Activity 1.5 Demonstrating Plate Tectonics with a Box (Grades 4-6)
This activity demonstrates divergent and convergent plate boundaries. Cut a narrow slit in the top of a box. Cut a larger square in the side of the box. Slide two pieces of paper through the slit and about half-way into the box. Tape a block of cardboard or folded paper on the outside edge of one sheet of paper.
The plain sheet of paper represents an oceanic plate. The sheet with the cardboard represents a plate with oceanic and continental crust. Note that the continental crust rises above the oceanic crust.
Demonstrate motion at a divergent plate boundary by pushing the paper up from inside the box. The sheets of paper will move away from each other just like new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges.
Demonstrate motion at convergent plate boundaries by pulling the plain sheet of paper down from inside the box. Move the sheet with the continent so that the continent is adjacent to the narrow slit. The oceanic plate will disappear beneath the edge of the continent just like oceanic crust at subduction zones.
Magnetic anomaly patterns can also be demonstrated with the box. Use two plain sheets of paper. With a thick (1 inch) marker, draw on the sheets above the slit. The strip of marked paper represents rocks that are magnetized during a magnetic normal period. Push the paper up from inside the box and expose unmarked paper. The unmarked paper represents rocks that are magnetized during a magnetic reversed period. Create more oceanic crust by pushing the sheets out of the slit and drawing along the slit with the marker. Repeat until the sheets are covered with black (magnetic normal) and white (magnetic reversed) parallel lines. Note that the patterns on each sheet (plate) are symmetrical with respect to the slit (mid-ocean ridge). Compare the pattern to the one in figure 1.12.
The convergence and collision of two plates with continental crust can also be demonstrated. Tape cardboard blocks on the outside of each sheet of paper. Pull the two sheets into the box through the slit. Note that the sheets are disappearing into the slit similar to oceanic plates at a subduction zone. As the sheets (plates) are consumed, the continents move closer together and ultimately collide. Such a collision is currently forming up the Himalaya Mountains.
