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Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: How Earth's Surface Morphs

For Students 9th - 10th
Article reports on how the surface of the Earth changes over time. Includes a list of vocabulary words from the article.
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Website
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on finding the fossil evidence for lithospheric plate tectonics. Inquiry-based exploration of plate tectonics evidence includes fossil distribution, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
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Unknown Type
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Aaas: Project 2061: Topic: Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Create a science test that checks for student understanding in science, for common misconceptions, as well as for correct ideas. This is a list of key ideas related to Plate Tectonics. For each key...
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Interactive
Other

Paleoclimate Animation

For Students 9th - 10th
This animation allows you to see how the continent's climates changed as they drifted throughout history.
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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.
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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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Handout
Other

Hartao: An Introduction to Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Introduces South African Alexander Toit as naming Gondwanaland and Laurasia.
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Website
Other

Usgs: Geology in the Parks

For Students 9th - 10th
Details regarding the geology of national parks in the United States.
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PPT
Other

Geothermal Education Office

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource for geothermal energy education features a slide show with instructive graphics.
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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.
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Unit Plan
University of California

University of California: Understanding Earthquakes

For Students 3rd - 8th
This website is a resource for learning about earthquakes. Java animation at this site helps you visually understand the causes of earthquakes.
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Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: The San Andreas Fault

For Students 9th - 10th
A great overall site that tells us about the San Andreas fault, where it is and what kind of movements have occurred. It then goes on to talk about earthquakes in general and their occurrences along fault lines.
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Handout
NOAA

Noaa: National Ocean Service Education: Global Positioning Tutorial

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustrated tutorial explains the history and science of geodesy. Animations help students visualize how scientists measure and monitor the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points on its surface.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: You Don't Need a Seismograph to Study Earthquakes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Three part lesson plan will provide students with information about earthquakes and how to predict them using various Web sites. Activities include historical background on major earthquakes, investigating mechanical waves, and...
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Handout
US Geological Survey

Us Geological Survey: Ring of Fire & Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
A massive amount of information on the Ring of Fire and plate tectonics. There are links to graphics and text. The volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are discussed in detail by area.
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Interactive
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Activity at Plate Boundaries

For Students 9th - 10th
A simulation that demonstrates divergent plate boundaries and seafloor spreading. A focus is on evidence of the Earth's normal and reversed polarity over geologic time in the rock record.
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Windows only - Interact with the tectonic plates of the Earth and see how changing variables affects the plates.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Cambrian Period

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Cambrian Period that covers topics such as the Cambrian Explosion, Burgess Shale fauna, trilobites, fossil evidence, and climate and plate tectonics.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Ordovician Period

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Ordovician Period that covers topics such as reef ecosystems, Paleozoic Fauna, fossil evidence, and climate and plate tectonics.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Paleobiology: The Archaean Eon

For Students 9th - 10th
Journey into the past while reading this comprehensive overview of the Archaean Eon that covers topics such as early continents and oceans, first life on Earth, Earth's atmosphere, fossil evidence, and plate tectonics.
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Website
Virtual Museum of Canada

Virtual Museum of Canada: Mt. Logan: Canadian Titan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Mt. Logan in Canada's Yukon Territory is the tallest mountain in Canada and the second tallest in North America. Learn about the people who live around it, the history of mountaineering in the area, and the science - both geological and...
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Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Earth Science: Plate Tectonics Ii: Plate Boundaries and Forces

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on plate tectonics. Discussion includes plates, plate boundaries, and driving forces. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the topic.
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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.
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Unit Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Dynamic Planet

For Students 6th - 8th
Seven hands-on lessons module where students learn about our dynamic planet. These inquiry-based explorations investigate scientific models, earthquakes and seismic waves, Earth's interior, Earth movements, the lithosphere, plate...