Curated OER
Explosive Ideas!
Learners explore the layers of the Earth and the dynamic changes that they cause on Earth's surface. Volcanoes and earthquakes become the focus of the lesson as the Oregon State quarter and its Crater Lake images are linked to the topic.
Curated OER
Earthquakes And Fault Lines
Students discuss major causes of earthquakes and identify famous fault lines, access and map information about ten largest earthquakes in world from 1989 to 1998, and theorize about location of these earthquakes as they relate to Earth's...
Curated OER
A Moving Experience
Pupils visit Time Machine's San Francisco Earthquake Era. They understand how the Earth's layers interact to cause changes in the Earth's surface. They review information about earthquakes and Earth's layers.
Curated OER
Continents and Oceans on the Move
Pupils create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics
Young scholars simulate the three types of plate boundaries using robots. In this earth science activity, students explain how earthquakes and volcanoes are formed. They collect real-world earthquake data and plot them on the map.
Curated OER
Earth's Plate Tectonics
Students identify the different layers of the Earth. In this earth science lesson, students create a model of the crusts and continents. They explain how plates movement cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
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.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Continental Drift: What's the Big Idea?
Students learn how the theory that explains the position of Earth's continents was established and later modified.
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.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Pangaea Pop Up
Michael Molina discusses the catalysts and consequences of continental drift. [4:25]
Science Struck
Science Struck: Theory of Plate Tectonics
A detailed discussion of plate tectonics. Looks at continental drift, types of tectonic plates and plate boundaries, and primary and secondary tectonic plates.
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...
Read Works
Read Works: Earth Science Pangaea
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Pangaea, the one continent that became the current seven continents. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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
Paleomap Project
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.
Other
Paleomap Project: Earth History
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.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: All About Plate Tectonics
Simple discussion of plate tectonics and Pangaea. Includes maps and interactives.
![Libre Text: Historical Perspective [Of Plate Tectonics] eBook](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/234103-98d4b1b1275bce5d294f078f4912dc14.jpg?1661815153 "Libre Text: Historical Perspective [Of Plate Tectonics] eBook")
Libre Text
Libre Text: Historical Perspective [Of Plate Tectonics]
Read here about the historical perspective of plate tectonics.
University of California
Ucmp: Wegener (1880 1930)
Complete biographical information with links to his theories. Contains links to interactives on plate tectonics.
Other
Rockhounding Arkansas: Your Fault, My Fault, and the New Madrid Fault
Text and diagrams regarding tectonic forces, the new Madrid Fault, and earthquakes.
Other
Nevada Seismological Laboratory: Plate Tectonics, the Cause of Earthquakes
This site contains an in-depth explanation of the causes of earthquakes as they relate to plate tectonics, and also has many nice and easy to read pictures, maps, and diagrams of plate tectonics and earthquakes.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: The Earth's Plates
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart introduces students to the theory of plate tectonics. Continental drift theory and Pangaea are also discussed.
Other
Pangea: Alfred L. Wegener Biography
Two biographies of Wegener and his work including his theory on how raindrops form.
University of California
Ucmp: Plate Tectonics
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.