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Alternative Plate Tectonics Unit Assessment

  • Page ID
    185532
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    Task intro

    You are a member of a community taskforce or someone very interested in the economic success of your community. You might, for example, be a Real Estate developer, a local Geologist, a homeowner, a Preservationist, someone representing the EPA, etc. Recently, a famous company has proposed future construction near a geologically active area. As a community member/interested party, you have a very strong opinion about the construction due to potential hazards and implications of development based on technological evidence of plate tectonic theory. You will present your opinion at the next upcoming city council meeting and need to include ideas around plate movement, the causal relationship between natural hazards and tectonic theory, persuasive evidence, and technological evidence that assisted you in defending a position.


    Task

    The student may research and take a role/perspective to create a community proposal (Power Point, Prezi, written report, video, etc.) to present to a governing body for future planning of an area to consider potential hazards and implications of development based on technological evidence of Plate tectonic theory. Teachers can either offer a selection of geologically active regions or choose one to examine as a whole class. Students must assume the perspective of their role and advocate their position. They may include persuasive evidence, plate movement within their given region, causal relationship between natural hazards and tectonic theory, and how technological evidence assisted them in forming their opinion. Geologically Active Region Options: Hawaii, Yellowstone, Ring of Fire, etc. Potential Student Roles: Developer/real estate, BLM/Geologist, housing authority, Mr. “Fair”, Preservationist, Biologist, etc. Possible Governing Body Options: City Council, U.N., EPA, etc.

    From Colorado Department of Education


    Alternative Plate Tectonics Unit Assessment is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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