EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT..."THE OCEAN"
The "Ocean" Facts
There are four oceans: Pacific (largest), Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic.
They are all connected into one enormous ocean that covers twice as
much of the Earth as does land surfaces. Many people use the terms
“sea” and “ocean” to mean the same thing. But scientists use the term
”sea” to define parts of an ocean that are nearest to land.
Seawater tastes salty because rain has washed the salt off of rocks
near rivers, streams and the ocean. The “salt” follows the currents
and ends up in the sea. Sea salt is the same salt that we use every day
to sprinkle on our foods.
Sand is made from tiny pieces of rocks, seashells and coral. Beaches
can be tan, yellow, black, pinkish-red/white, or green. The bottom of
the ocean is covered with rocks, sand and seaweed near the shore.
However, in the middle of the ocean the bottom is covered with red
clay. The depth does not allow the sunlight in, so it is dark and cold,
the plants are white and the fish have to “see” by smelling and touching. The fish in the deepest parts of the ocean have huge jaws and
strange appearances.
Some of the animals that live in the ocean have shells for shelter and
protection. Examples: scallop, clam, crab, lobster and snail.
There are many different fish, mammals and other animals that live in
the sea. Here is some information on just a few of them:
Fish (in general): Fish use their muscles, tails and fins to swim,
balance and change direction. Fish need oxygen to stay alive, so
they must breathe underwater. They use their gills to get the
oxygen. The fish let water enter through their mouths. The
water is pushed out through their gills. The gills absorb the
oxygen and it is carried by the bloodstream to all parts of the
fish. The fastest fish is the sailfish, which can swim about 65
mph.
Stingray: This is a flat, brown or grayish colored, diamond
shaped creature with a long tail. The tail has sharp spines that
are used to sting predators. They glide along the ocean shores
stirring up food for themselves and other sealife.
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Walrus: This sea mammal is approximately 14 ft. long, weighs up to
3 tons and has flippers. They use their ivory tusks to get mates, for
climbing onto ice, for protection, and to anchor themselves in the sand
while they dig for clams. A walrus can walk on all fours on land and move
as fast as people. They live in herds in the thousands.
Seal: This sea mammal has a silver-toned oily fur and layers of blubber
(fat). They can weigh about 4 tons. They are slow movers on land,
dragging their bodies around. They are often found laying in the sun in
huge groups. There are different types of seals (Sea Lions – ears outside their heads and True Seals – no outer ear).
Great White Shark: This large and powerful fish can weigh from 5,000
to over 7,000 lbs. It has rows of sharp, jagged teeth that are used to
get their prey. As the teeth wear down, they fall out and new sharp
teeth grow in. They live between 30 and 50 years.
Crab: This sea creature is covered in a hard shell and has five pairs
of jointed legs. Its first pair of legs have large claws. They use the
claws to attract mates, defend themselves, and get food. They range in
size from 1 in. to 12 ft. long.
Dolphins: This small-toothed whale is a mammal. They breathe through
a blowhole on top of their head. They have long narrow bodies, flippers
on their sides, and fins on their backs. They are very social animals and
many have been trained.
Seahorse: This sea creature has a head that looks like a
horse. It is about 5 in. long and uses its tail to hold onto
plants. It has a spiny coat for protection.
Jellyfish: Some types of this soft-bodied animal have
poisonous tentacles that sting their prey.
Octopus: This soft-bodied sea creature has eight large
tentacles with suckers. They use the suckers to stick to
rocks, catch food, and move along the ocean floor.
Early Childhood Thematic Books: Ocean Adventures
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© Teacher's Friend, a Scholastic Company