Plate tectonics, seafloor spreading, and continental. This video shows wegeners evidence and explains the difficulty he had getting his ideas across to geologistsscientists who study the history and structure of earth. The continental drift controversy has been deeply analysed in terms of rationalist notions, which seem to find there a unique topic to describe the weight of evidence for reaching consensus. Explain the difference between how wegener thought mountains formed compared to other geologists. According to wegeners theory, 225 million years ago, all the land on earth was part of one huge landmass.
In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. This worksheet and quiz will allow you to test the following skills. He called this supercontinent pangaea, a greek word that means all the earth. About 300 million years ago, claimed wegener, the continents had formed a single mass, called pangaea. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. Answers figure 11 the most obvious choice is the coastlines of africa and. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and.
Alfred wegeners continental drift theory graphic organizer. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and rock evidence on the present day continents. Alfred wegeners continental drift theory graphic organizer students read about alfred wegener and how his theory of continental drift article included was the basis for the plate tectonic theory. For example, he noted how south america coast correctly lined up with the coast of northwest africa. Wegeners idea of the continental drift was rejected because he couldnt provide a satisfactory explanation for the force that pushes or pulls the continents. Good afternoon, i am a german scientist alfred wegener. His theory was rejected by most geologists during his lifetime but was resurrected and made a central feature of modern geology as part of the theory of plate tectonics in. In this ck12 resource we look at wegeners hypothesis of continental drift was refined. In total there are 5 points that provides a strong evidence that the continental drift theory. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. Oceans, a book outlining wegeners theory, was published.
Continental drift lesson plan for 6th 8th grade lesson. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why lookalike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents and why many of the continents appear to fit together like puzzle pieces into one supercontinent called pangaea. Continental drift alfred wegener learn who alfred wegener was and state the theory of continental drift. He thought that the similarity might arise because south america and africa were parts of the same. Wegeners theory of continental drift, enables us to know about the present day earth in the most precised way. Explain that convection currents within the earths mantle driven by heat released by natural radioactive processes. Collaborative learners look for fossil evidence that supports the theory that one supercontinent divided into two.
The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. Alfred wegeners continental drift theory has five evidences which have been explained in this video. This quiz worksheet will task you with questions regarding things like research conducted by alfred wegener, continental drift, and plate tectonics. Now show what you have learned so far about continental drift by answering these four questions. When continental drift was considered pseudoscience.
Continental drift a reading comprehension practice activity that focuses on alfred wegeners theory of pangaea and the evidence that supports his theory. But geologists soundly denounced wegeners theory of continental drift after he published the details in a 1915 book called the origin of continents and. The historian mott greene, author of the forthcoming book alfred wegener. Alfred wegeners curiosity toward the possibility of continental drift came in 1910 after he noticed how earths continents resembled pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In 1 915, wegener published his ideas in a book, on the origin ofcontinents and oceans. The continents have drifted over the past 300 million years to. It appears that despite the criticism, alfred wegener was correct all along. Alfred wegener s fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts. Alfred wegeners theory of continental drift lesson. Ever since the continents were all mapped, people had noticed that many coastlines, like those of south america and africa, looked as though they. A brief introduction to alfred wegeners theory of continental drift, which would lay the groundwork for the development of plate tectonic theory, which essentially explains the geology of the. Then new evidence about earths structure led scientists to reconsider wegeners. As you read about the evidence that supports the theory of continental drift, complete the graphic organizer. Some of the worksheets displayed are this dynamic planet, fossil evidence, pangaea puzzle, continental drift activity packet, chapter 8 plate tectonics, pangea cut out answer key, fossil evidence.
