Discovering Plate Boundaries is based on 5 world maps containing earthquake, volcano, topography, satellite gravity, and seafloor age data. The novel aspect of the exercise is the "jigsaw" manner in which student groups access the maps and use them to discover, classify, and describe plate boundary types. The exercise is based only on observation and description, which makes it useful at a wide variety ... Full description.

This website, from the 1998 PBS "Savage Earth" series, shows seismic waves from an earthquake that took place in Bolivia in 1994. The animation illustrates the way the earth's surface, core/mantle boundary and inner/outer core boundary reflect and deflect P- and S-waves. Full description.

This interactive map shows the major fault systems of the Quaternary for the State of California. It is subdivided into 1x2 degree sheets, each of which is linked to a more detailed map. Users can select a sheet and see an enlargement of the area. Individual fault systems are numbered and keyed to a legend which provides a link to a written synopsis of information for the fault, including fault type ... Full description.

This interactive map of the United states provides access to maps of Quaternary faults and folds by state or region (for example, the Gulf Coast). Clicking on the colored areas of the map links the user to state/regional maps and further, to 1x2 degree sheets for each area. On the sheets, users can find faults numbered and indexed to a legend. Links from the legend provide access to written information, ... Full description.

This page provides an introduction to plate tectonics for secondary students. Topics include plate motions, the layers of the Earth and oceanic versus continental plates. A set of links provides access to material on the processes of plate tectonics occuring at plate boundaries, zones of movement and instability. Full description.

This page discusses the three main forces (compression, tension, and shear) that drive deformation within the Earth. Students can click on an animation to see illustrations of each type. Links to a glossary are embedded in the text. Full description.

In this activity, students will learn why and how rock layers are folded and faulted and learn how to represent the structures in maps and cross sections. They will layer four colors of playdough to represent a horizontally layered rock mass with the oldest layer on the bottom. By pushing on the playdough block from two opposite sides, the students apply a compressive stress resulting in the folding ... Full description.

In this activity, students create paper models to represent simple faults and illustrate some of the landforms associated with faulting of the Earth's crust. To make the models more realistic, some of the fault scarps are cut by gullies and are eroded in ways indicative of an arid landscape. All of the paper models show displacement on the fault by the use of arrows and by the offset of a marker bed ... Full description.

In this lesson, students will learn to distinguish the different layers of the Earth, observe the effects of plate movements, and explore the reasons for earthquakes and volcanoes. They will label and measure the thicknesses of each layer of the Earth (lithosphere, asthenosphere, etc.) and record their results, construct models from sand and clay to illustrate what happens at the three types of plate ... Full description.

In this activity, students plot earthquake hypocenters along a cross-section in an attempt to create an image of a fault deep beneath the surface. The hypocenters they will be using come from the aftershock sequence of the magnitude 5.6 North Palm Springs earthquake that occurred in 1986. The students will learn that accurate positioning of earthquake hypocenters can produce a rough image of a fault, ... Full description.