Curated OER
This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics
Discuss Earth's tectonic plates at middle school level with an informative presentation. Packed with maps, satellite images, diagrams, and photographs, the slideshow connects with any curriculum focused on plate tectonics. It...
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Devastation of Indian Quake
Students read an online article at CNNfyi.com to determine what happened in India after an earthquake. They determine the magnitude of this earthquake and address the issue of relief efforts from other countries.
Center for Math and Science Education
Plate Tectonic Globe
During your Earth systems unit, you could have junior geologists cut out and create a small globe depicting the tectonic plates. You may want to do this all together, step by step as a class because it would be easy to cut all of the...
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Mantle Motions
Students define vocabulary words associated with lithospheric plate motions. They create and write down a motion to act out each vocabulary word, and participate in a game of demonstrating the actions associated with each word.
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The Ocean Floor
Practice reading comprehension by approaching oceanography through 2 pages of informational text. The text compares the ocean floor to the Grand Canyon to gives students perspective, and gives a brief coverage of the earth's crust and...
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Using the New Zealand plate boundary models
Students examine the differences in the effects of the tectonic plates of New Zealand. In this tectonic plate lesson, students define and explain the process of subduction. Students recognize the difference in the movement of a...
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Puzzle of the Plates
Students research tectonic plates and their movement. In this plate lesson, students describe the motion of these plates and the boundaries between them. They look into the San Andreas Fault and explore the earthquakes associated to this...
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Why Earthquakes Occur
In this earthquake learning exercise, students learn about why earthquakes occur. After reading the information, they answer the 12 questions in the packet. The answers are on the last page.
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Forces That Shape the Earth: Plate Movement
In this tectonic plate learning exercise, students learn about the movement of the plates that make up the earth's crust. They read about the Theory of Pangaea, lithosphere, divergence, convergence, and plate transformation. Students...
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Mastering the Keyboard
Sixth graders view an animated program showing how the continents fit together millions of years ago. In groups, they compare and contrast the distribution of rocks and fossils based on how the continents fit together. After reading a...
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Continents on the Move
Students examine the tectonic plates of the Earth and how the landforms of Earth have changed position over time. In groups, they identify the evidence that the continents are still moving. To end the lesson, they practice measuring...
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Friendly Volcanoes
Students discuss the benefits of volcanic activity on marine life. They explain the process of tectonic plates.
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Under My Feet
Fifth graders investigate the layers of the Earth, origin of tectonic plates and what happens when plates collide. They watch a video and use clay to demonstrate the different types of plate movement.
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The Earth Moves Under My Feet
Students study earthquakes, monitor seismic activity using the Web, and plot real-time activity. They examine movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. They create an earthquake preparedness project.
Curated OER
Lesson 3: Where will your home be in a million years?
Learners access information about the motion (speed and direction) of the Earth's tectonic plates and make predictions.
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Lesson 2: Look for Patterns
Students compare map they created in Lesson 1 to map showing tectonic plates and look for a relationship.
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Plate Tectonics
Learners reinforce their knowledge of plate tectonics from what they have already learned on the subject. In this science lesson plan, students watch a small clip from the movie "Ice Age" which engages the learners to participate...
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Whole Lotta Shakin Going On
Students study how tectonic plates can produce earthquakes. In this earthquake lesson plan students use a model earthquake machine to explore hypotheses about earthquakes.
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Plate Tectonics
Students recognize three basic types of tectonic plate boundaries and explain what happens to each one. In plate tectonics lesson students draw and label a cross-sectional diagram of the Earth.
Curated OER
Journey Through Earth
Students study plate tectonics. In this plate tectonics activity students build a cutaway scale model of the Earth.
Curated OER
A Hydrothermal Adventure
Pupils analyze hydrothermal vents. In this hydrothermal vents lesson, students discover the effects of hydrothermal vents on tectonic plates. Pupils make model hydrothermal vents to understand how they form and operate.
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Continents Adrift
Students examine how tectonic plates change the Earth's land. In this geology lesson, students are divided into small groups to construct a continent puzzle. Students use transparency pieces to demonstrate how Africa and South America...
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Plate Tectonics
Students complete a data sheet. In this Earth composition lesson, students learn what happens when the Earth's plates push against each other. They watch a teacher demonstration and complete a data sheet.
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It's Not Your Fault
Students determine how to measure the movement of the plates along the San Andreas Fault. Students calculate the movement of tectonic plates over a period of time and describe the processes involved in the occurrence of earthquakes along...