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.

Download the Word file for:

• introduction/background notes

• what you need

• what to do

• extension idea

• student handout.