New York Standard for Earthquakes and Plate Boundaries

This resource supports standard 4 of the New York math, science and technology standards. Standard 4 states: students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science. The major understanding being supported is 2.1l, which states: The lithosphere consists of separate plates that ride on the more fluid asthenosphere and move slowly in relationship to one another, creating convergent, divergent, and transform plate boundaries. These motions indicate Earth is a dynamic geologic system. These plate boundaries are the sites of most earthquakes, volcanoes, and young mountain ranges. Compared to continental crust, ocean crust is thinner and denser. New ocean crust continues to form at mid-ocean ridges. Earthquakes and volcanoes present geologic hazards to humans. Loss of property, personal injury, and loss of life can be reduced by effective emergency preparedness.