Plate Boundaries Teacher Resources

Young geologists piece together the puzzle of plate tectonics in an earth science lesson. Given a physical map of the world, they search for land formations that indicate the location of different types of plate boundaries.

How does the Earth continually repair itself? Explore the answer to this question, and others, with a unit on plate boundaries and interaction. Pupils classify the types of movement at plate boundaries and identify the distribution of...

Don't let this plate tectonics resource slip past you! Taken straight from the pages of a McGraw-Hill science textbook, this document provides a reading passage with maps and reading comprehension questions that support students as they...

Yum! Using graham crackers, dried fruit sheets, and frosting, tectonics technicians demonstrate the different types of plate boundaries. If you want to encourage youngsters with an activity that is both educational and edible, then this...

The pre-lab portion of the lesson introduces emerging geologists to the various layers that make up Earth. After completing a sheet on the identification of the layers, class members simulate plate boundaries and their...

Young scientists piece together the geological puzzle that is the earth in the third and final lesson of this earth science series. With the help of numerous multimedia resources and a series of engaging hands-on activities, students...

Reinforce a lesson on plate tectonics with an educational slideshow presentation. Twenty-seven slides, complete with images and diagrams to illustrate examples, or to show names and detailed facts, demonstrate the basics of plate...

Here is a set of pre-lab, lab, and post-lab lesson plans on plate tectonics. After completing the previous labs on volcanoes and earthquakes, sixth graders use the gained knowledge to explore plate boundaries and the movement of Earth's...

Demonstrate the movement of lithospheric plates due to convection in Earth's mantle. Learners then model the movements that occur along plate boundaries using colored clay. 

The amazing animation for a video on continental drift is comprised of the pages of a sophisticated pop-up book, The Moving Earth. As the pages turn, your earth scientists discover the tectonic plates of the lithosphere and the molten...

A set of first grade geology lessons focuses on plate tectonics and movement of plate boundaries. During the pre-lab, learners experience three types of plate movement through a kinesthetic demonstration. The lab demonstrates stresses...

Students discover plate boundaries based on the uneven geographic occurrence of geologic hazards. After discussing geologic hazards, students plot different sets of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on maps.

Scholars examine diagrams and complete a concept map to discover key details about convergent, divergent, and transform plate boundaries.  

Fifth graders continue their investigation of the plate tectonics cycle with an exploration of the movement of Earth's crust. During the lab, young geologists conduct an experiment to discover the result of different types of stress...

Amateur seismologists explore Earth's earthquakes in real time using a variety of map styles and parameter selections.

Young scholars analyze how plate boundaries shift. In this sliding plates lesson, students examine models and identify actions at the plate boundaries. Young scholars complete a worksheet to assess understanding. 

Students analyze fault data from Plate Boundary Observatory. In this earth science lesson, students use Google Earth to download data from PBO. They explain the magnitude of plate movements using the vector arrows on the map.

Students differentiate transform, divergent and convergent motions. In this earth science lesson, students explain how geologists use these to analyze plate motion. They draw arrow on maps to represent the direction of plate movement.

New ReviewIn case of earthquake, go to a safe place before posting on social media. The unit includes 12 lessons, most with hands-on activities or experiments. The first six lessons cover the physical process of earthquakes and volcanoes. Lessons...

New ReviewExplore our world from within as you lead young scientists on a thrilling adventure. Pupils examine the location of plate boundaries to determine earthquake and volcano distribution around the globe and explore the cause of hot spots in...

New ReviewYoung scholars observe a presentation on plate tectonics, layers of the earth, and plate boundaries. They then use the Internet to research major plates and label them on a world map.

Fifth graders investigate the three types of plate boundaries. In this geology lesson plan, 5th graders model the three types of plate boundaries and how they affect the changes on the Earth's crust.

The best part about teaching guides is all the great information you can use to inform your class. They infer what type of boundary exists between two tectonic plates. Then, using given information on earthquakes and volcanism they'll...

Volcanoes are among the most spectacular geological features on the planet. Jump into an exploration of these amazing phenomenon with this multimedia lesson series. Working collaboratively in small groups, young scientists view videos...