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Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Tectonic Plates and Plate Boundaries

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive activity adapted from NASA features world maps that identify different sections of the Earth's crust called tectonic plates. The locations of different types of plate boundaries are also identified, including convergent,...
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Activity
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Ciese: Musical Plates: A Study of Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity has students access USGS earthquake information to plot the their locations on a world map. Doing this will help students discover for themselves the boundaries of tectonic plates.
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Graphic
US Geological Survey

Usgs: Plate Tectonics, Hot Spots, and Ring of Fire: World Map

For Students 9th - 10th
A world map featuring active volcanoes, plate tectonics, hot spots, and ring of fire.
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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.
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Website
Extreme Science

Extreme Science: A Lesson in Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
With its clickable map, this site provides text and graphics on spreading boundary, converging boundary, subduction zone, transverse boundaries and faults.
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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.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: A Data Rich Exercise for Discovering Plate Boundary Processes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This article in the Journal of Geoscience Education describes a classroom exercise based on four world maps containing earthquake, volcano, topographical and seafloor age data. Students participate in this exercise by using a "jigsaw"...
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Interactive
PBS

Pbs: Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker: You Try It

For Students 9th - 10th
What can a hard-boiled egg tell you about the Earth? Check this site out to learn. Be sure to click on "Plate Tectonics activity" for a graphic representation.
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Graphic
University of California

Ucmp: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides hyperlinks to the history behind and the mechanisms driving plate tectonics. Be sure to click on the globe icons for animations of plate tectonics.
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Website
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Dynamic Earth: Plates and Boundaries

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive website where students can learn about movement of earth's 15 major tectonoic plates and identify types of boundaries. Includes glossary and learning game.
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Website
Other

The Geography Site

For Students 9th - 10th
The Geography Site offers many links for your geography research. Links offered are to physical geography, human geography, environment, online lessons, and much more.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Geo Net Internet Geography

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a detailed overview of all forms of geography. Learn about earthquakes, ecosystems, plate tectonics, rivers, national parks, and more.
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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,...
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Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: This Dynamic Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Research and explore past earthquake and volcanic activity on this interactive world map. User can manipulate which notable events and other map characteristics to view depending on the type of study being done.
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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.
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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.
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Activity
Other

Paleomap Project

For Students 9th - 10th
Virtual reality animation map showing continental drift from 200mya to the present. The animation map is small but effective in showing the positions of the land masses.
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: Pangaea O Logy Card

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the supercontinent known as Pangaea that broke apart into the continents that we know today. Answer questions when you finish reading.
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Article
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: The Andes Mountains

For Students 9th - 10th
Satellite photography and brief outline information describe the Andes mountains and provide links to specific features within the landscape - Atacama desert, or evidence of volcanic activity for example.