Ocean

Ocean facts for kids:

  • 85% of the earth’s volcanic eruptions occur at the dark bottom of our oceans.
  • The southern ocean (around Antarctica) has, on average, the strongest winds and water currents on earth. This is because the water forms a circular current around Antarctica, where there are no land masses to get in the way or slow it down.
  • Saltwater freezes at 28.5 degrees, much colder than freshwater. Related curriculum: Fill one ice cube tray with saltwater, the other with freshwater. Stick them in the freezer, and check each one at half hour or one hour intervals to see the difference between freezing.
  • At 7 miles down under the ocean in the Mariana Trench, the water pressure is so great that it’s like having 50 jumbo jets stacked on top of you.

 

Did you know …

A type of sea creature called the green sea slug (Elysia Chlorotica) is shaped much like a leaf. But that’s not all. Scientists recently discovered that this species of animal can actually manufacture chlorophyll and capture energy from sunlight; something normally only plants can do. It may be the first known case of a plant/animal fusion…it’s both a plant and an animal at the same time! As zoologist John Zardus of the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina says: “that’s just cool.”

Related curriculum:

  • Group time discussion: Ask the kids: If you could mix with a plant, what type of hybrid would you be?
  • Art activity: Have the kids draw their own creations of plant/animal hybrids, using pictures from nature magazines as an inspiration.
  • Art/Fine motor: Go through a bunch of scrap magazines and cut out all the animals and plants you can find. Set the clippings out at a table along with glue & paper, scissors and crayons. Have the kids trim and cut apart the different animal and plant parts, then reassemble them by gluing them on their paper to create their own plant-animal hybrid. After they’re done, they can decorate the background with crayons, and you can add language to the activity by having them dictate a story about their creature when finished.