The amazing animation for a video on continental drift is comprised of the pages of a sophisticated pop-up book, The Moving Earth. As the pages turn, your earth scientists discover the tectonic plates of the lithosphere and the molten material of the asthenosphere. Additionally, they learn how supercontinent Pangaea became the arrangement of continents we know today. It differentiates between continental and oceanic crusts, and describes the three types of plate boundaries. 

Concepts

continental drift, continents, plate boundaries, plate tectonics, the asthenosphere, the lithosphere, pangaea

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Additional Tags

continental drift, pangaea, supercontinent, plate tectonics, asthenosphere, lithosphere, plate boundaries, science

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Pros

• Links to a full National Geographic video about continental drift, as well as a supplemental article and website
• Suggests multiple choice and open-ended questions for comprehension assessment
• Supports Next Generation Science Standards for middle school earth science
• A unique and engaging style of animation
• Concise but complete content coverage

Cons

• Does not mention how new crust is formed at divergent boundaries, which could be a bit confusing

Common Core

RST.6-8.9