientists theorized existing about 200 to 250 million years ago?

• Pangaea

• Gondwanaland

• Eurasia

• Rodinia

​Read the article on google classroom with your group and make annotations as you go. Afterwards, we will discuss and answer questions about it.

Multiple Choice

Where were the Mesosaurus fossils found?

• North America and South America

• South America and Africa

• Europe and Asia

• Europe and Africa

Multiple Choice

What does Mesosaurus mean?

• Little Lizard

• Middle Lizard

• Big Lizard

• Long Lizard

Multiple Choice

Which of these correctly describes the Mesosaurus?

• Could swim long distances

• Could breathe underwater

• Grew up to a meter in length

• Are still alive today

Open Ended

In your own words, explain how you think the Mesosaurus fossils were separated across a large ocean, knowing they couldn't make the trip themselves.

Explore the simulation

​Go to regions three and create a landmass that has fossils. Make observations on what happens when the plates are separated by a convergent boundary and then make observations on what happens when they are separated by a divergent boundary.

Multiple Choice

Based on the information from the article and your observations from the simulation, which kind of boundary is most likely between South America and Africa?

• Convergent

• Divergent

Evidence So Far...

Shape of the continents appear to fit together (continental drift)

Fossils found in unusual places give us clues to the movement of landmasses (continental drift)

Patterns of Earthquakes and Volcanos only occurring in certain places give us clues to geologic anomalies (plate boundaries)