Activity
Tectonic jigsaw puzzles
In this activity, students turn a map of the Earth into puzzle pieces to investigate tectonic plates.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
demonstrate how the tectonic plates covering the Earth fit together like puzzle pieces
locate New Zealand on their puzzle
offer a simple explanation about the relationship between tectonic plates and why New Zealand has so many earthquakes and volcanoes.
Tectonic plates, volcanoes and earthquakes
Far underneath the ground we walk on, the Earth is covered with tectonic plates. You can think of tectonic plates as puzzle pieces. Earthquakes and volcanoes often happen where the pieces meet.
Rights: © Copyright 2014. University of Waikato. All Rights Reserved
Download the Word file for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
extension idea
student handout.
Published: 18 August 2014
