Curated OER
Where Did They Come From?
Give science learners nine questions about the biogeography of hydrothermal vents and turn them loose to research this fascinating habitat. Working in cooperative groups, they prepare a report that addresses each of the questions. A...
Scholastic
Study Jams! The Ocean Floor
Under the sea, the geography is as varied as it is on land! Young oceanographers find out about continental shelves, abyssal plains, seamounts, trenches, and mid-ocean ridges by viewing and reading the eight high-quality slides. Then...
Curated OER
Oceanography Worksheet #1
If you are teaching physical oceanography to middle school earth scientists, here is a terrific multiple choice instructional activity. Learners look at a diagram of a landscape created by glacial sediment deposition and the resulting...
Curated OER
Mid-Ocean Magnetism
Students investigate magnetic evidence that supports the theory of sea floor spreading.
Curated OER
Activity 3: Using Photo Images to Explore Life on the Ocean Floor
Students work in groups with copies of the three photo images provided with the instructional activity. They make observations about mussels and clams. Students discuss reasons scientists use a representative sample of a population...
Curated OER
Ecology And the Conservation of Natural Resources
Students study Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift and how the continents were connected in one large land mass called Pangaea. They examine plate tectonics and the theory that the earth's surface is composed of large moving...
University of California
Mid Ocean Ridge
An article from Scientific American details some recent discoveries about the ridge systems. "New maps reveal striking details of how segments of the Ridge form and evolve."
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Earth Science: Plate Tectonics I: Geologic Revolution
Instructional module focusing on the development of plate tectonic theory. Discussion includes the evidence of Pangaea, and the processes of seafloor topography and seafloor spreading. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and...
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Plate Tectonics and Mid Oceanic Ridges
Excellent graphics and understandable text about all aspects of plate tectonics including mid-ocean ridges.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: How to Build a Model Illustrating Sea Floor Spreading
This is a comprehensive website featuring how to build a model that illustrates sea-floor spreading and subduction. It has diagrams and pictures reviewing major geological concepts.
NOAA
Noaa: Explorations
This resource page contains an exhaustive list of pictures and videos of sea floor structures found all over the world.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Plate Tectonics
A short tutorial on plate tectonics. Includes a video, background reading, three questions, fast facts, and a vocabulary list. Discusses the publication of the Tharp-Heezen map of the seafloor in 1977 which paved the way for a much...
Other
Bscs: Content Background Earth's Changing Surface
This is written to support and further your content learning about the dynamic nature of Earth's surface. The goal is for you to develop a conceptual understanding of landforms so that you will be able to more effectively teach...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: New Millennium Observatory (Ne Mo) Education
This digital curriculum is an interactive deep-ocean mystery based on daily reports from expeditions at sea and results from NeMO and consists of four parts: Introduction and Background Information, Classroom activities, Movies and...
Other
Institute for Exploration: Dr. Bob Ballard
A biography of Dr. Bob Ballard written by the Institute for Exploration.
US Navy
Office of Naval Reasearch: Ocean Floor
A comprehensive site that provides information on the characteristics of the ocean floor, continental margin and rise, deep ocean basin, and the mid-ocean ridge. A quick quiz follows at the end of this site.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix: Bathymetric Evidence for Seafloor Spreading
[Free Registration/Login Required] A site where students can label the features of the ocean floor such as: mid-ocean ridge, rift, and more. Also on the site is a short quiz about the different topography of the ocean floor.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute: Dive and Discover: Expeditions to Sea Floor
Join Woods Hole scientists as they search for new volcanic eruptions on the ridge system in the eastern Pacific.
University of California
Ucmp: Plate Tectonics: The Mechanism
A basic description of the driving force behind plate movement. Describes major features of the ocean floor including mid-oceanic ridges.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: Mid Ocean Ridge O Logy Card
Flip over this interactive OLogy card to find fast facts, questions and answers, and similar bite-size pieces of information about the mid-ocean ridge.