Other Quests
Volcanoes
Earthquakes

Publication Tutorials
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Teacher Resources

Aerial view of large slides north of Fort Funston, follwoing the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake[S.D. Ellen, U.S. Geological Survey]

Question
As an employee of the California Geological Survey, you are to answer the question: I'm a sixth/ninth grade student and I hear the earth is moving. What is plate tectonics? What is the chance of my town or city becoming part of the sea?

Task

1. Research the question by viewing the links provided below:

2. Write two or three paragraphs summarizing what you found out about the danger of volcanoes to Californians. Use some of the pictures provided in the links below.

3. Now create a brochure , PowerPoint, or website to present the dangers of volcanoes to California

Links

BrainPop Movie- Select Plate Tectonics from the pull-down menu for a basic introduction

Earth Science Hotlinks

GPS Network Plate Tectonics page

PBS You Try It page- Investigate different aspects of plate tectonics theory

Plates of the World

Plate tectonics animations- Graphical presentations of how the earth has moved in geologic time

Smithsonian Natural HIstory Museum Plate Tectonics Gallery- Tour the Plate Tectonics Museum virtually

PL GPS Plate Tectonics

Global Velocities- JPL page showing movement as determined by GPS. See Musical Plates on how to use this data.

NASA Kids Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics, the cause of earthquakes- This page explains plate tectonics and gives measurements on how fast the plates are moving in North America

Plate Tectonics & Continental Drift

USGS This Dynamic Planet- The last map page can be difficult to download, but the other pages are helpful

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For questions, comments, and corrections, e-mail Bruce.