The tectonic processes that have resulted in the formation of the Marianas Arc, and the Marianas Trench are explored. Groups of pupils access websites that give them a wealth of information about these formations. Each group must prepare...

The deepest part of the ocean is the Marianas trench where two tectonic plates meet. Scholars explore plate tectonics and their boundary types by completing hands-on activities throughout the instructional activity. Specific areas, such...

Sink into an interactive learning experience about subduction zones! Junior oceanographers examine the earth-shaking and earth-making effects of subduction in the fourth installment in a 13-part series. Hands-on activities include...

Middle schoolers research Everglades National Park, Three Gorges Dam, Hoover Dam, Roaring 40s, and Mariana Trench. After reviewing the sites, they choose one to illustrate a postcard with an image on one side and a description of the...

Students identify ocean features and draw a profile using data points on a map. Through discussion and research, they discover the importance of oceanography and plot a profile of the ocean floor in search for a vessel full of precious...

Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities, and describe sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the...

Learners examine the process of tectonic plates and why the Mariana Arc is active with volcanoes. They create a model of the Mariana Arc out of clay.

Our oceans are composed of many complex relationships. Young oceanographers explore relationships between organisms, understand the world ocean's currents, and discover the effects of water pollution and how it behaves. There are...

Practice reading comprehension by approaching oceanography through 2 pages of informational text. The text compares the ocean floor to the Grand Canyon to gives students perspective, and gives a brief coverage of the earth's crust and...

Students elicit data on the water cycle, ocean topography, and island formation in this six lesson unit. The ocean floor and the properties of water are examined through a variety of discussions and hands-on experiments.

Students explore current events by reading about a trip to the bottom of the ocean. In this modern day explorer lesson plan, students read about Virgin CEO Richard Branson and his adventure to the bottom of the ocean. Students complete...

Students explore oceans, and demonstrate reading comprehension skills, including reading strategies, inference, literal meaning, and critical analysis.

In this earth science quiz worksheet, students respond to 20 short answer and true or false questions regarding earth science topics.

Learners discuss the benefits of volcanic activity on marine life. They explain the process of tectonic plates.

Students compare and contrast submarine volcanoes at convergent and divergent plate boundaries, infer kinds of living organisms that may be found around hydrothermal vents, and describe ways in which scientists may prepare to explore...

Comprehensive information about deep-ocean trenches. Includes maps, a video [1:29], and a vocabulary list.

Detailed information about oceanic trenches, their structure, and how they are formed. Discusses the twenty trenches that exist around the world. Includes several labeled illustrations.

The National Geophysical Data Center has transformed extensive ocean research into colorful video, 3D maps, charts posters and more! This site starts off with a film clip of a dive into the Marianas trench and then lead you to other...

Around 72 percent of the Earth's surface is found under the oceans. It has always been contributing to the dynamically changing face of the Earth through the tectonic phenomenon occurring at its depths. Such a naturally occurring...

Wikipedia provides brief information on oceanic trenches, and has a hyperlinked list of major world trenches.

Detailed website that was a companion to a 1995 traveling exhibit of the Smithsonian. Links to lesson plans and other educational materials are at the bottom of the page. Enter the exhibition to explore the world of the ocean.

A short description of the world's deepest ocean trench. Includes diagram and map.

The aphotic zone of the ocean receives less than one percent of sunlight penetration. It extends from between 200 to 1,000 m, or 660 to 3,300 ft, down to the seafloor. Learn about the characteristics of this zone and the adaptations the...

Students learn about James Cameron's Challenger Deep dive and about the marine animals that live in different layers of the ocean. They then study the characteristics of the hadalpelagic zone at the bottom of the ocean, and imagine and...