Exploring Plate Motion in Amplify Science

The video provides an orientation to the Plate Motion unit in the Amplify Science 6A course. It introduces students to the role of a geologist, focusing on the phenomenon of Mesosaurus fossils found on different continents. The unit is structured into four chapters, each building on the previous to develop a comprehensive understanding of plate tectonics. Students engage in multimodal learning, using evidence to construct scientific arguments. The video also highlights resources available for teachers to prepare for the unit.

What role do students take on in the Plate Motion unit?

• Biologist

• Chemist

• Astronomer

• Geologist

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is the main goal for students in the Plate Motion unit?

• To create a new type of fossil

• To design a new museum exhibit on dinosaurs

• To explain a puzzling phenomenon related to a Mesosaurus fossil

• To study the atmosphere of Mars

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What is the first step in the structure of Amplify Science 6A core units?

• Students conduct a field trip

• Students take a final exam

• Students are introduced to a phenomenon and a related problem

• Students write a research paper

How do students gather information throughout the unit?

• By only conducting experiments

• By leveraging multiple modalities such as doing, talking, reading, writing, and visualizing

• By only watching videos

• By only reading textbooks

What do students focus on in the first three chapters of the Plate Motion unit?

• The anchor phenomenon

• The rate of plate motion

• The types of rocks

• The history of Mesosaurus

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What key evidence source is used in Chapter 1?

• A guest lecture from a geologist

• A video documentary

• A jigsaw discussion about cross-section diagrams from scientific drilling sites

• A field trip to a museum

What do students learn about Earth's plates in Chapter 2?

• They are stationary

• They move on top of a soft solid layer of rock called the mantle

• They are made of liquid

• They are only found in the ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is the key evidence source in Chapter 2?

• A field trip to a volcano

• An interactive model simulation

• A guest lecture from a paleontologist

• A documentary film

What do students figure out about the rate of plate motion in Chapter 3?

• Plates move extremely slowly

• Plates move extremely quickly

• Plates move at a constant speed

• Plates do not move at all

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What activity do students engage in during Chapter 4 to consolidate their understanding?

• A science seminar

• A group project

• A field trip

• A written exam