EARTH AND SPACE 10
First Quarter- Module 1
PLATE TECTONICS: The
Lithospheric Plates
Earth and Space 10
Supplementary Learning Material
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Plate Tectonics: The Lithospheric Plates
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DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE MODULE
Writer: Hazel Ann T. Tividad
Content Editor: Agnes A. Alegre, Ed.D.
Language Editor: Agnes A. Alegre, Ed.D.
Layout and Design Editor: Hazel Ann T. Tividad
Illustrator:
Cover Layout Artist: Nemesio S. Cancan Jr. Ed.D.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
OIC-SDS: Romela M. Cruz, CESE
CID Chief: Alyn G. Mendoza, PhDTE
SGOD Chief: Emma G. Arrubio
EPS-in-Charge: Roxane S. Villanueva
EPS-LRMS: Ruby E. Baniqued, Ed.D
Department of Education – Schools Division Office, Mandaluyong
Office Address: Calbayog St. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
Telephone number: CID- 79552557
E-mail Address:[Link]@[Link] ● [Link]
The following are some reminders in using this module:
1. Handle this module with care. Use a separate sheet in answering the
exercises.
2. Read the directions carefully before doing each task.
3. Activities in this module can be done individually or with the help of your
teacher, home learning partner or knowledge source partner.
4. Finish this module for the intended week.
5. Return this module to the authorize person in charge of retrieval.
MELC1 Week No.1
Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake’s
epicenter, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory ( S10 ES-Ia-j-
36.1)
2
Science
10
Name: ________________________Date: _______________Score:__________
QUARTER 1 Module No. 1 Topic: Tectonic Plates: The Lithospheric Plates
Objectives:
1. Identify and describe the parts of earth’s lithosphere.
2. Differentiate oceanic crust from continental crust.
3. Infer that the earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates.
4. Identify the major lithospheric plates.
Key Concepts
Lithosphere is a rigid rocky outer layer of the earth which includes
crust and upper mantle. It overlies on the partially molten material called
asthenosphere. It is broken into rigid blocks or plates called the
lithospheric plates or tectonic plates. Lithospheric plates or tectonic
plates are massive and irregularly shaped slab of solid rock which is
consisting of continental and oceanic lithosphere. Lithospheric plates
move relative to each other at a rate of 5 to 10 cm per year and interact
along with the boundaries wherein they collide, push away and slip past
one another.
PRETEST
DIRECTION: Put a check on the appropriate column in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1
STATEMENTS TRUE FALSE
1. The lithosphere is made up of crust and lower mantle.
2. Lithospheric plates move constantly because they overlie
on the hot molten material called asthenosphere.
3. Continental crust is thinner than oceanic crust.
4. Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust because
of its rock composition.
5. All of the lithospheric plates or tectonic plates are named
after continents’ name.
MELC1 Week No.1
Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake’s
epicenter, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory ( S10 ES-Ia-j-
36.1)
3
6. Movement of tectonic plates causes the different tectonic
activities.
7. Earthquakes, mountain formation and typhoons are the
effects of the movement of tectonic plates.
Let’s Review
DIRECTIONS: Label the different layers of the earth. Write your answer on the
separate sheet of paper. Choose your answer from the box below.
2 3
4
OUTER CORE INNER CORE CRUST ASTHENOSPHERE MANTLE
INTRODUCTION
It seems that you really understood what are the different layers of the earth.
That’s a good start. Can we make it further? Do you want to know what are the
different parts of the lithosphere? Try to label it using the picture below and describe
each part.
ACTVITY 1 WHAT ARE MY PARTS?
PART 1: DIRECTION: Label the different parts of the lithosphere.
1
2
PART 2: Match the parts of lithosphere to the given descriptions. Write the
letter of the correct answer on the space provided.
ANSWER PARTS DESCRIPTIONS
1. Oceanic A. It is mostly solid and lies beneath the
crust earth’s crust.
MELC1 Week No.1
Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake’s
epicenter, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory ( S10 ES-Ia-j-
36.1)
4
2. Continental B. It is part of the earth’s crust which
Crust covers the ocean basins and has
basaltic rock.
3. Upper C. It is made up of granitic rock which
mantle has relatively lightweight materials.
Remember This!!!
Before you answer activity # 2, you have to read this first. It was
mentioned that lithosphere has two types of crust which are the
continental crust and oceanic crust. Are there any differences between
these two types of crust?
Continental crust is solid ground where you step and accounts
almost 40% of the surface of the Earth. It is made up of granitic rock which
has lower density material. Granite rock usually has light color. on this
type of crust. The components of the rock are the silicate and aluminum
or called as sial. Continental crust’s density is approximately 2.6 g/cm 3.
It measures 10-70 km thick. Continental crust is created when tectonic
plates collide or crash with each other. It is older than oceanic crust
because subduction does not occur on this type of crust. Meanwhile,
oceanic crust is made up of basaltic rock which has higher density
material. The rock’s components are the silicate and magnesium or called
sima. Oceanic crust has an approximately density of 3 g/cm [Link] extends
from 5-10 km beneath the ocean floor. Oceanic crust formed at the mid
ocean ridges where the tectonic plates push away from each other. As it
formed at the mid ocean ridges, it is destroyed in subduction zones and
makes the oceanic crust younger than continental crust.
