When You Reach Me

Standards: W4.2, W4.7, 4-ESS2-2

Goals: To understand the concept of plate tectonics and that our 7 continents were once one large land mass called “Pangaea”

Objective: Students will use various sources to explore and research the theory of plate tectonics, discover why our continents broke apart and why they are still moving. 

Outcome: Students will demonstrate their understanding by labeling a given map of Pangaea as well as through their research of plate tectonics.

In the book When You Reach Me, Miranda mentions a time “millions of years ago, with crazy clouds of gas everywhere, and volcanoes, and the continents bumping into each other and then drifting apart”. What Miranda is describing here is the theory of plate tectonics.  In this theory, our 7 continents were once one giant land mass called Pangaea.  Your job is to:

1)    Find out why the continents broke apart

2)    Find out if the continents are still moving

3)    Label Pangaea with the appropriate continents