Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: All About Plate Tectonics

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Simple discussion of plate tectonics and Pangaea. Includes maps and interactives.
Handout
Other

University of Wisconsin Green Bay: Faults and Earthquakes

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is primarily set up as an outline and is loaded with graphs, maps, and images. It covers a variety of earthquake-related topics, such as what causes earthquakes, fault lines and structures, seismology, a historical look at...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Hawaiian Islands: Volcano Ages, Hotspots and Plate Motion

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The ages of volcanic rocks are used to investigate speed of motion of the Pacific plate, to analyze the distinctive bend in the chain, and to consider the age data in the context of a hotspot model of formation.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Examples of Destructive Forces of Nature

For Students 4th - 8th
Discusses the destructive forces unleashed by volcanic eruptions, and the movement of water, wind, ice, and tectonic plates.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Examples of Constructive Forces of Nature

For Students 4th - 8th
Discusses the constructive forces resulting from volcanic eruptions and the movement of water, wind, ice, and tectonic plates.
Lesson Plan
Other

Usra: Lunar and Planetary Institute: Hot Spot Activity [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students will measure the distances between Hawaiian islands, and convert and graph their data to determine the speed of the Pacific Plate.
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Plate Tectonics: The Mechanism

For Students 9th - 10th
A basic description of the driving force behind plate movement. Describes major features of the ocean floor including mid-oceanic ridges.
Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Earth Science: The Rock Cycle: Uniformitarianism and Recycling

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on the rock cycle. Discussion includes the concept of uniformitarianism and how earth materials change from one form to another. The site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the...
Lesson Plan
Indiana University

Indiana University Bloomington: Foldable Fault Blocks [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson, students will create three-dimensional (3-D) blocks out of paper to learn about the types of faulting that occur at the Earth's surface and its interior. Students will manipulate three fault blocks to demonstrate a normal...
Graphic
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Savage Earth: Waves of Destruction, a Tsunami Animation

For Students 3rd - 8th
View a brief animation that explains the science behind a tsunami.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Faulty Movement

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In this activity, students are introduced to faults. They will learn about different kinds of faults and understand their relationship to earthquakes. The students will build cardboard models of the three different types of faults as...
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.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive activity adapted from A Science Odyssey Web site helps you visualize different types of plate tectonic activity and shows the impact this activity has on Earth's surface.
Handout
Indiana University

Indiana University Bloomington: Earthquakes in Indiana [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed brochure with lots of information about the earthquakes that occur in Indiana. Discusses plate tectonics, how fault zones developed in the Mississippi River Valley, faults in Indiana, earthquakes that affected Indiana in the...
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Alfred Wegener

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Other

University of Chicago: Dinosaur Extinction

For Students 9th - 10th
This theory from the University of Chicago of dinosaur extinction revolves around the concept of plate tectonics, the movement of the continents over a sort of liquid around the planet.
Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Mantle Convection and Earth's Features

For Students 6th - 8th
A resource to help understand that the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates is caused by convection. The plates' movements cause geologic features on the Earth's surface.
Handout
Columbia University

Columbia University: Evidence for Internal Earth Structure and Composition

For Students 9th - 10th
College-level research information describes how the movement of Earth's interior causes seismic wave activity.
Website
PBS

Continents on the Move

For Students 9th - 10th
Scientists believe that all the continents were once combined in one supercontinent. That means that the continents must be moving. Find out how scientists can measure the movement of whole continents!
Activity
Other

Paleomap Project

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Long Term Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes some factors that lead to long-term climate changes.
Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: The San Andreas Fault

For Students 9th - 10th
A great overall site that tells us about the San Andreas fault, where it is and what kind of movements have occurred. It then goes on to talk about earthquakes in general and their occurrences along fault lines.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Facts About the Cenozoic Era and Its Life Forms

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the different periods, epochs, and stages of the Cenozoic Era and the events that took place in them. Looks at geology and tectonic plate movements, climate, flora and fauna, and the emergence of mammals as the dominant life...