Hey there! Today, we’re diving into the amazing world of the ocean with our friends Jessi, Squeaks, and some ocean experts. Let’s learn about the different parts of the ocean and the cool animals that live there!
The ocean is a huge part of our world, covering more than half of the Earth’s surface. It’s so deep that some parts never see sunlight! Scientists like Dr. Irene talk about the ocean in three zones, based on how far sunlight can reach.
The first zone is called the sunlight zone. It goes down about 200 meters, which is like stacking two football fields on top of each other! This zone is warm and full of life because sunlight helps plants grow. You can find dolphins, tuna, sea turtles, jellyfish, rays, seals, seaweed, corals, and sea anemones here. It’s a busy and exciting place!
Next is the twilight zone. It starts where the sunlight zone ends and goes down to 1000 meters. It’s darker here, and plants can’t grow because there’s not enough light. But you can still find animals like shrimp, hatchet fish, and swordfish swimming around.
The last zone is the midnight zone. It’s so deep that no sunlight can reach it, making it completely dark. The animals here are really special because they’ve adapted to live in the dark and handle the high pressure. You’ll find creatures like the anglerfish, which has its own light to attract prey, and the blobfish, which looks different because of the deep-sea pressure. There are also giant creatures like the giant squid!
Isn’t it amazing how animals survive in different parts of the ocean? Each zone has its own unique creatures that have adapted to the amount of light available. Thanks to Dr. Irene, Ned, and Wyatt, we learned so much about the ocean zones and the animals that live there!
Did you enjoy our ocean adventure? If you have any questions for Dr. Irene and her assistants, feel free to ask! You can leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next time for more fun learning!
Create Your Own Ocean Zones: Gather some blue construction paper, markers, and stickers. Draw three horizontal sections on the paper to represent the sunlight, twilight, and midnight zones. Use stickers or draw different sea creatures in each zone. Think about which animals belong in each zone based on what you’ve learned. Share your ocean zones with a friend or family member and explain why you placed each animal where you did.
Ocean Zone Exploration Walk: Take a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby park. Imagine that the ground is the ocean floor and the sky is the sunlight zone. Look for things that remind you of the ocean zones, like shadows (twilight zone) or dark spaces (midnight zone). Can you find any plants or animals that remind you of ocean creatures? Draw or write about your findings in a notebook.
Think and Share: Why do you think some animals can live in the dark midnight zone while others need sunlight? Discuss with a friend or family member how animals might adapt to their environment. What special features do they have that help them survive in their specific ocean zone?
