Students will encounter puzzling tectonic evidence, analyze real-world data maps, and develop focused, investigable research questions with clear hypotheses that will guide their clay modeling and investigation work throughout the project.

Students will design a systematic, evidence-based methodology to investigate their tectonic plate research question, ensuring their data collection plan matches the type of question they are asking and aligns to NGSS evidence about fossils, rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures.

Students will systematically collect and document tectonic evidence from maps, images, and models to build a high-quality dataset that directly answers their individual research questions about past plate motion.

Students will interpret their fossil, rock, seafloor age, and continental fit data to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies; create visualizations that reveal evidence of plate motion; challenge and refine interpretations through peer discussion; and draft preliminary findings that connect evidence directly to their research questions and hypotheses.

Students will synthesize their tectonic plate investigations by writing evidence-based conclusions, explicitly acknowledging limitations, generating new research questions, and presenting their clay models, data visualizations, and analyses to an authentic audience during Simulation Stations and Tectonic Tea Time.