We are excited to introduce a new addition to our geoscience selection of materials, Seafloor Spreading (6-9) Complete Set. The study of the seafloor spreading compliments our work on Map of the Ocean Floor Puzzle and Oceanic Landforms Puzzle. Our puzzle is accompanied by wooden labels to encourage learners to locate the different parts of the seafloor and its phenomena. And when it comes to studying a complex topic such as seafloor spreading, Montessori 3-part nomenclature cards make an ideal learning companion. Both our puzzle and nomenclature cards come with control charts. In this post, we offer a short description of the natural phenomenon that is seafloor spreading as it is an integral part of landform and water form creation and expansion.
Seafloor spreading introduces specialized vocabulary such as “rift valley,” “mid-ocean ridge,” and “oceanic crust.” Nomenclature cards can pair these terms with clear images or diagrams with red highlights, promoting active recall and reinforcing their meaning. Matching the cards together becomes a self-corrective activity, allowing learners to identify and correct their mistakes.
Materials
- Seafloor Spreading Puzzle
- Seafloor Spreading Nomenclature Cards (6-9)
- Seafloor Spreading Nomenclature Cards (3-6)
- Seafloor Spreading Puzzle with Nomenclature Cards (6-9)
- Seafloor Spreading Puzzle with Nomenclature Cards (3-6)
Related materials: Plate Tectonics Complete Set, Map of the Ocean Floor Puzzle, Oceanic Landforms Puzzle
Why is Seafloor Spreading Important?
Seafloor spreading is a process that creates a new ocean floor. It happens at places where two oceanic plates are moving apart from each other, called divergent boundaries. At these boundaries, there are cracks in the crust called rifts, where magma from the mantle rises up and cools down, forming a new crust. This new crust pushes the older crust away from the rift, making the ocean floor wider. This is how the Atlantic Ocean is getting bigger every year.
Seafloor spreading also causes the ocean floor to have different ages and magnetic properties. The youngest crust is near the rift, where it is still hot and thin. The oldest crust is far away from the rift, where it is cold and thick. The crust also records the changes in Earth’s magnetic field over time. Interestingly, when the magma solidifies, it aligns with the direction of the magnetic field at that time!
Seafloor spreading is part of the theory of plate tectonics, which explains how Earth’s surface is made of moving plates. Seafloor spreading is responsible for continental drift, which is the movement of continents over millions of years. For example, Africa and South America used to be connected, but they drifted apart because of seafloor spreading. Seafloor spreading also creates new oceans, like the Red Sea, which is a young ocean that is still growing. Seafloor spreading is a cyclical process because the oceanic crust eventually sinks back into the mantle at places where it meets another plate, called subduction zones. This recycles the crust and makes room for more seafloor spreading!
We hope the Seafloor Spreading Puzzle with Nomenclature Cards (6-9) will further children’s understanding of how the Earth is in constant motion, which affects other natural phenomena! For more Montessori materials, we recommend you regularly check out our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com.
