Transform Faults model - video

Have you tried to make last week's model of spreading ocean ridges offset by transform faults? This video will show you what the model should look like.
This is one of many video clips produced to demonstrate activities in the Earth Energy category.

Make a model to demonstrate transform faults

Transform faults are difficult for pupils to understand. Making this model will help them to see how these faults offset spreading ocean ridges and also offset the magnetic 'stripes'. Click here 'Model a spreading ocean floor offset by transform faults' for this latest free ELI+ activity. Transform faults are one of the three types of plate boundaries and are also called 'conservative plate margins'. The other two types are the constructive/divergent plate margin that form oceanic ridges and destructive/convergent plate margins where plates are subducted. Just look in the Earthlearningidea Keyword Index to find activities about all of these plate margins.

What makes mountains?

To answer this question, try our latest Earthlearningidea 'Continents in collision'
This is one of many simple activities for your pupils to try - click here to find more.

NEW - Continents in collision

How did the Himalayan mountains form? Why can you find marine fossils in the rocks at the top of these mountains? Try making this simple model to find out and to explain continents in collision. This latest ELI+ activity models the processes which occur at destructive (convergent) plate margins.
There are many other simple demonstrations to model Earth processes on our website.

Can your pupils explain what this image shows? If not try the latest Earthlearningidea. 'Magnetic stripes; modelling the symmetrical magnetic pattern of the rocks of the sea floor'
There are now a number of activities related to Earth's magnetism on the website. Go to the Keyword Index and search for 'magnetic'.

Magnetic stripes in the oceans?

Our latest Earthlearningidea is 'Magnetic stripes; modelling the symmetrical magnetic pattern of the rocks of the sea floor' This activity demonstrates the origin of the symmetrical magnetic anomalies which occur at oceanic spreading centres. It can be used to aid the understanding of remanent magnetisation in rocks. Periodic reversals of the Earth’s magnetic field are shown by the remanent magnetisation of rocks of the sea bed, which have been used to demonstrate sea floor spreading. It is an excellent way to clarify a difficult concept for your pupils, especially if they are involved in setting up the materials needed.
This is one of many really good ideas from Earthlearningidea - all activities are free to download.

Survival for a year in a dome?

This Earthlearningidea is 'Space survival: how could we survive for a year in a dome?' Tell the pupils that they are to imagine that they will be sealed up for a year in a vast plastic dome, rather like a huge poly tunnel. Remind them that the composition of the modern atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% for the rest, including CO2 (0.03%) with variable amounts of water vapour. The dome is sealed so unless we do something, we shall all die inside; the oxygen content will decrease, CO2 will increase at a similar rate and the sides will steam up due to the water vapour that is breathed out. It is, therefore important to understand the water and carbon cycles. Copies of these could be given to the pupils. They will also need a copy of the nitrogen cycle.
Please send us your pupils' accounts and we will publish the best on the website.
Have you tried the other Earthlearningideas in this category 'Earth as a system'?