Ocean Basins

Lesson Plan:

  • Explain what is an ocean basin and how it forms.

  • Explain what are the 5 principle ocean basins.

  • Explain what the importance of ocean basins is.

  • Watch youtube videos explaining ocean basins. (2 videos)

  • Small worksheet explaining the layers of the ocean.

What is an ocean basin and how does it form?

Answer: These basins are bowl-shaped depressions in the earth's surface formed by geological forces, such as weathering, erosion, and plate tectonic activity (e.g., earthquake, volcano eruption). Some basins are filled with water. Among all basin types, oceans are the largest.

What are the 5 principle ocean basins?

Answer: The Arctic, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Pacific, and the Southern.

What is the importance of ocean basins?

Answer: Extensive mixing takes place across ocean basins, reducing differences between them and making the Earth's ocean a global system.

Worksheet: Ocean floor map labeling, this will be completed independently and once all students have completed the worksheet we will go over it as a class.

Worksheet Answer Key:

A. C Slope

B. C Rise

C. AP

D. MOR

E. SG

F. C Shelf

G. OT

Short Answer: Personal Answer