ERESE Teacher Lesson Plan Template (CEO1A)
Teacher Name Nicole Y. Murawski
Lesson Title Magnetic Anomalies and the Age of the Sea Floor
Grade 9 (Including a variety of student populations, such as ESL and Special Ed.)
School Kimball High School
City, State Royal Oak, Michigan
Purpose of Lesson
Students will demonstrate an understanding of how scientists use magnetic anomalies to determine the age of the sea floor.
Education Standards
Michigan Curriculum Framework Science Benchmarks

Primary Benchmark Addressed by Lesson:

V.1.HS2   Use the plate tectonics theory to explain features of the Earth's surface and geological phenomena 
                  and describe evidence for the plate tectonics theory.

Secondary Benchmarks Addressed Throughout Lesson:

I.1.HS1 
   Ask questions that can be investigated empirically.
I.1.HS2    Design and conduct scientific investigations.
I.1.HS4    Gather and synthesize information from books and other sources of information.
I.1.HS5    Discuss topics in groups by making clear presentations, restating or summarizing what others have
                  said, asking for clarification or elaboration, and taking alternative persectives and defending a position.
II.1.HS6   Develop an awareness of and sensitivity to the natural world.
II.1.HS7   Describe the historical, political, and social factors affecting the developments in science.
IV.1.HS5  Describe how electric currents can be produced by interacting wires and magnets, and explain
                  applications of this principle.
IV.2.HS3  Contrast nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, and natural radioactivity.
IV.4.HS4  Describe different types of waves and their technological applications.
V.1.HS2   Use the plate tectonics theory to explain features of the Earth's surface and geological phenomena 
                  and describe evidence for the plate tectonics theory.
INQUIRY STAGE 1
Orientation
Introduce available tools and concepts.
  Purpose
Make students feel safe taking intellectual risks.
  Procedure  Students will have the following knowledge and skills prior to this lesson: 

During a unit on waves, students will have learned about sonar and technological applications such as mapping the ocean floor.  During a unit on electricity and magnetism, students have learned about magnets and magnetic fields.  In middle school, students learn about Pangaea and continental drift, but not sea floor spreading or the theory of plate tectonics.  In addition, during a unit on nuclear chemistry, students have learned about radiocarbon dating and radioactive isotopes.

Activities that lead into this lesson:

Two activities will be done at this stage to introduce the topic of sea floor spreading and plate tectonics.  Lesson1 involves analyzing the location of extinct plant and animal fossils found around the world to find patterns to support the past presence of Pangaea and continental drift.  Lesson 2 involves using known data of the age of regions of the sea floor as a means to compute the rate of sea floor spreading at the Mid Atlantic Ridge.  (To be uploaded later)

INQUIRY STAGE 2

Fieldwork
Provide students with provoking, relevant phenomena.
  Purpose To foster their interest and ownership and generate their own questions about the phenomena.
  Procedure

Map to be used as Provocative Phenomenon:


Digital Isochrons of the World's Ocean Floor Map

Ask questions that have students making observations such as:
  • the different colors in the ocean floor
  • the different widths of the colors in different regions of the world
  • the dark lines representing plate boundaries representing lines of symmetry within the bands of color
Guide them towards developing the researchable question stated below.

Additional Resources to use for Background Information or Instruction:

Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale

USGS - Magnetic Stripes and Isotopic Clocks

Juan de Fuca Magnetic Stripes Diagram

Map of Pangea and Present Day Location of Fossils

Fossil Evidence for Pangea

Fossil and Geological Evidence of Pangea Puzzle

Divergent Plate Boundary Diagram

Magnetic Anomalies on a Mid Ocean Ridge Diagram

Formation of Oceanic Crust along the Mid-Ocean Ridges Diagram

Magnetic Anomaly Profiles for Different Spreading Rates over the East Pacific Rise

Testing the Sea Floor Spreading Hypothesis

USGS - This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics

INQUIRY STAGE 3

Debriefing
Teacher honors all student observations.
  Purpose Assist students in developing testable questions and hypotheses.
  Procedure
The teacher will list observations, comments and questions pertaining to the Ocean Floor Map on the board.  Group and summarize student observations.  Accept all suggestions from students for explaining how the Digital Isochrons of the Ocean Floor map was created.  Students will likely draw on prior knowledge of radioisotope dating as an explanation of how scientists might go about determining the age of the rocks.  Guide them to acknowledge the key in the upper left-hand corner of the map.  Provide students with a hardcopy of the key and discuss as a class.  At this point, the teacher should direct students towards the development of the researchable question as stated below. 