The name wegener gave the supercontinent he believed existed before its separation. Showing top 8 worksheets in the category wegeners puzzling evidence. They then use the reading to complete a graphic organizer about his thinking. Now that scientists understand plate tectonics and how the earth moves, they would be able to support wegeners theory with how continental drift works. At the time of his death in 1930, the technology needed to validate continental drift was still decades away. Science, exploration and the theory of continental drift, reminds. The theory of continental drift continental drift discovery the world alfred wegener theory of continental drift continental drift p95 red book, 182 in sciencesaurus theory that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and have moved to their present locations. What did wegener think had happened to this supercontinent. Test your understanding of the geologic theory of continental drift by answering practice questions in an interactive quiz. The hypothesis of continental drift theory by alfred wegener, clarifies certain confusions regarding the formation and location of the present day continents and oceans of the earth. Original world maps created by alfred wegener showing pangaea and the continents drifting apart. Cut out each of the continents along the edge of the continental shelf the outermost dark line. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Describe the crust as broken into pieces called tectonic plates. Darwin 1809 1882 and alfred wegener 18801930, are con sidered the fathers of life. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why lookalike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents. In a book called the origin of continents and oceans.
Evaluate the evidence for continental drift and explain why it was not accepted at the time. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Be sure to come prepared to discuss the theory of pangaea and the two supercontinents, laurasia and gondwanaland. He published his observations in a geological comparison of south america with south africa1927, and later he developed his ideas in our wandering continents1937. This evidence shows that continental drift happens at an extremely slow pace. Continental drift theory by alfred wegener brainery. Wegeners theory of continental drift in 1912 a german scientist names alfred wegener presented his theory of continental drift to the scientific community. Wegeners cogitations bolstered his faith 1n the idea of continental drift, and he renewed his efforts after returning home and published a book wegener, 1915. Wegeners problem was that he could not prove his ideas. Monitor progress writing have each student write a summary of alfred wegeners hypothesis. Wegeners theory of continental drift wegener started toying with the concept of continental drift in 1910 when, looking at a new atlas, he was impressed afresh with the remarkable similarity in the coastlines across the south atlantic ocean.
Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. Alfred wegener, german meteorologist and geophysicist who formulated the first complete statement of the continental drift hypothesis. Continental drift germantown municipal school district. Some of the worksheets displayed are inside earth work, pangaea puzzle, continental drift activity packet, continental drift work, this dynamic planet, continental drift and plate tectonics, example answers, reconstructing pangea. On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in. State alfred wegeners hypothesis about how earths continents have.
My friends and i are here to present my theory of continental drift, which i published in the year 1915. State alfred wegeners hypothesis about how earths continents have moved. This drifting continents worksheet is suitable for 6th 10th grade. For nearly half a century, from the 1920s to the 1960s, most scientists paid little attention to the idea of continental drift. Once you find your worksheet, click on popout icon or print icon to worksheet to print or download.
We have learned that rock samples containing magnetic. We are taught that modern scientists are driven only by reason. There he argued for the separation of wegeners pangea into the two super continents, laurasia and gondwana. This continental drift lesson plan is suitable for 6th 8th grade.
Wegner continental drift worksheets lesson worksheets. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. Wegener showing top 8 worksheets in the category wegener. All of these facts supported wegeners theory of continental drift. When continental drift was considered pseudoscience more than 100 years ago, a german scientist was ridiculed for advancing the shocking idea that the continents were adrift.
Alfred wegeners fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts. Continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. This is certainly true of plate tectonics, one of the most important and. Section 1 continental drift main idea the continental drift hypothesis states that. Skills worksheet directed reading b lesson 72 continental drift activity instructions. Later, seismometersinstruments that measure the motions of the groundand other technologies showed that continental drift was real. Wegeners evidence sheet, the student map of the world today reference. Professor alfred wegener of germany was primarily a meteorologist. He suggested that the continents had once been joined as a single landmass. This worksheet has 1 multiple choice, 4 fill in the blank, and 6 short answer questions. Wegener believed they were examples of a new theorycontinental drift, the gradual movement of continents across earths surface. In 1915 the first edition of the origin of continents and oceans, a book outlining wegeners theory, was published. Worksheets are inside earth work, alfred wegeners theory of continental drift became modern, fossil evidence, continental drift and plate tectonics, this dynamic planet, alfred wegener harry hess, the continental jigsaw puzzle, reconstructing pangea.
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