Students will explain how and why ocean currents vary with increasing latitude. Join natalie, anna, and calvin as they get to the bottom of this mystery. The first ducks arrived on beaches near sitka in alaska in. Also a great idea for moms and teachers who would like to treat their students with something on march 2, read across america day. Coastal and sea floor features influence their location, direction, and speed. Since that fabled day in 1992 when they were unceremoniously abandoned at sea, the yellow ducks have. Students should be taking no tes as they watch the video. Aug 16, 2016 a powerpoint primer of accumulated information on how 28,000 rubber ducks and 5 million lego pieces provide us with information on ocean currents and circulation systems. Along the way, they learn some cool new things about surface ocean currents, the great lakes, and ocean research. In 1992, a cargo ship container tumbled into the north pacific, dumping 28,000 rubber ducks and other bath toys that were headed from china to the u. Ocean currents national oceanic and atmospheric administration. Also a great idea for moms and teachers who would like to treat their students with something on march 2. In this water currents instructional activity, students practice identifying latitude and longitude coordinates on a map and define the currents of major oceans.
Mar 29, 2011 in 1992, a cargo ship container tumbled into the north pacific, dumping 28,000 rubber ducks and other bath toys that were headed from china to the u. Scientists have been tracking the toys movements for information about the great ocean currents, which affect the planets. Blue planet ii reveals how 28,000 rubber ducks lost at sea 25. But hundreds more would have been swept up thru bering straight and so far north they would be frozen. The armada of 29000 plastic yellow ducks, blue turtles and green frogs. Review scientific method, particularly making observations, showing results graphically, and interpreting patterns in data. Learn the names of major ocean currents, where and in what directions they flow. I start off by giving them a brief paragraph to proofread pulls in some ela. On a stormy january night in 1992, out in the pacific ocean, 29,000 plastic yellow ducks, blue turtles and green frogs fell from a cargo ship and were lost at sea. Rubber ducks and ocean currents friendly floatees by. These ducks traveled thousands of miles on ocean currents, providing new information about these. Detail shapes, coastline options and connections with other voltages impact a currents.
Rubber duckies and ocean currents lesson plan for 4th. Today that flotilla of plastic ducks are being hailed for revolutionizing our understanding of ocean currents, as well as for teaching us a thing or two about plastic pollution in the process. Got a kid whod rather play in the mud than take a bath. But forget those other toys, we focus on the 7,200 rubber ducks. What do nike shoes, rubber ducks, and hockey gloves have to do with currents.
Rubber duckies, ocean currents, by craig gingerich on prezi. Each year when studying the ocean currents i pull out the rubber ducky phenomena. Due to our information on the lost containers we will use the north pacific ocean. Winds, water density, and tides all drive ocean currents. Thousands of rubber ducks to land on british shores after 15. The friendly floatees are still washing up to this day and have been the feature of a book chronicling their journey entitled moby duck. Pushed by winds and currents the ducks were carried to alaska where thousands washed ashore. Ebbesmeyer studied the movements of a consignment of 29,000 friendly floateesyellow ducks, red beavers, blue turtles and green frogswhich were washed into the. Ocean currents motion in the ocean lesson plan ocean currents lesson plan motion in the ocean theme ocean currents and waves links to overview essays and resources needed for student. Differences in water density, resulting from the variability of water temperature thermo and salinity haline, also cause ocean currents. Map skills, ocean currents, pollution, and a rubber duck. Rubber ducks helped scientists chart the ocean currents.
Rubber ducky youre the one ocean currents investigation. This unit introduces students to forces that force ocean currents, and allows students to explore what thermohaline and winddriven currents in the ocean look like and why. In this activity, students read an article about the great ducky spill of 1992, when a shipping crate containing 28,000 plastic bath toys was lost at sea when it fell overboard on its way from hong kong to the united states. Currents overview lesson 8 presents the mechanisms that drive surface and deep ocean currents. I bought these rubber duckies along with the stovepipe hat ones. Thousands of rubber ducks to land on british shores after 15 year. Other articles or stories that introduce this event would also be appropriate. This module, intended for grades 35, includes a storybook and three classroom activities. They were recently brought back to attention in the last few years with the release of donovan hohns book mobyduck. Ocean currents transport important quantities, such as nutrients, heat and pollutants around the world, often with direct consequence to humans. Scientists make use of rubber ducks to understand ocean currents.
