Activity
Oregon State

World Map of Plate Boundaries

For Teachers 4th - 10th Standards
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.
Handout
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Earth Science: Plate Tectonics I: Geologic Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on the development of plate tectonic theory. Discussion includes the evidence of Pangaea, and the processes of seafloor topography and seafloor spreading. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and...
Handout
Australian Museum

Australian Museum: Plate Tectonic Processes

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site on plate tectonics and the Earth. Read how the oceanic and continental crusts, as well as the heat and the pressure within the Earth affect plate tectonics.
Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: Understanding Plate Motions

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Geological Survey provides descriptions and illustrations for the plate boundaries of the Earth's surface.
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Other

Moorland School: Earth Science Zone: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
A webpage explaining the main features of plate tectonics. Understand what evidence exists for plate tectonics and the theory of Pangea. Also learn about the different types of boundaries. The end of the webpage includes more links that...
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Archaean Eon

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Archaean Eon that covers topics such as early continents and oceans, first life on Earth, Earth's atmosphere, fossil evidence, and plate tectonics.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Cambrian Period

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Cambrian Period that covers topics such as the Cambrian Explosion, Burgess Shale fauna, trilobites, fossil evidence, and climate and plate tectonics.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Ordovician Period

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Ordovician Period that covers topics such as reef ecosystems, Paleozoic Fauna, fossil evidence, and climate and plate tectonics.
Handout
Columbia University

Columbia University: Evidence for Internal Earth Structure and Composition

For Students 9th - 10th
College-level research information describes how the movement of Earth's interior causes seismic wave activity.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: The Theory of Continental Drift

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what is meant by the Theory of Continental Drift, its earliest proponents, the stages of continental drift, the causes related to tectonic plate movement, the evidence that has been found, and how the Himalaya Mountains offer...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Continental Drift

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief Wikipedia encyclopedia article on continental drift. It tells what continental drift is, what causes it, and gives examples of evidence that continental drift has occurred.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: Geologic Time: Hadean Eon

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Hadean Eon that covers topics such as the formation of the earth, its surface and atmosphere, fossil evidence, erosion and plate tectonics.