Activity
The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute: Clay Crash

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Employ this lesson plan from The Franklin Institute to demonstrate plate tectonics and the effects. This is really just a short demonstration that could be incorporated into your existing lesson plan.
Graphic
University of California

Tectonic Plates

For Students 9th - 10th
Get an overview of all the tectonic plates that make up the earth's crust. The colorful contrasting and labeled plate boundaries make this an excellent resource.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Plate Kinematics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, young scholars will observe and understand the basic kinematics of plate movement, how oceans are formed during continental rifting, and the relationship between plate geometry and tectonic data such as earthquakes,...
Activity
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Activity: Claim Testing: Geology and the Earth's Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
An activity where students investigate how scientist study plate tectonics.
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Why We're All Lava Surfers

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about people who see plate tectonics close up as they lava surf. Learn about their adventures in this article.
Activity
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix: Continent Continent Convergent Plate Boundaries

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site includes an animation and a short quiz over convergent plate boundaries.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: How Mountains Are Formed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate how mountains are formed. Concepts include the composition and structure of the Earth's tectonic plates and tectonic plate boundaries, with an emphasis on plate convergence as it relates to mountain formation....
Online Course
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Essential Science for Teachers: Earth and Space 3

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Visit an active volcano site to find out the connection between the movement of the Earth's plates and the processes deep within the Earth's interior. [58:23]
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: The Earth's Plates

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart introduces students to the theory of plate tectonics. Continental drift theory and Pangaea are also discussed.
Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Plate Interactions Challenge

For Students 3rd - 8th
Identify real-world cases of boundary interactions and predict the most likely future geologic outcomes. In the lightning round, unscramble four geologic terms.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Actions at Plate Boundaries

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson will allow the learners to understand the cause and effects of plates interactions. The students will learn that plate boundaries function as a release for much of the Earth's potential energy. The learners will be able to...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Ap Environmental Science: Plate Tectonics,natural Resources

For Students 9th - 10th
Through interactive activities and readings, students learn that natural resources can be renewable or nonrenewable, but sustainable use and management must be applied to ensure they are available for the long term.
Website
Geography 4 kids

Geography4 kids.com: Plates Are Moving Beneath You

For Students 3rd - 8th
Identify where in the world the eight major plates are and discover how they are on the move.
Website
PBS

Mountain Maker Earth Shaker

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource gives an introduction to the theory of plate tectonics. It also has animations of four types of plate boundary interactions (convergent, divergent, transforming, collisional).
Unknown Type
University of Washington

University of Washington: The Great Rift Valley of Eastern Africa

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of the Great Rift Valley complete with a discussion of the plate tectonics, volcanoes, and climate of the valley. Of particular interest is the section on Apekind to Mankind: Human Evolution in the Great Rift Valley. Reasons...
Interactive
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Basin Range Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive map of the Basin and Range Province reveals earthquakes, faults, hazards, volcanoes, mines, and National Parks.
Lesson Plan
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Ciese: Musical Plates: Engineering Application: Keeping Afloat

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson that looks at how to design a building so that it will withstand an earthquake and not sink or lean over.
Article
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: What Causes Earthquakes?

For Students 9th - 10th
USGS provides the definition of a fault, the basics of earthquakes, the theory of plate tectonics, location of plates and earthquakes, and embedded links to related material.
Article
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Fossil Distribution

For Students 9th - 10th
One of the first lines of evidence suggesting the existence of plate tectonics was the discovery of very similar fossils in rock masses separated by vast distances and by ocean expanses. It suggested that those land areas had in the past...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Aboard Alvin

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This Gulf of Maine educational website takes students aboard the submersible Alvin. It includes informational pages such as a project overview, as well as pages about Alvin, hydrothermal vents, and the researchers involved in the...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Earth Science Education Activities: Prof. Larry Braile

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan collection covering plate tectonics, with some structural geology and planetary science projects. The PDF files include activities, hand outs, maps, and directions for building a simple seismometer and seismograph. Also...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Fairly Simple Geology Exercises

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A collection of geology exercises which include relevant background information, complete instructions, student handouts, and answer keys. Topics include rock and mineral identification, Bowen's reaction series, crystal models,...
Interactive
PBS

Pbs: Scientific American Frontiers: Earth on the Move

For Students 9th - 10th
The interactive resource examines the plate tectonics, magnetic reversals, and continental drift of the Earth. An animation of the Earth's continental drift over the last 750 million years is included.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Plotting Earthquakes With Near Real Time Data

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson teaches the concept of plate tectonics. Students will access the United States Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center and plot the longitude latitude and depth of earthquakes on a physiographic chart.

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