A shipping container filled with rubber duckies was lost at sea in 1992, and the bath toys are still washing ashore today. These toy frogs and rubber ducks were originally part of a same 1992 shipment, sailing the pacific ocean to north america, when ever laurel, the cargo ship carrying them, hit the storm. The toys have helped researchers to chart the great ocean currents. Follow the rubber duck to see how plastic travels the sea. What can rubber ducks and lego tell us about the oceans.
Where winds blow in the same direction for a long period of time, currents will develop that transport large masses of water over considerable distances across ocean surfaces. The journal of marine education, v14 n3 p3540 1997. Somewhere in the middle of the pacific ocean nearly 29,000 first years bath toys, including bright yellow rubber ducks, are spilled from a cargo ship in the pacific ocean. Get two months of skillshare premium for 99 cents by being one of the first 1,000 people to sign up at get a half as interesting tshirt. A great addition to units on ocean currents, sustainability, or transportation. This rubber duckies and ocean currents lesson plan is suitable for 4th 5th grade. The process of global ocean circulation is presented, emphasizing the importance of this process for climate regulation. Rubber ducks helped scientists chart the ocean currents marion mccool october 19, 2015 decades after the cargo ship lost a load or rubber ducks, scientists continue to. Ebbesmeyer studied the movements of a consignment of 29,000 friendly floateesyellow ducks, red beavers, blue turtles and green frogswhich. In 1992, approximately 29000 rubber duckies fell off a cargo ship in the middle of the pacific ocean. When thousands of rubber ducks were accidentally dumped into the ocean.
In the activity, students play a game focused on the primary surface current names and locations. Mar 10, 2019 its pretty cool that rubber ducks have helped to track ocean currents in the last thirty years. A powerpoint primer of accumulated information on how 28,000 rubber ducks and 5 million lego pieces provide us with information on ocean currents and circulation systems. Rubber duckies and ocean currents scientist in residence program. That time 28,000 rubber duck toys spilled into the ocean. In cold regions, such as the north atlantic ocean, ocean water loses heat to the atmosphere and becomes cold and dense. A shipping container filled with rubber duckies was lost at sea in 1992, and the. Surface waters of the earths oceans are forced to move, primarily by winds. Students will explain the cause of the coriolis effect, and how this effect influences ocean currents. Blue planet ii reveals how 28,000 rubber ducks lost at sea. Students will now make a flap book describing what ocean currents are in the first section, surface currents in the second, and deep water currents in. Srp marine pollution lesson 5 scientist in residence. Be sure students understand the relationship between winds, ocean waves, and currents.
In this ocean currents worksheet, students will use maps of the atlantic ocean currents and the pacific ocean currents to complete 6 short answer questions. These ducks traveled thousands of miles on ocean currents. Website offers free educational games, projects and. When thousands of rubber ducks were accidentally dumped into. Lead a discussion of students answers to worksheet questions. In her book, bunting describes how thousands of bath toys, washed overboard, found their way to coastlines around the world. This worksheet has 23 earth science regents questions about ocean currents.
Detail shapes, coastline options and connections with other voltages. My students absolutely love this activity and it may be the way i present it, but really it grabs their attention regardless. Include any articles and pictures from newspapers, magazines and web sites about currents, tsunamis, ocean research and discoveries and marine organisms. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for ocean currents. My students absolutely love this activity and it may be the way i. A cool interactive site can show you a path, using the help of a rubber duck to navigate. Rubber duckies and ocean currents lesson plan for 4th 5th.
Scientists make use of rubber ducks to understand ocean. Yet it comes out of a new book on ocean currents by oceanographer curtis ebbesmeyer and journalist eric scigliano. Friendly floatees are plastic bath toys marketed by the first years, inc. Their movements helped pinpoint ocean currents in the pacific as well as how long it took water to circulate around the globe. I will use them as party favors for a librarians retirement party. Have students begin watching ocean currents internet video lesson, 10 minutes. To learn more about the effect of currents in the ocean, students complete the rubber ducky activity. Students will identify the primary causes for ocean currents and waves. Rubber duck ocean currents ocean current, differentiation, rubber duck, ducks, lost. Mar 01, 2011 what can 28,000 rubber duckies lost at sea teach us about our oceans. What happened to them is the subject of donovan hohns book mobyduck. Upon completion of video, students should begin to answer questions provided on the ocean currents worksheet. We will use the floating items from the lost containers to improve our understanding of winds and currents in the north pacific.
