Biology Class
Plate Tectonics
A great reference to include in the classroom and on your class website, the presentation covers the following topics: Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, Pangea, layers of the earth and their properties, convection, plate...
Curated OER
Earth Materials - Geology and Plate Tectonics
Not going into depth on any one topic, this Earth science presentation skims the crust. It touches on the materials that construct the crust and then moves into plate tectonics. This is a useful and colorful note-taking guide for your...
Curated OER
Get the Drift?
The anticipatory set is clever: give groups five minutes to work on the puzzle and then discuss what strategies they used to match the few that connected. This introduces middle schoolers to the concept of continental drift. A portion of...
Curated OER
Moving Continents
In this moving continents worksheet, students review the different types of plate boundaries, what causes earthquakes, and where volcanoes are formed. This worksheet has 10 fill in the blank and 9 short answer questions.
Indiana University
Indiana University: Evolution of Continents and Oceans
A course lecture on how the Earth's geological features have evolved through the movements of tectonic plates. Explains the different types of plate boundaries and how they manifest in geological formations. Also describes the structure...
University of California
Ucmp: Wegener (1880 1930)
Complete biographical information with links to his theories. Contains links to interactives on plate tectonics.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: The Great Continental Drift Mystery
A unit on plate tectonics designed for middle school students, this page must be read carefully to find the activities to be done in the class, but it provides a wealth of background for the teacher as well.
Other
Hartao: An Introduction to Plate Tectonics
Introduces South African Alexander Toit as naming Gondwanaland and Laurasia.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Plate Tectonics: The Origin of Plate Tectonic Theory
Discover Alfred Wegner's ideas relating to continental drift and seafloor spreading which are both evidence to the concept of plate tectonics.
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Earth Science: Plate Tectonics I: Geologic Revolution
Instructional module focusing on the development of plate tectonic theory. Discussion includes the evidence of Pangaea, and the processes of seafloor topography and seafloor spreading. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and...
NASA
Nasa: Alfred Wegener
An excellent biography of Wegener that includes his breakthrough work and the storm of controversy it created. Finally, Alfred Wegener has gotten the praise and recognition he deserved.
![Iris: Gps Measuring Plate Motion [Pdf] Handout](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Iris: Gps Measuring Plate Motion [Pdf] Handout")
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Gps Measuring Plate Motion [Pdf]
This resource looks at how geologists are able to measure the movement of tectonic plates using satellite-based data and how they were able to surmise in the past that the plates were moving. It also discusses how to read GPS time-series...
NASA
Nasa: Magnetic Reversals and Moving Continents
This site gives a good overview of magnetic reversals. Discusses continental drift, ocean floor magnetism, and sea-floor spreading.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Continental Drift
A brief Wikipedia encyclopedia article on continental drift. It tells what continental drift is, what causes it, and gives examples of evidence that continental drift has occurred.
Other
Pangea: Alfred L. Wegener Biography
Two biographies of Wegener and his work including his theory on how raindrops form.
US Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey: Alfred Lothar Wegner
This site from the United States Geological Survey provides a description of the scientist and his accomplishments.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Wegener and the Continental Drift Hypothesis
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was refined.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Alfred Wegener
Find out about the life and work of Alfred Wegener, known for his achievements in meteorology and as a pioneer of polar research, and is most remembered as the originator of the theory of continental drift.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Continental Drift
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes Wegener's continental drift hypothesis and his evidence for it.
PBS
Pbs: Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker: You Try It
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.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: All About Plate Tectonics
Simple discussion of plate tectonics and Pangaea. Includes maps and interactives.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: About Antarctica: Plate Tectonics
Explanation of why Antarctica has fossils of ferns, amphibians, and reptiles. Gondwanaland is discussed and shown in an interactive map.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Wegener and the Continental Drift Hypothesis
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was refined.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Continental Drift
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes Wegener's continental drift hypothesis and his evidence for it.