Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Edible Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
As we stand on the top layer of our planet it is a little difficult to get hands-on with plate tectonics. This activity uses layered cake to allow students an up close representation of how major land features have been created.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Actions at Plate Boundaries

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson will allow the students 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 students will be able to...
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Wegener (1880 1930)

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete biographical information with links to his theories. Contains links to interactives on plate tectonics.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive activity adapted from A Science Odyssey Web site helps you visualize different types of plate tectonic activity and shows the impact this activity has on Earth's surface.
Lesson Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Mountain Building

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on all aspects of how mountains are formed. Inquiry-based exploration of mountain building includes the rock cycle, mountain formation, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, erosion, rocks, minerals, and...
Handout
Indiana University

Indiana University Bloomington: Earthquakes in Indiana [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed brochure with lots of information about the earthquakes that occur in Indiana. Discusses plate tectonics, how fault zones developed in the Mississippi River Valley, faults in Indiana, earthquakes that affected Indiana in the...
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]
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Geo Logic: Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using the skills of a paleontologist, learners are asked to match up lecturers with what day and time they teach, and how many students they have based on clues given from several different perspectives. In the second part of the...
Handout
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: About Antarctica: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Explanation of why Antarctica has fossils of ferns, amphibians, and reptiles. Gondwanaland is discussed and shown in an interactive map.
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.
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.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Geography: Places: Africa's Great Rift Valley

For Students 4th - 8th
Describes the geography of the Great Rift Valley in Africa, how it was formed by tectonic plate separation, and the majestic lakes and falls that have been created by it.
Interactive
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: On the Road With the Faultline Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This outstanding multimedia website follows the San Andreas fault system up the California coast from San Diego to just north of San Francisco on the coast.
Unit Plan
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Earthquake Faultline Earthquake Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
This outstanding website provides an excellent variety of hands-on earthquake activities to help you understand what causes earthquakes.
Website
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Loma Prieta, Bay Area, Earthquake 1989

For Students 9th - 10th
This outstanding multimedia site documents the earthquake and related events that took place on October 17, 1989 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Website
Other

Nasa: Iss Earth Kam

For Students 9th - 10th
Students get a whole new perspective of the world through images obtained from the International Space Station. Students can even request images to be taken through ISS EarthKAM. Activities and educator guides are provided.
Handout
National Geographic

National Geographic: Encyclopedia: Mantle

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth look at the structure and composition of Earth's mantle, with lots of visuals. Covers lithosphere, Mohorovicic discontinuity, asthenosphere, transition zone, lower mantle, the d double-prime region, mantle convection, mantle...
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...
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.
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.
Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Mantle Convection and Earth's Features

For Students 6th - 8th
A resource to help understand that the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates is caused by convection. The plates' movements cause geologic features on the Earth's surface.
Handout
Purdue University

Purdue University: San Francisco Bay Area Earthquakes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students use geologic fault maps of the San Francisco Bay Area to find relationships between tectonic plate fault lines and landscape features, topographic features, and epicenters of past earthquakes.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Finding Fault

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage describe different active tectonic plates around the globe. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and...
Unit Plan
Burke Museum

Burke Museum: Earthquake Science

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of the Burke Museum's online exhibit on earthquakes and natural disasters focuses on the science of earthquakes. Topics that are covered include plate motion, heat, interior of the earth, and more.

Other popular searches