Earthquakes and tectonic plates

Earthquakes and tectonic plates

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about interpreting a map showing earthquakes and tectonic plates.
 
map of earthquakes in New Zealand
 

map of faultline New Zealand
Focus of earthquakes Earth's tectonic plates and New Zealand   

Question 1Change answer

a)  What relationship is there between the focus of the earthquakes and the position of the plates?

Question 1Change answer

b)  What do the symbols fault-arrows.png on the alpine fault show?

Question 2Change answer

c)  From the maps give two pieces of evidence which show that New Zealand is a geologically active country.
1. 2.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Planet Earth
Keywords: 
Earth systems, plate tectonics, earthquakes, diagrams, symbols
Description of task: 
Students are provided with two diagrams, one showing the focus of earthquakes in NZ and the other the Earth's plates. Students interpret these diagrams and use them to answer three short questions.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to discuss the thinking steps needed to identify relationships between two diagrams. Scientists represent their ideas in a variety of ways, including models, graphs, charts, diagrams and written texts.   
Answers/responses: 
 

Y10 (04/1998)
a) The focus of the earthquakes are close/on/in the same region as the plate boundaries. moderate
b) The direction of movement along the fault. difficult
c)
Any 2 of:
  • Volcanoes/volcanic zone
  • Earthquakes/fault lines
  • Plate movement/disturbed boundary zone/ on plate boundaries.
2 correct - difficult
1 correct - easy