Plate Tectonics Lesson Plan Grade 7 Pangaea Puzzle

This free plate tectonics lesson plan engages Grade 7 students in discovering how continents move by reconstructing an ancient supercontinent and examining real geological evidence.

Overview

Students investigate continental drift and plate tectonics by treating the continents as physical evidence rather than memorized facts. By fitting landmasses together and analyzing supporting clues such as rock formations and fossil patterns, students build a scientific explanation for the formation of Pangaea and the movement of Earth’s plates.

Subject Connections

The lesson primarily develops science skills through observation, evidence analysis, and explanation building. Students also use mathematics when estimating distances and matching shapes, and English Language Arts when writing scientific explanations and labeling diagrams. Social studies supports understanding of world geography and continents.

Learning Goals

• Explain continental drift and the concept of plate tectonics
• Identify evidence that supports the existence of Pangaea
• Use physical models to test a scientific idea
• Communicate conclusions using scientific reasoning

Materials

• Printed continent outlines
• World map or atlas
• Colored pencils or markers
• Scissors and glue
• Construction paper or poster paper
• Student science notebook

Preparation

• Print continent cutout sheets for each student
• Prepare a classroom world map or digital map display
• Organize materials into student kits
• Prepare an example reconstruction for teacher reference

Teaching Procedure

Each session fits a standard class period of 45–50 minutes.

Session 1 – Introducing Moving Continents

1. The teacher presents a modern world map and asks students to identify the continents and coastlines while students record observations in their notebooks and sketch a quick map.
2. Activity: Continental Clue Hunt. The teacher shows close-up images of matching coastlines and rock patterns using a projector or printed cards. Materials include images and student notebooks. Students compare coastlines, mark similarities, and write one claim about whether continents may have once been connected. Students produce a written hypothesis in their notebook.
3. The teacher introduces the idea of continental drift while students write key vocabulary definitions and questions.

Session 2 – Reconstructing Pangaea

1. The teacher distributes continent cutouts and explains safe cutting procedures while students carefully cut out the landmasses.
2. Activity: Pangaea Reconstruction Puzzle. The teacher instructs students to arrange continents on construction paper and test different fits. Materials include cutouts, glue, and paper. Students physically move continents, rotate pieces, and glue their best-fit model. Students produce a completed Pangaea model.
3. The teacher circulates asking students to justify placement while students label continents and add arrows showing how they moved.

Session 3 – Evidence Analysis

1. The teacher provides fossil and rock formation diagrams while students match evidence across continents on their model.
2. The teacher models how scientists compare evidence while students annotate their poster showing at least three pieces of supporting evidence.
3. Students write a short paragraph explaining why scientists believed continents were once joined.

Session 4 – From Drift to Plate Tectonics

1. The teacher explains how continental drift led to the modern plate tectonics theory while students create a labeled diagram of tectonic plates in their notebooks.
2. Activity: Plate Boundary Simulation. The teacher uses books or cardboard pieces to model plate motion. Materials include two flat objects per group. Students push, pull, and slide plates to demonstrate convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. Students produce labeled sketches showing each boundary type.
3. Students compare their Pangaea model to modern plate boundaries and record conclusions.

Session 5 – Scientific Explanation

1. The teacher reviews scientific explanation structure while students organize notes and evidence.
2. Students write a scientific explanation describing how evidence supports plate tectonics and why Pangaea existed.
3. Students present their model and explanation to a partner and revise their writing.

Assessment

• Completed Pangaea reconstruction
• Annotated evidence diagram
• Scientific explanation paragraph
• Participation in model demonstrations

Differentiation

• Provide pre-labeled continents for students needing support
• Allow partner work during reconstruction
• Offer sentence starters for written explanations
• Challenge advanced students to research seafloor spreading

Grade Adaptation

Grade 7 students analyze geological evidence and build an explanation for plate movement. For Grade 6 students, simplify the writing requirement and focus on matching coastlines and vocabulary recognition. For Grade 8 students, add density, mantle convection, and real earthquake zone data to support explanations.

Extension Ideas

• Create a digital animation showing continental movement over time
• Research modern earthquakes and relate them to plate boundaries
• Compare fossil distribution across continents
• Build a 3D layered Earth model