Contextualization

Introduction

The theme of our learning journey will be 'Continental Drift' - a fundamental concept in geology that will allow us to understand a little more about the formation of our planet. The theory of continental drift was proposed by the German meteorologist Alfred Wegener in the early 20th century and suggests that continents are not in fixed positions, but rather, they move over geological time.

The theory of Continental Drift is based on the observation that continents seem to fit together like pieces of a huge puzzle. For example, if you look closely, the east coast of South America seems to fit perfectly with the west coast of Africa. Furthermore, there are geological, biological, and climatic similarities between continents that are now separated by great distances, which also supports the theory of continental drift.

It is believed that all continents were once joined in a supercontinent called Pangaea. Over time, Pangaea began to break apart, and the pieces moved, forming the continents as we know them today. This movement, according to the theory, is due to the activity of tectonic plates, large blocks that make up the Earth's crust and are always in motion.

Importance of Continental Drift

The theory of continental drift is extremely important for understanding the geological history of the Earth. It helps explain the current location of continents and the formation of mountain ranges, valleys, plains, and other features of the Earth's surface. Additionally, the theory also has important implications for understanding the distribution of plants and animals on the planet.

Continental drift played a fundamental role in the formation of current ecosystems and the distribution of species around the world. For example, the separation of South America and Africa about 120 million years ago caused the isolation of some groups of animals, which evolved in different ways on the two continents.

Activity

Activity Title: Continental Puzzle

Project Objective:

To better understand the Theory of Continental Drift in a fun and collaborative way, creating a puzzle that represents Continental Drift from the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea to the current arrangement of continents.

Detailed Project Description:

Students will work in groups of 3 to 5 people to research continental drift and create a three-dimensional puzzle that illustrates the path continents have followed from Pangaea to the present day.

Required Materials:

• Cardboard
• Colored pens
• Scissors
• Glue
• Computers with Internet access for research
• Science and geology books

Activity Step-by-Step:

1. Research, as a group, the theory of Continental Drift and the movement of continents from the formation of Pangaea to the current arrangement. Use all suggested sources and any others you consider relevant. Don't forget to take notes of all sources to use in your report.

2. After the research, draw a map of Pangaea on the cardboard and cut out each continent as a puzzle piece.

3. On the pieces, write down important information you discovered during the research about how this continent moved, what kind of life it may have had before the separation, and any other interesting information.

4. Next, trace the path that each puzzle piece (continent) has taken from being part of Pangaea to its current position.

5. Finally, students should play with the puzzle, moving the pieces according to the paths they traced, to demonstrate the movement of continents over time.

Project Delivery:

After completing the practical activity, each group should write a report following the following structure:

1. Introduction: The report should start by providing context for the drift of continents, its relevance in the real world, the project's objective, and why it was chosen.

2. Development: In this part, the report should detail the theory of continental drift, the activity they carried out, the methodology used, and the results obtained. Include photos of the puzzle at different stages of continental drift and discuss what each photo represents.

3. Conclusion: This part should include a recap of the main points, what the group learned during the project development, and their observations and conclusions about the theory of continental drift.

4. Bibliography: Include all sources used in the research project.

Remember that the evaluation will consider both the theoretical and collaborative and practical content of the project. Use this opportunity to showcase your teamwork, time management, proactivity, and creative thinking skills.