Context

Earth is a fascinating and complex planet that, over billions of years, has undergone several transformations to become what it is today. One of such major transformations is the formation of the continents, which plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. This goes far beyond the physical aspect of distinguishing one continent from another: the formation of the continents affects geography, climate, biodiversity, and even socio-economic and cultural aspects of humanity.

Before we start exploring the formation of continents, it is important to understand the structure of the Earth. Our planet is made up of several layers: an inner and outer core, the mantle, and the crust. The movement of these layers, particularly the plate tectonics in the Earth's crust, has played and still plays an essential role in the formation of the continents.

The theory of plate tectonics, proposed by Alfred Wegener, suggests that the continents were all once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea, which began to break up around 200 million years ago. This theory, along with the evidence that supports it, helps us understand how the Earth has changed and continues to change, bringing significant insights into our past, present, and future.

Understanding the formation of the continents is not just a matter of academic curiosity; it is central to understanding many aspects of the world we live in. This includes climate change, animal and human migration patterns, the formation of mountains and oceans, the occurrence of earthquakes and volcanoes, etc. Furthermore, the formation of the continents has also had significant impacts on how human societies have developed and interacted throughout history.

To explore this topic in more depth, we recommend the following resources:

1. National Geographic article on plate tectonics
2. PBS documentary “Earth The Inside Story”
3. Khan Academy free online course Introduction to Geology
4. Book “The Earth: An Evolving Planet” by Antonio Teixeira Guerra and Leila Maria Pessôa da Costa (available for consultation in libraries).

Hands-on Activity

Activity Title: “From Pangaea to Present-Day Continents: A Journey Through Time”

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to reconstruct the movement of the continents from Pangaea to the present day, using common materials and online resources, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the theory of plate tectonics and the formation of the continents.

Detailed Project Description

In this project, each group of 3 to 5 students will be responsible for creating a three-dimensional model of the Earth, which demonstrates the changes that have occurred in the continents from Pangaea to the present day. After creating the model, the groups will give a presentation explaining the process of formation and division of the continents, as well as the factors that contributed to these changes.

Required Materials

1. Styrofoam balls of different sizes.
2. Different colored paints.
3. Paintbrushes.
4. Cardboard sheets.
5. Scissors and glue.
6. Internet access for research.

Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for the Activity

1. Conduct initial research on the formation of the continents, focusing on Pangaea and subsequent changes. Use the resources suggested in the introduction as a starting point, as well as other reliable sources.
2. Create a sketch of what the model will look like, identifying the main stages of the evolution of the continents.
3. Start assembling the model, painting each styrofoam ball to represent different geological periods. Make the continents as similar as possible to their actual shapes in each period.
4. Cut out cardboard sheets to represent the tectonic plates.
5. Glue the tectonic plates in the appropriate locations on each sphere.
6. Prepare an oral presentation to explain the processes represented in the model.

Upon completion of the hands-on activity, students should prepare a written document. This document should be structured in the following sections:

1. Introduction: Describe the relevance of the topic, what motivated the choice of project, and what the objective of the project is.
2. Development: Explain the theory of the formation of the continents and plate tectonics, how the materials were chosen and used to make the model, the methodology used to create and assemble the model, as well as the results obtained. Detail the steps of building the model and the decisions made in the process.
3. Conclusions: Summarize the main points, highlighting the learning acquired and the main conclusions from the project developed. How did this activity impact your understanding of the formation of the continents?
4. Bibliography: List all sources consulted during the elaboration of the project, including books, websites, videos, etc.

This document will be the main deliverable of the project, along with the three-dimensional model and the presentation. Remember that besides demonstrating the learning about the formation of the continents, it should also reflect collaboration and teamwork.