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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science: Earth Science: Theory of Plate Tectonics

For Students 4th - 5th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses what a tectonic plate is and how scientists can recognize its edges, how the plates move by convection in the mantle, the three types of plate boundaries...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Writing About Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson is a writing assignment focussed on the use of data to support the theory of plate tectonics. It includes a scoresheet that was created for a calibrated peer review assignment. The assignment directs learners to determine the...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: How Mountains Are Formed

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate how mountains are formed. Concepts include the composition and structure of the Earth's tectonic plates and tectonic plate boundaries, with an emphasis on plate convergence as it relates to mountain...
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Handout
Other

Moorland School: Earth Science Zone: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
PBS

A Science Odyssey: You Try It: Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Using your computer mouse you can simulate transforming, collisional, divergent and convergent plate boundaries. Descriptions of each plate boundary are also available.
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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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Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Plate Tectonics

For Students 1st - 6th
What are tectonic plates? Discover how tectonic plates move, the different types, and learn about their boundaries.
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Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Wegener (1880 1930)

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete biographical information with links to his theories. Contains links to interactives on plate tectonics.
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Interactive
South Carolina Educational Television

Know It All Media: Plate Tectonics: Plate Movements

For Students 3rd - 8th
Animated simulations showing the three types of plate movements: divergent, convergent, and lateral plate boundaries.
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Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earthquake Zones Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief overview of the earthquake zones.
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Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Ring of Fire

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students identify plate boundaries as well as continents, countries, and bodies of water to become familiar with an area known as the "Ring of Fire."
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Article
Other

Bscs: Content Background Earth's Changing Surface

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
This is written to support and further your content learning about the dynamic nature of Earth's surface. The goal is for you to develop a conceptual understanding of landforms so that you will be able to more effectively teach...
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Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Geology: Plate Tectonics

For Students 6th - 8th
Listen to this podcast which explains the basics of plate tectonics on Earth. [0:39]
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Website
PBS

Mountain Maker Earth Shaker

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource gives an introduction to the theory of plate tectonics. It also has animations of four types of plate boundary interactions (convergent, divergent, transforming, collisional).
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Handout
Other

Pangea: Alfred L. Wegener Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
Two biographies of Wegener and his work including his theory on how raindrops form.
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Handout
Center for Educational Technologies

Cotf: Plate Tectonics

For Students 3rd - 8th
Plate Tectonics provides geology with a comprehensive theory that explains how the Earth works.
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eBook
Libre Text

Libre Texts: Understanding Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Scientists have a fairly good understanding of how the plates of the Earth move and how such movements relate to earthquake activity. Most movement occurs along narrow zones between plates where the results of plate-tectonic forces are...
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Graphic
Curated OER

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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eBook
Other

Bc Open Textbooks: Physical Geology: Regional Metamorphism

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the regional metamorphic zones in Nova Scotia, Canada, and the geological processes that caused them to form. Regional metamorphism happens deep within the Earth's crust and eventually, the buried rocks are exposed, usually due...
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: What on Earth Is Plate Tectonics?

For Students 9th - 10th
An easy-to-understand explanation of what plate tectonics is. Contains information about the inner parts of the Earth, the difference between the three types of plates, and numerous maps and illustrations.
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Website
Other

Ocean Trenches

For Students 9th - 10th
A rather detailed explanation of how trenches form and why. No graphics, but some interesting explanations as well as links to other sites and extensive reference list.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Earth Science for Kids: Plate Tectonics

For Students 1st - 9th
This site helps students learn about the Earth science subject of plate tectonics including major and minor plates, convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries.