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...

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

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.

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. 

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 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...

Students recreate three types of plate boundaries using graham crackers, fruit roll, and frosting. Students illustrate what happens during each recreation being sure to label each geological term appropriately. Students answer the...

Recently, Australia had to update all of its GPS coordinates because the continent is moving at such a relatively quick speed. The third lesson in the series of five relates the movement of plates on the earth to the consequences....

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...

In this plate tectonics worksheet, students take notes on the types of plate boundaries including divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries and transform boundaries and they explain how plates move.

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

In this plate tectonics activity, students review concepts such as the types of plate boundaries, the concept of continental drift, sea-floor spreading, earthquakes, and plate tectonics. They match 30 terms with their definitions.

In this plate tectonics instructional activity, learners review how the lithosphere is broken into plates and the different ways these plates move. Students compare divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries. This...

In this moving continents worksheet, students review the different types of plate boundaries, what causes earthquakes, and where volcanoes are formed. This worksheet has 10 fill in the blank and 9 short answer questions.

Young scholars describe how volcanoes are formed. They name the types of boundaries where volcanoes occur. They utilize models to illustrate the occurence of volcanoes and earthquakes along plate boundaries. They compare and constrast...

In this volcanoes worksheet, students look at maps and answer short answer questions about volcanoes, plate boundaries, and earthquakes. Students complete 4 questions.

Here is a plate tectonics interactive that will really move your class! The first of a 13-part series introduces young geologists to the fundamental concepts and vocabulary they need to understand the interactions between crustal plates....

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...

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...

In this plate tectonics worksheet, students will review the Earth's layers that make up the plates, different types of plate boundaries, and the theory of plate tectonics. This worksheet has 5 fill in the blank and 4 short answer questions.

This unit focuses primarily on plate tectonics and plate boundaries surrounding continents. It contains pre- and post-lab sections that walk young geologists through plate movements in order to visualize what's going on inside Earth.

By the 19th lesson in the 20-part series, scholars realize volcanoes and earthquakes are related to plate boundaries. The lesson extends and applies the knowledge by having individuals create a bumper sticker for one specific area of...