RELATIONSHIP: ACTIVE

VOLCANOES TO PLATE
TECTONIC THEORY
for SCIENCE Grade 10
Quarter 1/Week 1

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NegOr_Q1_Science10_SLKWeek1_v2
 FOREWORD

This self-learning kit will serve as a guide in describing

and relating the distribution of active volcanoes to Plate
Tectonic Theory. We will study fully the structure that will
enable us to understand how and why several features of
the Earth continuously change. This theory is what we call
“Plate Tectonics.” This describes the events within the Earth
that bring about mountain ranges, volcanoes, earthquake
belts, and other features of the Earth’s surface.

In this learning kit the learners will gain knowledge

about volcanoes. The learners will also clarify the
relationship between the locations of volcanoes to Plate
Tectonic Theory. Moreover, they will have a chance to
understand what causes the formation of different
geologic features, particularly volcanoes.

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 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
K: Describe the Plate Tectonic Theory.
S: Illustrate the processes on how a volcano is formed
based on the movement of plate boundaries.
A: Share necessary precautions to be done for those
areas.
that is likely to experience volcanic eruption.
LEARNING COMPETENCY:

Describe and relate the distribution of active volcanoes

to Plate Tectonic Theory. S10ES –Ia-j.

I. WHAT HAPPENED
A. VOCABULARY REVIEW
Directions: Identify what word is being described by the following statements.
Write your answers on your science notebook.

 A mountain or hill, typically conical,

having a crater or vent through which
1. __ __ __ __ __ __ lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and
gas are being or have been erupted
from the earth's crust.
 The planet on which we live; the
2. __ __ __ __ world
 A set of principles on which the
3. __ __ __ __ __ practice of an activity is based.
 A long, narrow, deep depression in
the ocean floor, typically one running
4. __ __ __ __ __ parallel to a plate boundary and
marking a subduction zone.
5. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __  Plate under landmasses

6. __ __ __ __ __ __  Plate under the ocean

 The convergent movement of
7. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ tectonic plates whereby a denser
plate is pushed beneath a lighter one.
8. __ __ __ __ __ __ __  The region between plates

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  The zone in the upper mantle just
9. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ below the lithosphere; contains
__ magma and is involved in plate
movement.
 The rigid outer part of the earth,
10. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ consisting of the crust and upper
mantle.
Reveal the hidden message by filling up the boxes with letters from your
answers above. (Note: Copy the letters that fall inside the small boxes).

B. CONCEPT MAPPING
Directions: Complete the Concept Map by filling-up the blank boxes with the
correct word/s from the list below. Copy the map and write answer it on your
science notebook.

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 Boundaries Convergent Divergent
Earthquakes Mountain Formation Moving plates
Plate Tectonics Transform Volcano Formation

A. ACTIVITY 1
Let’s Mark the Boundaries!

Objectives:
• Describe the distribution of active volcanoes.
• Determine the scientific basis for dividing the Lithospheric plates.

Directions:
1. Study the map of active volcanoes in Figure 1. Answer the questions below.
Copy the questions and answer them on your science notebook.

Figure 1. Map of Active Volcanoes

“Volcanoes: Distibution of Active Volcanoes.” n.d. Pubs.usgs.gov. Accessed June 26, 2022.

Q1. How are volcanoes distributed?

Q2. Where are they located?

Q3. Locate the Philippines. Do you think the Philippines is vulnerable to

experience a volcanic eruption? Why do you say so?

Q4. What necessary precautions you should do during a volcanic

eruption?

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B. ACTIVITY 2

Head-On Collision: Converging Continental Plate and Oceanic Plate

Objectives:
• Explain the processes that occur along convergent boundaries.
• Determine the common events when two plates collide.

Directions:
1. Study Figure 2 showing a cross-sectional diagram of plates that are
converging and answer the questions that follow. Write your answers on your
science notebook.

“Grade 10 Science.” n.d. Pdfcoffee.com. Accessed June 26, 2022.

Figure 2. Cross-sectional diagram of converging continental and oceanic

plates

1. What type of plate is Plate A? What about Plate B? Why did you say so?

2. Describe what happens to Plate A as it collides with Plate B. Why?

3. What do you think may happen to the leading edge of Plate A as it

continues to move downward? Why?

4. What do you call this molten material?

5. What is formed on top of Plate B?

6. How is a volcano formed?

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II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

WHAT IS PLATE TECTONIC THEORY?

According to the plate tectonic theory, Earth is an active planet. Its
surface is comprised of many individual plates that move and interact,
continuously changing and reshaping Earth’s outer layer. Volcanoes and
earthquakes both are produced from the movement of tectonic plates.

