Map skills worksheets tend to be pretty straightforward. This free geography worksheet is different; it combines knowledge of tectonic plate theory with map skills. It’s a great tool because it forces students to use higher-level thinking skills. I LOVE this worksheet because it makes students use critical thinking while applying what they know.
Some lower-level students may struggle with this worksheet, so try a few questions out yourself to see if you think they can handle it. Before you assign this worksheet, read the tips below to ensure your students are successful:
- Go through each symbol in the legend. Explain that the arrows indicate which way the plates are moving. Also explain what subducting and overriding plates are.
- Your students must know how to find the equator and a location using latitude and longitude.
- Complete the worksheet yourself to see if there are any tricky questions or to find where students might struggle. (This is something you should do with EVERY worksheet and activity you assign your class.) I went through each question. I think they are straightforward if you read the map and legend correctly.
- I suggest completing number 1 and 5 as a class to model how to read the map and legend.
- The answer key is at the bottom, so if you are assigning it via a digital platform, use a PDF editor to delete the last two pages before you assign it.
This worksheet would serve as a great break after notes and a video on tectonic plate theory or as filler if you have about 15 minutes left in class. Homework is always an option as well…it depends on whether or not you think your students will copy from others. I probably wouldn’t use it as a group exercise because the lower-level students will work at a slower pace than the higher-level students, and thus not get as much of a chance to work/think through each question.
Be sure you walk around the classroom, as students will probably have questions about the map.