Researchable Question:  Can we determine the age of the sea floor by using magnetic anomalies?
Testable Hypothesis:  The age of the sea floor spreading can be determined by using magnetic anomalies.

INQUIRY STAGE 4

Experimental design
Design an appropriate investigation.
  Data collection
Define approach for collecting data.
    Purpose Gather data that address the identified question and hypothesis.
    Procedure
During this stage, students will participate in a couple of small and large group activities designed to understand magnetic anomalies, magnetic strips and the Cande & Kent 1995 geomagnetic polarity time scale. 

These activities are:

     1.  Magnetic Anomalies Activity
     2.  Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale Activity

Direct instruction may be necessary for clear explanation of these processes - to be determined by the instructor.  See the above resource links for more information.
  Data analysis
Define approach for analyzing data.
    Purpose Analyze data that address the identified question and hypothesis.
    Procedure
See activities decribed in the data collection procedures above.
INQUIRY STAGE 5

Presentation
Communicate what they have learned.
  Purpose Provide students an opportunity to communicate their results in a forum that reflects the scientific community.
  Procedure
As a part of the activities above, students will be involved in informal presentations within their groups.  Each student will have a different diagram to create, share or analyze.  Therefore, within their groups they will each be responsible for explaining to their partners the similarities and differences between their diagrams.  In addition, the students will be involved in a whole class discussion to summarize their findings.




ERESE Teacher Reflective Plan Template 
INQUIRY STAGE 1

Orientation
Introduce available tools and concepts so that students feel safe taking intellectual risks

  Type of Evidence
Questioning and analysis of accuracy of students' answers to questions in the activities
  Teacher  profile
3.5.  Teacher provides specific instruction and directions via general instructions
  Student profile
1.5.  Students follow specific instructions, clarify/sharpen and adapt instructions
  Reflective practice

INQUIRY STAGE 2

Fieldwork
Give students experience to foster their interest and ownership; provoke students to explore, observe and generate their own questions about the phenomenon
  Type of Evidence
Language patterns
  Teacher profile
2. Teacher directs students to specific observations
  Student profile
4. Students create/formulate independent observations
  Reflective practice
INQUIRY STAGE 3

Debriefing
Teacher honors all student observations, questions and hypotheses in order to identify and discuss their viability as a research topic

  Type of Evidence
Questioning and discussion of student observations
  Teacher profile
2.  Teacher guides the development of questions
  Student profile
3.  Students select and modify provided questions
  Reflective practice
INQUIRY STAGE 4

Experimental design
Design an investigation wherein students gather and analyze data that address the identified question

A. Data collection
Define approach for collecting data

  Type of Evidence
Questioning and observing student discussions, groups should arrive at the correct results of the activity
  Teacher profile
3.5.  Teacher provides data and specific directions for conducting analysis, and directs students as to what evidence to collect and how to collect it
  Student profile
1.  Students use methods provided
  Reflective practice
B. Data analysis
Define approach for analyzing data

  Type of Evidence
Questioning and observing student discussions, Groups should arrive at the correct results of the activity
  Teacher profile
1.  Teacher facilitates students in analysis and interpretation of data
  Student profile
4.  Students create/formulate explanations from evidence
  Reflective practice
INQUIRY STAGE 5

Presentation
Teacher provides students an opportunity to prepare and communicate what they have learned

  Type of Evidence
Student conversations within groups and during whole class discussions
  Teacher profile
3.  Teacher directs students in what and how to present
  Student profile
3.5.  Students select and modify the argument and presentation format, and create/formulate reasonable and logical arguments and presentation format
  Reflective practice