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Science – Grade 10
Learner Activity Sheets
Quarter 1 – Week 1: Plate Tectonics

First Edition, 2021

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Writer: Pat II E. Baguio

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Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph
 WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS
Science 10, Quarter 1, Week 1

PLATE TECTONICS

Name: ___________________________________________ Section: ____________________

Learning Competency:
Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes, earthquake epicenters, and
major mountain belts to Plate Tectonic Theory. (S10ES –Ia-j-36.1)

Specific Learning Objectives:

1. Determine the composition of earth's lithosphere;
2. Differentiate the two types of crust;
3. Determine the major plates and minor plates;
4. Demonstrate the concept of Elastic Rebound Theory; and
5. Promote earthquake preparedness in the school and community

Time Allotment: 4 hour

Key Concepts
• Plates are rigid sections of the lithosphere that move as a unit. The plates move very
slowly but constantly, and this movement is called tectonics.
• Plate tectonics is a theory which suggests that Earth’s crust is made up of plates that
interact in various ways, thus producing earthquakes, mountains, volcanoes, and other
geologic forms. It incorporates the continental drift theory and the seafloor spreading
theory.
• Convection current is a heat transfer process that involves the movement of energy
from one place to another. The convection currents tend to move a fluid, gas particles,
or molten rock. These are due to the differences in the densities and the temperature of
a specific gas or a fluid. Due to this temperature difference, the hot fluid tends to rise
as it expands, whereas cold fluid tends to sink because it contracts. This current is
responsible why plates move.
• The lithosphere (from the Greek
words lithos [λίθος] meaning rocky
and sphaira [σΦαῖρα] meaning
sphere) is defined as the outermost
rigid shell of the Earth (Skinner et al.,
2003)
• Lithosphere is the rocky outer part
of the Earth. It is made up of the
brittle crust and the top part of the
upper mantle. The lithosphere is the
coolest and most rigid part of the
Earth. The most well-known feature
associated with earth’s lithosphere is
tectonic activity.
• The mantle is the mostly-solid bulk of
Earth’s interior. The mantle lies
between Earth’s dense, super-heated

Figure 1. Earth’s Lithosphere

Author: Pat II E. Baguio
School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph
 core and its thin outer layer, the crust. The mantle is about 2,900 kilometers (1,802
miles) thick, and makes up a
whopping 84% of Earth’s total volume. Source:https://www.nationalgeographic.org/enc
yclopedia/lithosphere/
• Crust is made of variety solid rocks like sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. It has
an average density of 2.8 g/cm 3 and its thickness ranges from 5 to 50km. There are two
kinds of crust, the continental crust and
oceanic crust.

• Continental crust is the crust that makes

up the continents. Relatively thicker and less
dense. It is about 40-70 km thick. It made up
of less dense granitic rocks.
• Oceanic crust is the crust that underlies the
ocean floor which is relatively thinner but
denser that continental crust. It has an
average thickness of 5 km. It is made up of
denser basaltic rocks.
• The asthenosphere is a soft, less rigid
upper part of the mantle where the
lithospheric plates float and move around.
Figure 2. Kinds of Crust
Source:https://geographyrevision.co.uk/a
-level/physical/structure-of-the-earth/

• There are 15 major tectonic plates which

consist of seven (7) primary plates and eight (8)
secondary plates. The major plates are the
Eurasian Plate, Australian Plate, Pacific
Plate, North American Plate, South
American Plate, African Plate, and
Antarctic Plate. The minor plates are Juan de
Fuca Plate, Nazca Plate, Cocos Plate,
Caribbean Plate, Philippine (Filipino)
Plate, Arabian Plate, Indian Plate, and the Scotia Plate

Figure 3. Earth’s Major Tectonic Plates

Source:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Illustration-of-elastic rebound-theory-From-top-to-bottom-Original-position-
ofthe_fig8_259829517level/physical/structure-of-the-earth/

• Elastic Rebound Theory explains how

energy is spread during earthquakes. As rocks
on opposite sides of a fault are subjected to
force and shift, they accumulate energy and
slowly deform until their internal
strength is exceeded. At that time,
a sudden movement occurs along the
fault, releasing the accumulated
energy, and the rocks snap back to their
original undeformed shape.

Author: Pat II E. Baguio Figure 4. Concept of Elastic Rebound Theory

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph
 Source:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Illustration-of-elastic-rebound theory-From-top-to-bottom-Original-positionofthe_fig8_259829517

Activity 1. Lithospheric Float

Objective: Determine the Composition of Earth’s Lithosphere
What you need: Paper, ballpoint pen and a picture showing the convection process
What to do: Answer the given questions by referring to the picture provided below.
Use a separate sheet of paper.

