Science Key Stage 4: Sc4 - Physical processes Key Skills:

Waves Seismic Waves (4n) that the Earth's outermost layer, the lithosphere, is composed of plates in relative motion, and that plate tectonic processes result in the formation, deformation and recycling of rocks.

Key Question:

The surface of planet Earth is composed of plates that are moving relative to each other. This movement results in the formation, deformation and recycling of rocks. How can the plate tectonic process be used to explain these events?

Websites:

Plate tectonics. http://www.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/science/ptech.html

The Earth's interior, continental drift, plate movement and the resulting volcanic and earthquake activity are all here.

Mountain makers, Earth shakers. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/# The Earth's surface is like the cracked shell of a hard boiled egg. Try the Shockwave tectonic activities.

The ABC's of Plate Tectonics. http://webspinners.com/dlblanc/tectonic/ptbasics.html#plates&boundaries A concise account of plate movement and the resulting geological changes.

The Earth's crust.

http://www.schoolsnet.com/cgi-bin/inetcgi/schoolsnet/lessons/lesson.jsp?OID=396195 An online lesson with interactive features covering the Earth's structure, tectonic plates, volcanoes and earthquakes.

Brain Pop - plate tectonics. http://www.brainpop.com/science/earth/platetectonics/index.weml A movie and quiz covering the basics of continental drift.

This Dynamic Earth - the story of plate tectonics. http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/dynamic.html This is one for those who want to know a lot more.