University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Web Weather for Kids: Thunderstorms & Tornadoes Make Convection Currents
Demonstrate convection currents using a clear box, red food coloring, ice cubes, colored pencils and index cards. Get all the directions you need for this simple lab.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Colored Water Convection
This PBS site allows users to learn more about water convection as they discover how to demonstrate the way convection currents form. A fun science project!
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Unanswered Questions
Discover how convection currents in the mantle are the driving force of continental drift. The reading also briefly addresses the scientists who laid the groundwork for this idea.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Convection Current
This lesson plan is a great way to show convection currents in water. Students will see what happens to water as it gets warmed.
BBC
Bbc News: Science and Environment: How Earthquakes Happen
This site uses a series of animations to give an overview of earthquake types and their causes. This colorful site is accompanied by brief descriptions. Additional animations of other natural disasters are featured on the right side of...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Pie Pan Convection
In this experiment, students observe what happens when a pan of soapy, colored water is heated. They will see that convection currents cause the fluid to rise and sink in a localized convection cell.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Atmospheric Processes: Convection
This site provides a pair of activities to demonstrate convection currents in air and water. Encourages students to view air as a fluid.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Examples of Convection
Gives lots of examples of convection and instructions for a simple experiment that looks at convection currents in a fluid.
Wolfram Research
Wolfram Science World: Hadley Circulation
The creation of wind systems by Hadley cells is explained at this site.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: What Makes Thunderstorms? See Convection
Using water, food coloring, and an ice cube, students observe the movement of convection currents in a container, and illustrate what they see happening. This activity develops their understanding of how thunderstorms form.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Exhibit Cross Reference: Convection Currents
A description of a museum exhibit that illustrates convection and convection currents. Great idea stimulus for a student project or lab investigation.
Other
Moorland School: Earth Science Zone: Plate Tectonics
A webpage explaining the main features of plate tectonics. Understand what evidence exists for plate tectonics and the theory of Pangea. Also learn about the different types of boundaries. The end of the webpage includes more links that...
Other
University of Delaware: Plate Tectonics
This site is a very simple overview of plate tectonics. It includes a map of all the major plates and a diagram of the layers of the earth.