Shifting Plates, Shaping Earth

🧠 What This Unit Covers:

“Shifting Plates, Shaping Earth” is a 7-lesson science unit that brings plate tectonics to life for students participating in alternate assessment. This unit focuses on the movement of tectonic plates, the formation of the Earth’s crust, and patterns in rock ages across the ocean floor.

Students build understanding through simplified reading passages, hands-on experiments, cause-and-effect activities, visual timelines, and vocabulary instruction designed for accessibility and engagement.

📦 What’s Included:

• ✅ Lesson 1 & 7: Pretest and Posttest to measure growth

• ✅ Lesson 2: Interactive vocabulary building with SymbolStix visuals

• ✅ Lesson 3: Plates in Motion

• ✅ Lesson 4: Rock Ages and Patterns

• ✅ Lesson 5: Rocks on the Move

• ✅ Lesson 6: Review

• ✅ Visuals & Icons: SymbolStix-supported text and activities throughout

• ✅ Student Response Modes: Point, look, or verbal—flexible for all learners

🔍 Why It Works:

• Multisensory Instruction: Students engage through touch, movement, visuals, and interaction—supporting a variety of learning styles.

• Differentiated Content: Simplified language, visual supports, and chunked activities make high school science concepts accessible without watering down standards.

• Alternate Assessment Ready: Fully aligned with the Kentucky Alternate Assessment Target for HS-ESS1-5, this unit provides real instructional value—not just test prep.

• Teacher-Friendly: Clear procedures, low-prep materials, and consistent formatting make this unit easy to implement right away.

Some instructional text and visual elements on this page were generated or adapted with the assistance of AI technology (OpenAI’s ChatGPT), and reviewed by SpecialEdSimplified for accuracy and alignment with instructional goals.

🔒 Please Note: This product is for single classroom use only. If multiple teachers will be using this resource, please purchase additional licenses. 

These activities are based on Common Core Standards. Price and Willoughby, LLC make no guarantees regarding student test performance.