Developed from the 1950s through the 1970s, plate tectonics combines
the continental drift theory, first proposed by scientist Alfred Wegener in 1912,
(Osken 2018) and seafloor spreading theory, proposed by Harry Hess in the
1960s. For plate tectonics, the lithosphere is composed of many individual
huge pieces of solid rocks called plates. Plates under landmasses are called
continental plates, which is thicker and less dense. Plates under the ocean
are called oceanic plates, which is thinner but denser. (see Figure 3)

Figure 3. Kinds of Crust

“Continental Crust.” 2022. Wikipedia. June 5, 2022.

Today, there are 15 major tectonic plates, which consist of seven

primary plates and eight secondary smaller plates. The primary plates are
Eurasian Plate, Australian Plate, Pacific Plate, North American Plate, South
American Plate, African Plate, and Antarctica Plate. The secondary plates
are Juan de Fuca Plate, Nazca Plate, Cocos Plate, Caribbean Plate,
(Philippine) Filipino Plate, Arabian Plate, Indian Plate and Scotia Plate. (see
Figure 4)

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 “List of Tectonic Plates.” 2020. Wikipedia. July 6, 2020.
Figure. 4. Earth's tectonic plates.
Arrows indicate the type of plate boundary. ( convergent,  divergent, transform)

Tectonic plates can move between 1 – 10 cm per year, on top of the

asthenosphere, which is malleable or partially malleable. Plates move with
respect to each other in 3 ways: they move together, move apart, or move
past each other.

The regions between plates are called plate boundaries. Depending on

their motion with respect to one another, there are 3 types of plate boundaries:

 Divergent Boundary occurs when two plates move away from each
other and create a gap or a rift between them. This may lead to the
formation of an ocean or the separation of two continents.

 Convergent Boundary occurs where two plates slide each other,

commonly forming either a subduction zone or an orogenic belt. An
orogenic belt is a region of deformed rocks. This may lead to the
formation of trenches, and volcanic and non-volcanic mountain
ranges.

 Transform Boundary occurs when the plates slide against each other
in opposite directions, producing earthquakes.

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 Fig. 5. The three types of plate boundaries differ based on the nature of
relative movement.
“Learning Geology: What Do We Mean by Plate Tectonics?” 2016. Learning Geology.
February 10, 2016.

WHAT IS VOLCANO?
Subduction is the convergent movement of tectonic plates whereby a
denser plate is pushed beneath a lighter one. Volcanoes are produced in
subduction zones. Beneath the Ring of Fire, the huge and denser Pacific Plate
is subducted under the neighboring continental plates that surround it. In this
case, oceanic-continental subduction takes place.

On the edges of the Pacific Plate lie a string of 452 volcanoes, which runs
along the coast of South America, the coast of North America, the Bering Strait,
to Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and New Zealand. The volcanoes along
the Ring of Fire are mainly stratovolcanoes.

What happens during subduction? In an oceanic-continental

subduction, the oceanic plate goes down. As the denser oceanic plate
subducts under the continental plate and sinks into the mantle, the
temperature increases, causing the rocks to melt and form magma. This hot
and less dense magma will ultimately try to find a vent, the volcanoes, to reach
the surface. The edges of the Pacific Plate are regions of subduction; hence,
chains of volcanoes are found above it.

Fig. 6. The oceanic plate subducts

underneath the continental plate,
pushing the continental plate
upward and forming volcanoes.

2022. Cameroongcerevision.com. 2022.

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 The same process may occur between two oceanic plates with different
densities; the denser plate subducts below another. Such activity may cause
in the formation of underwater volcanoes. Over time, volcanic debris from the
eruption of underwater or submarine volcanoes accumulate until an island
volcano rises above sea level. The interaction between the Pacific Plate and
the Philippine Plate is an example of an oceanic-oceanic convergence.

Fig 7. One oceanic plate subducts

underneath another, forming
underwater volcanoes.

“Convergent.” 2020. Planet Earth. 2020.

Most of the world's volcanoes have formed in the Ring of Fire, more than
75% (452 volcanoes). The Philippines belongs to the Ring of Fire, which where
multiple tectonic plates meet. There are about 53 volcanoes in the country.
These volcanoes were formed thousands of years ago when the Philippine
Plate, Eurasian Plate, Pacific Plate as well as many others subducted with one
another.

With these number of volcanoes, volcanic eruptions and side effects of

volcanic activity leave the Philippines at a great risk for all kinds of destruction.
Whenever there are volcanic activities/eruptions, the Filipino government has
always tried to evacuate the people in affected areas. The Philippines and its
volcanoes are a strong symbol to the world about the dangers of volcanoes
and the risk of being situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

However, volcanic eruptions can also be helpful for the Philippine

environment in the sense that they re-nourish the soil, making it the perfect
farmland and create space for future construction. The land of the Philippines
is resistant to eruptions and will almost always bounce back, reformed better
than ever.

