Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Subduction Zone Earthquakes
For this lesson, students manipulate a model, consisting of templates on a piece of paper and an overlaying transparency, in order to explore the characteristics of subduction zone earthquakes. In the process, they develop an...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Serpentinite in Subduction Zones: How Do We Find It, and How Common Is It?
An advanced instructional activity in the study of serpentinites in subduction zones. Students will need a good understanding of mineralogy. of how to read phase diagrams and 2D images of the seismological features of subduction zones.
Extreme Science
Extreme Science: A Lesson in Plate Tectonics
With its clickable map, this site provides text and graphics on spreading boundary, converging boundary, subduction zone, transverse boundaries and faults.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix: Volcano Map: Oceanic Oceanic Convergent Plate Boundaries
[Free Registration/Login Required] Get an inside look of a subduction zone with the animation on this page. Page includes a interactive animation and a short quiz.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Earthquake Faultline Earthquake Activities
This outstanding website provides an excellent variety of hands-on earthquake activities to help you understand what causes earthquakes.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Encyclopedia: Ocean Trench
Comprehensive information about deep-ocean trenches. Includes maps, a video [1:29], and a vocabulary list.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Explore Nature: Views: Volcanism: Embark on a Journey
A journey into the depths of a volcano teaches students about volcanic rocks, eruptions, features, and locations. Also find out how volcanologists monitor activity and conduct scientific research on eruptions.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Interactives: Dynamic Earth: Slip, Slide, & Collide
Looking for more information about plate tectonics and what happens at plate boundaries? This site gives definitions of all plate boundaries as well as animations to help visualize what is happening.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Mountains Are Formed
Students 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 formation....
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Geology: Deep Sea Trench
Detailed information about oceanic trenches, their structure, and how they are formed. Discusses the twenty trenches that exist around the world. Includes several labeled illustrations.
Other
Bscs: Content Background Earth's Changing Surface
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...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Writing About Plate Tectonics
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 students to determine the...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Glossary: Our Solar System & Earth
A glossary of terms about the solar system and earth. Use this glossary to define like continental drift, core, subduction zones, and the sun.
Other
San Andreas fault.org: Tectonics
Provides a good overview of plate tectonics with embedded links to related information.
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Volcanic Activity
A resource to help understand how volcanoes work and how the can affect their surroundings.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Savage Earth: Waves of Destruction, a Tsunami Animation
View a brief animation that explains the science behind a tsunami.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science: Earth Science: Theory of Plate Tectonics
[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...
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
Ceri: Earthquake Facts and Follies
A list of frequently asked questions about earthquakes. This is a good source for earthquake trivia and separating fact from fiction.
Curated OER
Extreme Science: A Lesson in Plate Tectonics
With its clickable map, this site provides text and graphics on spreading boundary, converging boundary, subduction zone, transverse boundaries and faults.