Interaction Between Tectonic Plates

The relative movement of adjacent tectonic plates can be categorized as either a divergent, convergent or transform boundary. In this activity, students will create a storyboard to illustrate the different types of interactions between tectonic plates. Students should be encouraged to provide examples of each type of interaction.

At a divergent boundary, the plates move apart from each other. This is also know as a constructive boundary because new lithosphere is made. At a convergent boundary, the plates move closer together. When the boundary is between a continental plate and oceanic plate or between two oceanic plates, the denser oceanic plate will travel underneath the less dense plate. This is called subduction. At a transform plate boundary, the plates don’t move closer together or further away, but move past each other.

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows the different types of interactions that can occur when two tectonic plates meet.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. In each cell, use shapes to describe the three types of interactions that can occur at a boundary between two tectonic plates.
3. Add a title to identify each of the interactions.
4. Describe the interaction underneath each cell.