Have you ever wondered what produces more oxygen than the Amazon rainforest and helps control the climate? Here’s a hint: it’s also where a lot of our food comes from, and scientists think it might be a source of clean energy in the future. The answer is the oceans!
Oceans cover about 97% of the Earth’s water and include five big ones: the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. But oceans are not just big and beautiful; they are super important for life on Earth. Let’s find out why!
Oceans produce more than half of the world’s oxygen and absorb a lot of carbon dioxide, which helps keep our air clean and breathable.
The ocean helps control the climate by moving heat from the equator to the poles. This helps keep weather patterns stable and the climate balanced.
Many people around the world work in jobs that depend on the ocean, like fishing and shipping. About 3 million people have jobs because of the ocean!
Did you know that some medicines come from the ocean? Scientists have found helpful chemicals in corals and sponges that can fight diseases.
Oceans provide a lot of food, not just seafood. Even some ingredients in peanut butter come from the ocean!
Oceans are important for moving goods around the world and for fun activities like fishing, whale watching, and diving.
Oceans are in trouble because of things like plastic pollution and ocean mining. But we can help! Recycling, especially plastic, is a great way to protect the oceans. Did you know that over 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year? That’s like dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute!
Plastic harms marine life and doesn’t break down easily. Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, can even get into the environment and cause more harm.
There’s a huge area of trash in the ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is twice the size of Texas! By recycling and using less plastic, we can help reduce this problem. If you live near the ocean, you can also help by picking up trash on the beach.
True or False: Oceans help to regulate weather patterns. (True)
What is something that we can recycle to help protect the ocean? (Plastic)
Fill in the blank: Oceans produce over 50% of the Earth’s ______. (Oxygen)
Great job! Oceans are a vital part of life on Earth, and we need to do all we can to protect them for the future. What are some ways you can help preserve our oceans?
Thanks for learning with us! Remember, every little action counts when it comes to protecting our oceans.
Ocean Observation Walk: Take a walk with a family member or friend and look for things that remind you of the ocean. It could be seashells, sand, or even a picture of the ocean. Discuss how these things are connected to the ocean and why they are important. Can you find any items that might harm the ocean if not disposed of properly, like plastic bottles? Talk about how you can help reduce ocean pollution.
Oxygen Experiment: Try a simple experiment to understand how oceans help produce oxygen. Fill a clear glass with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring to represent the ocean. Place a small plant or a leaf inside the glass. Put the glass in a sunny spot and observe it over a few days. Notice any bubbles forming on the plant or leaf. Discuss how plants in the ocean, like seaweed, help produce oxygen for us to breathe.
Plastic Patrol Challenge: With an adult’s help, go on a “plastic patrol” around your home or school. Look for plastic items that can be recycled. Make a list of these items and discuss how recycling them can help protect the ocean. Can you think of ways to use less plastic in your daily life? Share your ideas with your classmates or family.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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What is something that produces more oxygen than the forests in the Amazon and regulates the climate? Need a hint? Here’s two: this special something is also a source of much of the food we eat, and scientists believe it will be a source of clean energy sometime in the future. Ready to answer? The answer is oceans!
Today, we are going to take a deep dive into why oceans are so important.
So, why are oceans important? Around 97% of the Earth’s water is found in five interconnected oceans: Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern (or Antarctic). But oceans aren’t just huge and pretty to look at; they are so much more. Without the presence of oceans, we could not survive on Earth. Oceans are vital for our planet and for humans. Here are some ways our oceans are important and helpful:
**Air:** Oceans produce over half of the world’s oxygen and absorb 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. This helps the air stay healthy and breathable.
**Climate:** The ocean plays an important role in regulating the climate because it transports heat from the equator to the poles. This helps to regulate weather patterns, which in turn helps the climate.
**Employment:** Ocean-dependent businesses employ around 3 million people all over the world, meaning they rely on the ocean to maintain their jobs.
**Medicine:** Did you know that many medical products and medicines come from the sea and help people fight off diseases? Scientists have found chemicals in some corals and sponges that can help fight infectious bacteria.
**Food:** Oceans provide a lot of food for humans and other animals, not just seafood. Interestingly, the ingredient that makes peanut butter easier to spread comes from the ocean!
**Transportation:** Oceans are also important for transportation, especially for traded goods around the world, as well as recreation activities like fishing, whale watching, boating, and deep-sea diving.
We really do depend on the oceans for many necessary things, which means it is super important to keep our oceans healthy. When the oceans are not healthy, there are long-lasting impacts on our ecosystem. Right now, scientists agree that our oceans are in crisis. Man-made factors like plastic consumption and ocean mining can cause a lot of harm to the ocean and its ecosystem.
But never fear! There are things we can do to help stop behaviors that hurt our oceans. One of the best ways we can help is to recycle, especially plastic. Over 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year, which is like one garbage truck full of plastic being dumped into the ocean every minute for an entire year.
Plastic in the ocean creates a lot of problems; it is harmful to marine life and birds, does not break down for a long time, and tiny particles of plastic called microplastics can be absorbed into the Earth and cause harm to the environment.
Here’s an interesting fact: the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean, located halfway between Hawaii and California, and is twice the size of the state of Texas.
Making sure that the plastic you use ends up being recycled can help, as can limiting your plastic use. If you live near an ocean, you can also volunteer to collect trash and other litter along the beach. If we all work together, we can definitely make a change and protect our oceans.
Now that we have a better idea about why oceans are so important, let’s review:
**True or False:** Oceans help to regulate weather patterns. (True)
**What is something that we can recycle to help protect the ocean?** (Plastic)
**Fill in the blank:** Oceans produce over 50% of the Earth’s ______. (Oxygen)
Great job, friends! Oceans are a vital part of life on planet Earth, and because they are in crisis, we need to do all we can to help protect them for future generations. What are some ways that you can help to preserve and protect our oceans?
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learn.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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