This week the year sixes were learning about the different layers within the Earth and what causes earthquakes. The Earth has four main layers as seen in the diagram below.
Earthquakes are caused when the tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust move. The tectonic plates float on the magma that flows through the mantle layer of the Earth. As the magma flows underneath them, it pushes the tectonic plates and causes them to bump and rub together. Check out the YouTube clip below by Make Me A Genius that explains tectonic plates in more detail.
The students used play dough to model the different movements of tectonic plates.
When the tectonic plates converge one plate sides over the top of another. This results in very strong earthquakes.
When tectonic plates diverge, or move away from each other, a crack is created. Magma from the mantle swells into the crack and cools.
When tectonic plates transform, or slide against each other, the strain as they slide produces earthquakes.