Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Living Lab: The Theory of Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Working in pairs, students think like engineers and connect what they understand about the theory of plate tectonics to the design of structures for earthquake-resistance.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Writing to Support the Theory of Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson helps students use images that depict earthquakes, seafloor ages, topography, and volcanoes, and then make a scientific argument supporting the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Plate Tectonics: The Origin of Plate Tectonic Theory

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover Alfred Wegner's ideas relating to continental drift and seafloor spreading which are both evidence to the concept of plate tectonics.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Theory of Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] The history of plate tectonics past and future.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive lesson you will learn about the theory of plate tectonics and the three types of plate boundaries that are responsible for Earth's geologic features.
Website
Other

An Introduction to the Abc's of Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource presents the basics of plate tectonics, as well as a summary of the current thinking about plate tectonics and its mechanisms.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Writing About Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan is a writing assignment focussed on the use of data to support the theory of plate tectonics. It includes a scoresheet that was created for a calibrated peer review assignment. The assignment directs students to...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Evolution, Plate Tectonics, and Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the theories of evolution, plate tectonics, and global warming.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Evolution, Plate Tectonics, and Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the theories of evolution, plate tectonics, and global warming.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive tutorial you will learn about the theory of continental drift and why it was ultimately rejected. Then learn about the theory of plate tectonics and the evidence to support it. Lastly discover the types of boundaries...
Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Plate Tectonics (Intermediate)

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Many activities in this lesson plan to help students understand the Theory of Plate Tectonics. Plans can be used in intermediate or middle school levels.
Website
Other

Paleomap Project: Earth History

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 1100 million years. Includes virtual 3D paeloglobes.
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, students 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...
Unit Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Our Dynamic Planet

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learn about the theory of Plate Tectonics with this site that links to a site to order a CD-ROM that contains tools for learners to investigate the theory. On the CD-ROM is included virtual plate tectonics lecture, animations,...
Article
Story Behind the Science

Story Behind the Science: Development of a Mechanism for Continental Drift [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Article describing the history of scientific theories about continental drift, and the major researchers involved in this work.
PPT
Other

Plate Tectonic Theory [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this slideshow on Plate Tectonics-The unifying theory for all other theories in the Earth sciences-Has resulted in a more detailed understanding of Earth history-Has enabled geologists to more precisely(and cheaply) discover...
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
Math Science Nucleus

I. Science Ma Te: Integrating Science, Math and Technology

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This site offers a wealth of online textbook-related materials that encourage the discovery of science in the world around us. Enter the site to access material on specific topics. Each section contains reading material (complete with...
Unknown Type
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Plate Tectonics Quiz

For Students 9th - 10th
The internal and external processes of Earth are related through the movement of Earth's plates, called Plate Tectonics. Find out how much you know about Plate Tectonics by taking this quiz.
Website
PBS

Pbs: A Science Odyssey

For Students 9th - 10th
Website for the PBS series "A Science Odyssey." Numerous opportunities to explore the people and discoveries of science.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Hotspot Lesson: Samoan Hotspot

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using the Hotspot Theory and Plate Velocities, students make comparisons between Hawaii and Samoa in an attempt to determine the volcanic origin of Samoa.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Hotspot Lesson: Final Project

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Student groups work on a assigned hotspot chain in this culminating assignment for a series of activities about hotspots and plate motions. Each group gets to study a seamount trail from around the world and presents their findings to...