Drift Discovery Slides Drifting Continents
The Story of Our Changing Earth
Alfred Wegener
In 1912, a scientist named Alfred Wegener had a big idea.
He noticed the continents looked like puzzle pieces that fit together.
"Did the continents move away from each other?"
Pangea: The Supercontinent
Millions of years ago, all the land was stuck together in one giant piece called PANGEA.
PANGEA
The word means "All Earth" in Greek.
Evidence #1
The Puzzle Fit
South America and Africa look like they click together.
Matching coastlines
Matching rock layers
S. America
Africa
Evidence #2
Matching Fossils
The same ancient animals were found on different continents.
These animals could NOT swim across the big ocean!
South America
Africa
Evidence #3
Climate Clues
Scientists found glacier scratches in hot tropical places.
They also found coal (from hot swamps) in cold places.
Ice Clues
Coal Clues
Continental Drift
Wegener proposed the theory of Continental Drift.
"The continents are drifting, like rafts on a sea of rock."
Slow
Movement
Quick Check
1. Who had the idea for Continental Drift?
A) Albert Einstein B) Alfred Wegener
2. What was the supercontinent called?
A) Pangea B) Pan-Cake
3. How fast do continents move?
A) Fast as a car B) Slow as a fingernail grows
Puzzle Piece Outline Drift Detective Outline
Guided Writing Support
Name:
Date:
Word Bank
Alfred Wegener
Pangea
Puzzle Pieces
Fossils
Drifting
Evidence
Climate
Continents
1 Paragraph 1: The Big Idea
Long ago, a scientist named thought the were moving. He noticed that the land looked like that fit together. Millions of years ago, all the land was one big supercontinent called .
2 Paragraph 2: The Proof
Wegener found different types of to prove his idea. First, he found matching of animals that could not swim across the sea. Second, he looked at clues, like ice scratches in hot places. These clues showed that the land had moved over time.
3 Paragraph 3: The Result
Because of this theory, we call this movement Continental . Even today, the continents are still moving very slowly. This helps us understand how the Earth changes over many millions of years.
Tip: Check your Word Bank! Each word is used at least once. Use your neatest handwriting to fill in the blanks.
Visual Essay Builder Visual Essay Builder
The Story of Continental Drift
Directions: Cut out the pieces from Page 2. Paste the matching Image and Sentence into the correct boxes below!
Image 1
Introduction Piece
Evidence Piece
Image 2
Image 3
Conclusion Piece
Pieces to Cut Out
Cut along the dotted lines.
Alfred Wegener noticed that Africa and South America fit together like puzzle pieces. He believed that all continents were once part of a giant supercontinent called Pangea.
Scientists found matching fossils of animals on different continents. They also found coal in cold places and ice scratches in hot places, proving the land moved.
Today we know that continents are always drifting very slowly. Wegener's theory of Continental Drift changed how we look at our planet forever.
Pangea Fit
Fossils
Drift Today
Drift Master Teacher Guide Teacher Support Guide
Instructional Strategies for Continental Drift (IEP Modified)
Lesson Modifications
Sentence Starters: Provided in the "Puzzle Piece Outline" to reduce cognitive load during the drafting phase.Visual Essay: The "Visual Essay Builder" serves as a non-writing alternative for students with significant dysgraphia or motor skill challenges.Chunking: Evidence is broken down into three distinct categories (Puzzle Fit, Fossils, Climate) to improve retention.
Step 1: Direct Instruction
Use the Drift Discovery Slides . Focus on the "Puzzle Piece" metaphor. Have students physically put their hands together to mimic the fit of South America and Africa.
Key Vocabulary: Pangea, Wegener, Drift, Fossil.
Step 2: Guided Practice
Transition to the Puzzle Piece Outline . Do the first paragraph together as a class. Use the word bank to model how to select the correct term.
Quick Fact Reference for Students
The Person
Alfred Wegener proposed the theory. Many people didn't believe him at first!
The Land
Pangea existed 250 million years ago. It means "All Earth".
The Proof
Mesosaurus fossils were found an ocean apart. Tropical plants were found in Antarctica.
Pro-Tips for Inclusion
EL Learners: Use the Visual Essay Builder first to establish concept-to-image connection.
Visual Aids: Print slide 4 (Puzzle Fit) as a large reference for students during the writing task.
Common Misconceptions
Speed: Students often think drift happened overnight. Stress it's as slow as fingernails growing.
Water: Students may think only the land moved, not realizing it's the entire lithospheric plate.
