Seafloor Spreading and Subduction
Seafloor Spreading and Subduction
Seafloor Spreading and Subduction
Objective:
Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate that movement of the seafloor causes it to continually change.
2. Explain that seafloor movement is a cyclical process.
3. Understand the basic structure and composition of the seafloor.
4. Explain the relationship between seafloor age and position relative to a mid ocean
ridge.
Materials Needed:
● Teacher computer with internet access
● Projector/Smartboard
● 1 computer/laptop/iPad per student with internet access
● 4 student desks
● 12 feet of bulletin board paper
● Seafloor Structure handout (attached)
Teacher Preparation:
● Assign a Legends of Learning Instructional Quick Play playlist for the day(s) you will
be teaching the lesson.
○ Instructional - Middle School - Seafloor Spreading and Subduction
● Assign a Legends of Learning Content Review Quick Play playlist for the day(s) you
will be teaching the lesson.
○ Content Review - Middle School - Seafloor Spreading and Subduction
● Setup the Engage portion of the lesson before class arrives.
○ Cut the bulletin board paper into two 6 foot pieces
○ Line the four desks up in a row.
○ Place each sheet between the middle of the center two desks (example)
■ Have only a few inches of the paper showing when the class enters.
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7. Explain to students that this is a very slow process. Today they will be learning
about the structure of the seafloor and the cyclical nature of its creation.
Elaborate (5 minutes):
1. Explain to the students that the idea of seafloor spreading is a relatively new idea
and wasn’t discovered until the 1940’s.
2. Show students the video clip: Sea Floor Spreading with Bill Nye
3. Ask: What technologies did scientists use to discover seafloor spreading?
a. Sonar (depth sounder), core samples,
4. Ask: How high is the mid-ocean ridge compared to the rest of the ocean floor?
a. “Mountains” with deep caves and trenches. Extremely high peaks that were
once active volcanoes.
5. Ask: What types of scientists help discover seafloor spreading and did they discover
it during a science experiment?
a. Geologist. Discovered during the war.
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● Encourage students to play on their own at home in Legends of Learning:
Awakening for a student-driven experience including avatars, battling, and quests all
centered around topics they are covering in class.
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Seafloor Structure Name / Pd: ___________________________________
Directions: While playing the first game in Legends of Learning, fill in the diagram below.
1. Starting with the mid ocean ridge; explain how the formation and destruction of the seafloor is a cyclical
process.