Read Aloud — Geology

Tectonic plates are massive slabs of the Earth's crust that float on the semi-molten rock beneath them. Their slow but continuous movement causes earthquakes, builds mountain ranges, and opens ocean basins over millions of years, making plate tectonics the unifying theory of modern geological science.

Volcanic eruptions release gases, ash, and molten rock from deep within the Earth's interior. While eruptions can be devastating to nearby communities, they also create fertile soils and contribute to the formation of new land, as demonstrated by the volcanic islands of Hawaii and Iceland.

Erosion is the gradual wearing away of rock and soil by water, wind, and ice. Over geological time scales, erosion shapes landscapes dramatically, carving valleys, creating coastlines, and depositing sediment that eventually forms new layers of rock in a continuous cycle of destruction and renewal.