Virginia SOL 5.8.b

Science5th GradeEarth and Space Systems

The Standard

plate tectonics describe movement of the crust

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain that Earth’s crust is broken into large plates that move slowly. They use plate movement to describe changes in the positions of continents and ocean floors.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can use a model or diagram to show crustal plates moving toward, away from, or past one another. They can explain that the movement is slow but causes large changes over time.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think continents move through the ocean while the seafloor stays still. They may also think plates move quickly or include only land, rather than both continental and oceanic crust.
How to Assess It: Give students a plate boundary diagram with arrows and ask, “How are the crustal plates moving, and what could change over time?”

Lesson moves

Move graham cracker pieces across frosting to model plates pushing together, pulling apart, and sliding past each other.
Ask students to write how Earth’s surface would change if crustal plates stopped moving.
Play a boundary match game using diagram cards, movement descriptions, and labels for toward, apart, and past.
Plot several earthquake locations on a plate map, then explain why many occur near plate edges.

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