Activity #2
Can You Differentiate it?
Differentiate oceanic crust from continental crust using a tabulated form.
Table 2
Basis of Comparison Oceanic Crust Continental Crust
1. Thickness
2. Density
3. Type of Rock
4. Mineral composition of rock
Questions:
1. Why is oceanic crust denser than continental crust?
MELC1 Week No.1
Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake’s
epicenter, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory ( S10 ES-Ia-j-
36.1)
5
2. In what ways does oceanic crust differ from continental crust?
Focus On This Please!!!
Oh!! that’s amazing. You’ve done the first two activities. I am pretty sure
that you are learning so much. But before you proceed to the next activity, try
to focus on this content in order for you to answer the next activity. Are you
ready?
There are numerous lithospheric plates on the Earth. Scientists found
seven primary plates such as African plate, Antarctic plate, Eurasian plate,
Indo-Australian plate, North American plate, Pacific plate and South American
plate. Most of the plates are named after the continents that they are located
except for the Pacific plate. Pacific plate lies on the Pacific Ocean and mainly
located underwater. Plates have different sizes ranging from hundreds to
thousands of kilometers across. They also differ on their thickness wherein it
ranges from 15 km for young oceanic lithosphere to about 200 km or more for
ancient continental lithosphere. Since slabs or plates are massive, they can still
float because of the composition of the continental and oceanic crust.
ACTIVITY 3
TRY TO IDENTIFY IT!!!
Identify the numbered major lithospheric plates or tectonic plates
using a diagram.
1
1 5
3
2 7
6
4
Questions:
1. What are the seven major lithospheric plates?
2. What are the lithospheric plates composed of?
MELC1 Week No.1
Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake’s
epicenter, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory ( S10 ES-Ia-j-
36.1)
6
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Read the text inside the box and encircle the phrases or words which are
not correct then change it.
Tectonic is a term derived from a Greek word tekton which
means build and in geology, plates are the small slab of rocks. Tectonic
plates have been used by the scientists to describe the movement of the
lithosphere. Tectonic plates are also called lithosphere which have dozen
solid plates or slabs. These solid plates are irregularly moving as they
collide and slide past with each other. Lithospheric plates fit together like
a jigsaw puzzle and move at a rate of 20-30 cm per year. Movement of the
lithospheric plates causes different volcanic and seesmic activities. When
the plates collide, slide past and push away with each other, thus forming
volcanoes, trenches, mountains and can cause tectonic activities.
POST TEST
DIRECTION: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Lithosphere has several parts. Which of the following are the correct parts of
the lithosphere?
A. Asthenosphere, Crust and Mantle
B. Continental Crust, Oceanic crust and upper mantle
C. Crust, mantle and core
D. Upper mantle, crust and core
2. Which of the following statements differentiate oceanic crust from
continental crust?
A. Oceanic crust is older than continental crust.
B. Oceanic crust is thicker than continental crust.
C. Continental crust is denser than oceanic crust.
D. Oceanic crust is made up of basaltic rock while continental crust has
basaltic rock.
3. What part of the lithosphere lies beneath the crust?
A. Continental Crust C. Outer Core
B. Oceanic Crust D. Upper Mantle
4. What type of rock is made up of SIMA?
A. Basaltic Rock C. Metamorphic Rock
B. Granitic Rock D. Sedimentary Rock
5. Which of the following plates does not belong on the major tectonic plates of
the earth?
A. African plate C. Arabian Plate
B. Antarctic plate D. Eurasian Plate
MELC1 Week No.1
Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake’s
epicenter, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory ( S10 ES-Ia-j-
36.1)
7
6. Lithospheric plates move constantly. What is the rate of movement of
lithospheric plates per year?
A. 5-10 cm B. 20-30 cm C. 40-50 cm D. 60-70 cm
7. Which of the following statements CORRECTLY describes lithospheric
plates?
A. Lithospheric plates move irregularly forming different landforms.
B. Lithospheric plates float because of the mineral composition of the rock.
C. Lithospheric plates are made up of massive slabs of rocks which move
continuously.
D. Lithospheric plates are made up of solid and rigid rocky layer of the earth
which includes crust and mantle.
ITS TIME TO REFLECT!!!
Plate tectonic theory provides the explanation of the movement of the
continents that once a supercontinent or Pangaea. As what is written in
the Earth’s history, write your explanation if there is possibility of
another supercontinent like Pangaea.
References:
Valdoz, Meliza [Link]. 2015. Science Links. Worktext for Scientific and
Technological [Link], Philippines: Rex Bookstore, [Link]. 7-9.
Major Plates of the Lithopshere: Earth’s Tectonic Plates. Accessed June 6, 2020.
[Link]
[Link]
Crust. Accessed June 11, 2020.
[Link]
Lithosphere: Accessed June 5, 2020
[Link]
Lithosphere. Accessed June 5, 2020.
[Link]
oceanography/geology-and-oceanography/lithosphere
What is a tectonic plate? Accessed June 15, 2020.
[Link]
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
Department of Education – Schools Division Office-
Mandaluyong
Calbayog Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City 1500
Telefax: (632) 79552557
Email Address: [Link]@[Link]
●[Link]
MELC1 Week No.1
Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake’s
epicenter, and major mountain belts to the Plate Tectonic Theory ( S10 ES-Ia-j-
36.1)