Website
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Earthquake Machine: Basic One Block & Simple Graph Animated

For Students 9th - 10th
Animation of the single-block "Earthquake Machine" model shows how "Forces, Faults, and Friction" interact. [0:16]
Handout
Other

University of Wisconsin Green Bay: Faults and Earthquakes

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is primarily set up as an outline and is loaded with graphs, maps, and images. It covers a variety of earthquake-related topics, such as what causes earthquakes, fault lines and structures, seismology, a historical look at...
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Transform Boundary: Definition and Useful Examples

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what a transform boundary is and gives examples of well-known faults of this type.
Website
US Geological Survey

Central California Earthquake Hazards Project

For Students 6th - 8th
Here is a review of the geology behind earthquakes and what is being done to predict the "Big One" on the San Andreas Fault.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Getting to the Point: Exploring Tectonic Motion Point Reyes Seashore

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The intent of this module is for students to make straightforward numerical calculations as they learn about earthquake geology at a National Park.
Handout
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Geology and Geologic Time

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides information about the geologic relationships of rock layers, as well as much about geologic time and the history of Earth.
Unit Plan
National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion: Los Cambios en El Medio Natural I

For Students 9th - 10th
In this unit you can learn about the internal structure of the Earth. It has 13 interactive activities.
Interactive
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Pacific Northwest vs. Sumatra: Flash Rollover

For Students 9th - 10th
This rollover compares the earthquake of 1700 in the Pacific Northwest with the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and tsunami.
Website
Other

Scec: Wallace Creek Interpretive Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
Go on a geologic adventure in this interactive, online trail guide to the Wallace Creek site on the San Andreas Fault.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Living Lab: Geology and Earthquakes in Japan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using the online resources provided through the Earthquakes Living Lab, students investigate reasons why large earthquakes occur in Japan, drawing conclusions from tectonic plate structures and the locations of fault lines.
Graphic
Curated OER

Merriam Webster: Visual Dictionary Online: Tectonic Plates

For Students 9th - 10th
Labeled map showing locations of world's tectonic plates.
Lesson Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Earthquake Country

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on all aspects of earthquakes. Inquiry-based exploration of earthquakes includes measuring seismic waves, predicting earthquakes, investigating magnitude and intensity, mapping fault lines, and evaluating...
Graphic
Other

Earth History: The Paleomap Project

For Students 9th - 10th
The Paleomap Project illustrates the plate tectonic development of the ocean basins and continents, as well as the changing distribution of land and sea during the past 1,100 million years.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: What Happens When Continents Collide?

For Students 9th - 10th
Tens of millions of years ago, plate tectonics set North and South America on an unavoidable collision course that would change the face of the Earth and spell life or death for thousands of species. Juan D. Carrillo explains the massive...
Graphic
University of California

University of California Museum of Paleontology: Distribution in Time and Space

For Students 9th - 10th
The Understanding Evolution site provides evidence for evolution in biogeography utilizing relative dating, geography, and plate tectonics.
Website
PBS

Nova: The Big Chill

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore some of the explanations for the ice ages that have occurred in the Earth's history. The explanations are all related to conditions caused by plate tectonics.
Handout
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Seismic Waves

For Students 9th - 10th
Basic definitions and characteristics of the different wave types, diagrams, and speeds of the waves. Has links to information on seismology, earthquakes, and plate tectonics.
Website
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute Online: Earthforce in the Crust

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn more about earthquakes as well as plate tectonics. Site offers links to current quakings as well as earthquake science, teacher lessons, interactives, and earthquake history.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How North America Got Its Shape

For Students 9th - 10th
Peter J. Haproff explains how it took millions of years and some incredible plate tectonics to forge the continent we know today. [4:57]
Graphic
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Gallery: How Do Earth and Life Interact?

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the biosphere, zoom in on some unique ecosystems, and learn how activity in the Solar System and plate tectonics can affect the climate and life on the planet.
Activity
Bill Nye

Bill Nye: Move Mountains

For Students 9th - 10th
This tutorial from Bill Nye uses newspaper to show how tectonic plates can crush together to create mountains.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Making a Ted Ed Lesson: Bringing a Pop Up Book to Life

For Students 9th - 10th
In 'The Pangaea Pop-up' Lesson, animator Biljana Labovic decided the best way to illustrate moving, shifting tectonic plates was to use a physical object that could also move and shift. Here, Labovic explains how she and her team of...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Slow and Steady

For Students 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about tectonic plates and how their slow and steady movements have helped to shape the earth. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Lesson Plan
University of Wisconsin

Scien Count Ers: Earthquake Proof Buildings

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
This lesson looks at how the forces of an earthquake impact on buildings, and different ways to make buildings earthquake-proof. Includes student worksheet and tectonic plates map.

Other popular searches