Eighteen activities for students to practice their math, geography, science, and language skills while learning about the world's oceans!
In a resolution adopted in 1994, the United Nations declared 1998 the Year of the Ocean. In accordance with the year's theme, "Our Common Heritage," the UN resolution noted that:
The purpose of adopting the resolution was to recognize the importance of Earth's oceans and their resources and to educate and encourage governments and individuals to accept responsibility for sustaining them. The following activities can help your students contribute to that effort.
Body of water | Square miles | Body of water | Square miles | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Andaman Sea | 218,100 | Indian Ocean | 28,400,000 | |
Arctic Ocean | 5,100,000 | Mediterranean Sea | 969,000 | |
Atlantic Ocean | 33,400,000 | North Sea | 165,000 | |
Baltic Sea | 147,000 | Pacific Ocean | 64,196,000 | |
Bering Sea | 873,000 | Persian Gulf | 88,800 | |
Caribbean Sea | 971,000 | Red Sea | 175,000 | |
East China Sea | 257,000 | Sea of Okhotsk | 537,000 | |
Gulf of California | 59,000 | Sea of Japan | 391,000 | |
Gulf of Mexico | 582,000 | South China Sea | 1,148,000 | |
Hudson Bay | 282,000 | Yellow Sea | 113,500 |
Runoff and other pollutants from land | 44 percent |
Airborne pollutants | 33 percent |
Water transportation | 12 percent |
Dumping of wastes in the ocean | 10 percent |
Offshore oil rigs | 1 percent |
Article by Linda Starr
Education World®
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Updated 01/09/2013