Figure 5. The Convection Process

Source: Retrieved from Science 10, Quarter 1 Module 4
Photo Courtesy by Richard C. Paragas
Guide Questions:
1. What represents the plates?
2. What is represented by the water?
3. What is the heat source?
4. Which part of the water has greater density, lesser density?
5. Why are block of wood floating?
6. How convection current is illustrated in the picture?

Activity 2. Feed Me, I’m Hunger for Correct Information!

Objective: Differentiate the two types of crust
What you need: Sheet of paper and ballpoint
pen.
What to do: Draw the Venn diagram reflected below and complete it by providing correct
information.

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph
 Oceanic Crust
Continental Crust

Scoring Rubrics

5 The Venn diagram is comprehensively answered with complete and accurate

information.
3 The Venn diagram is answered completely with a minimal issue on the accuracy of
information.
1 The Venn diagram is not answered completely and information provided are not
accurate.
Activity 3. Where Do I Belong?
Objective: Determine the Major and Minor Plates
What you need: Ballpoint pen and paper

Part 1. Word Pool

What to do: Below is a word pool containing the major and minor plates. Draw 2 boxes and
place each plate to the box where it belongs.

Eurasian Plate Antarctic Plate Caribbean Plate Philippine Plate

Arabian Plate Indian Plate Juan de Fuca Plate African Plate

Australian Plate Pacific Plate South American Plate Cocos Plate

North American Plate Scotia Plate Nazca Plate

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph
 Major Plates Minor Plates

Part 2. Plate Map

What to do: Study the unlabelled map below and identify what plate is being referred
according to the corresponding number.

Figure 6. The Earth’s Plate

Source: https://www.jkgeography.com/plate-tectonics.html
Activity 4: More Stretch, More Energy!
Objective: Demonstrate the concept of Elastic Rebound
Theory What you need: Rubber Band, Ballpoint Pen, and
paper What you need to do:
1. Prepare a rubber band and hold it both hands.
2. Pull the rubber band on the opposite direction. Record what happened to the rubber
band.
3. Stretch the rubber band until it breaks or loses its elasticity.
(Note: Please stay your eyes away from the rubber band)

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph
 Figure 7. Stretching of Rubber Band
Source: http://www.physics.ucla.edu/k-6connection/forwpts.htm

Process Questions:
1. What is represented by rubber band?
2. Why rubber band is stretched? How it is connected to the elastic rebound theory?
3. In the context of Elastic Rebound Theory, what do you call the broken part or breakage
of the rubber band?
4. How this simple activity relates the Elastic Rebound Theory?

Scoring Rubrics

2 Correct answer is provided with scientific

explanation.
1 Correct answer is provided but no scientific
explanation.

Reflection
Objective: Promote earthquake preparedness in the school and community

As you complete this learning activity sheet you have learned that plate tectonic is a
theory that explains how an earthquake is produced and occurred. As a responsible student
who is also a leader in your school and community, how are you going to promote earthquake
preparedness among your schoolmates and co-citizens? Express your answer in a form of
essay and refer to the rubrics below for a clearer view on how your output will be graded.

Scoring Rubrics

3 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent

to the concepts, and has no misconception.
2 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent
to the concepts, but with minimal misconception
1 Practical application is explained consistent to the
concepts, but with misconceptions.

References for learners:

Book:

Grade 10 Science Learner’s Material (Quarter 1). Philippines: Department of Education., 2015

Electronic Sources:

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph
Peter T. Bobrowsky, Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards: Elastic Rebound Theory (Dordrecht:
Springer, 2013).

Skinner, B. J., Porter, S. C., and Park, J., 2003. The Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to Physical
Geology. London: Wiley, 648 pp

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/lithosphere/

Photos https://geographyrevision.co.uk/a-level/physical/structure-of-the-earth/

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Illustration-of-elastic-rebound-theory-From-top-to-
bottom-riginalpositionofthe_fig8_259829517level/physical/structure-of-the-earth/
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Illustration-of-elastic-rebound-theory-From-top-to-
bottom-Original-positionofthe_fig8_259829517
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/lithosphere/
https://www.jkgeography.com/plate-tectonics.html http://www.physics.ucla.edu/k-
6connection/forwpts.htm

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepEd – Agusan del Sur email
address: patii.baguio@deped.gov.ph