Dec 01, 2012 this video explains in detail the phenomenon of ocean currents and their role in nature. Friendly floatees are plastic rubber ducks marketed by the first years, and made famous by the work of curtis ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer who models ocean currents on the basis of flotsam movements. Earths rotation results in the coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents. How 29,000 lost rubber ducks helped map the worlds oceans. Mar 23, 2015 friendly floatees are plastic bath toys marketed by the first years, inc. Today that flotilla of plastic ducks are being hailed for revolutionizing our understanding of ocean currents, as well as for teaching us a thing or two about plastic pollution in the process, according to the independent. Rubber ducks helped scientists chart the ocean currents marion mccool october 19, 2015 decades after the cargo ship lost a load or rubber ducks, scientists continue to gather information about. It sounds unlikely, but an armada of rubber ducks, turtles and frogs has altered scientists understanding of the path of ocean currents.
Similar to a person trying to walk in a straight line across a spinning merrygoround, winds and ocean waters get deflected from a straight line path as they travel. Mark the location of a 1992 cargo ship spill of rubber ducks. Next time you want to remind your kid that baths arent scary, print off this coloring page that features a smiling rubber duck and a tub full of bubbles. In the recently published book moby duck, the american. Rubber ducks and ocean currents friendly floatees by owl maps. By using a series of examples we will build up a clear explanation. These rubber ducks are just like the gmg rubber duck. Students explore marine life by conducting a rubber duck experiment. This video explains in detail the phenomenon of ocean currents and their role in nature. These toy frogs and rubber ducks were originally part of a same 1992 shipment, sailing the pacific ocean to north america, when ever laurel, the cargo. In 1992, approximately 29000 rubber duckies fell off a. Oct 09, 20 on a stormy january night in 1992, out in the pacific ocean, 29,000 plastic yellow ducks, blue turtles and green frogs fell from a cargo ship and were lost at sea. Nov 21, 2017 this new map illustrates how the ducks went on to rule the high seas.
This short nonfiction text will not only teach students about the ocean, but it also includes questions to help students identify the authors point of view and purpose for writing the text by focusing on important vocabulary words that support the main idea. Worksheet the ocean this short nonfiction text will not only teach students about the ocean, but it also includes questions to help students identify the authors point of view and purpose for writing the text by focusing on important vocabulary words that support the main idea. But on this friday night the cargo was 7,200 cartons of bath toys containing a green frog, a blue turtle, a red beaver, and, wait for it, a rubber duck this makes 28,800 floating bath toys. This is the key to the bill nye ocean currents worksheet, and includes the answers and. Young scholars explore marine life by conducting a rubber duck experiment. Rubber ducks and ocean currents friendly floatees by owl. It delves into the tale of these rubber ducks lost in ocean currents but also explains how they were able to travel around the world and the role they played in helping. If you have not heard of it, watch this quick video. How rubber ducks reveal the ocean currents port technology. Thousands of rubber ducks to land on british shores after. What can 28,000 rubber duckies lost at sea teach us about. Mapping ocean currents national geographic society. What can 28,000 rubber duckies lost at sea teach us about our.
Using latitude and longitude coordinates, the students plot the journey of the ducks as they ride ocean currents in the north pacific. Also includes infographics on the great pacific garbage patch. Nike athletic shoes, rubber duckies and ocean currents. There is another book about the incident that is not as focused on the. Ocean current worksheet temperature affects and surface currents. Jul 31, 2003 pushed by winds and currents the ducks were carried to alaska where thousands washed ashore. Ocean current is a ongoing, instructed activity of sea water produced by the causes performing upon this mean circulation, such as splitting waves, wind, coriolis impact, cabbeling, heat range and salinity variations and tides brought on by the gravitational take of the moon and the sun. Effect of ocean currents on climate, identifying ocean currents from map esrt p4, prevailing winds and ocean currents, movement of fukushima radiation by ocean. This new map illustrates how the ducks went on to rule the high seas.
This activity pairs well with the book ducky by eve bunting. Tell students that in this location, in 1992, a cargo ship full of bath toys spilled nearly 92,000 rubber ducks into the pacific ocean. Sep 18, 20 a cool interactive site can show you a path, using the help of a rubber duck to navigate. Currents rubber ducks helped scientists chart the ocean.
Students will calculate the magnitude of ocean currents, given data from. Ocean current worksheet temperature affects and surface. This lesson introduces students to a reallife eventthe loss of ocean cargo that included rubber ducksthrough a childrens book, 10 little rubber ducks. Its pretty cool that rubber ducks have helped to track ocean currents in the last thirty years. Mar 15, 2018 get two months of skillshare premium for 99 cents by being one of the first 1,000 people to sign up at get a half as interesting tshirt. This rubber duck coloring page is a surefire way to make bath time fun. Rubber duckies and ocean currents for teachers 4th 5th. What can 28,000 rubber duckies lost at sea teach us about our oceans.