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III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
POST-TEST
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Directions: Read and answer the following questions/statements. Choose the
letter that corresponds to the correct answer. Write your answers in your
science notebook.

1. According to the theory of plate tectonics, which layer of the Earth is made
up of plates?
A. Asthenosphere B. Atmosphere C. Lithosphere D. Mesosphere
2. Which is not a primary plate?
A. Australian Plate B. North American
C. Pacific Plate D. Philippine Plate
3. The Ring of Fire is located around the edges of the ____________.
A. Eurasian Plate B. Nazca Plate
C. Pacific Plate D. South American Plate
4. According to the theory of plate tectonics, on which layer do plates float?
A. Asthenosphere B. Atmosphere.
C. Lithosphere D. Mesosphere
5. The space between two tectonic plates is called ________.
A. Fault B. Boundary C. Rift D. Trench
6. A process where two plates collide in which the denser plate goes beneath
the less dense plate is called ___________.
A. Convergence B. Convection
C. Divergence D. Subduction
7. What is produced when plates slide against each other?
A. Earthquake B. Mountain Range C. Trench D. Volcano
8. Which type of plate boundary lead to the formation of volcanoes?
A. Seafloor B. Divergent C. Convergent D. Transform
9. Volcanoes are formed as a result of _________________________.
A. the thrust faulting of a tectonic plate
B. the going upward of a continental plate
C. the divergence of two continental plates
D. the subduction of an oceanic plate underneath a continental plate
10. How is the Philippine (Filipino) plate formed?
A. Convergence between two oceanic plates
B. Convergence between oceanic and continental plates
C. Convergence between two continental plates
D. Divergence between oceanic and continental plates

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REFERENCES

“Continental Crust.” 2022. Wikipedia. June 5, 2022.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_crust#/media/File:Continental
_and_oceanic_crust.png.

“Convergent.” 2020. Planet Earth. 2020.

http://gamediv1.weebly.com/convergent.html.

“Grade 10 Science.” n.d. Pdfcoffee.com. Accessed June 26, 2022.

https://pdfcoffee.com/grade-10-science-4-pdf-free.html.
“Learning Geology: What Do We Mean by Plate Tectonics?” 2016. Learning
Geology. February 10, 2016.
http://geologylearn.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-do-we-mean-by-plate-
tectonics.html.
“List of Tectonic Plates.” 2020. Wikipedia. July 6, 2020.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tectonic_plates#/media/File:Plates_
tect2_en.svg.
“Volcanoes: Distibution of Active Volcanoes.” n.d. Pubs.usgs.gov. Accessed
June 26, 2022. https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/fig34.html.
2022. Cameroongcerevision.com. 2022.
https://cameroongcerevision.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/fold-
m-1.png.

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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL
SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent
JOELYZA M. ARCILLA EdD
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
MARCELO K. PALISPIS EdD JD
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
NILITA L. RAGAY, EdD
OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent/CID Chief
ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMDS)
ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS – Division Science Coordinator
MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)
ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)
JULIET B. GANTALAO
Writer/Illustrator
JULIET B. GANTALAO
RAFAEL REX B. FELISILDA
Lay-out Artists
ALPHA QA TEAM
ANGELYN P. ABUEVA
JULIET B. GANTALAO
ARGELYN A. MAHUMOT
LESTER C. PABALINAS
BETA QA TEAM
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA
DORIN FAYE D. CADAYDAY
MERCY G. DAGOY
RANJEL D. ESTIMAR
MARIA SALOME B. GOMEZ
JUSTIN PAUL ARSENIO C. KINAMOT
ARJIE T. PALUMPA

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 SYNOPSIS ANSWER KEY
Have you ever felt the Earth
move under your feet? The Earth has
subterranean plates moving toward or
away from each other. When plates
collide, one can push the other below
it. When plates move apart, they
create gaps. All these movements of
plates give rise to the Earth’s
landmasses.
This Self Learning Kit discovers
how plate dynamics affect the
formation and topography of Earth. This
tackles the active plate boundaries
and studies the interactions between
plates. This also explains the presence
of active volcanoes in relation to Plate
Tectonic Theory.
So explore this SLK and be able to
describe and relate the distribution of
active volcanoes to Plate Tectonic
Theory.

The Writer
JULIET B. GANTALAO
She graduated at
Negros Oriental State
University –
Guihulngan Campus,
with a degree of
Bachelor of
Secondary
Education, major in
General Science. At
present, she is
teaching Science
Grade 7 at La
Libertad Technical -
Vocational School.
She is also the current
Science Department
Head of her school.

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