Summary
Ahoy there! Did you know that the water in the world’s oceans is always on the move? That warm water from the tropics causes mild winters in Western Europe? And that temperature, density, and the Earth’s rotation all play a role? Well, Tim and Moby will give you the inside scoop on all this stuff--and more--in this BrainPOP movie on ocean currents. You’ll learn about surface currents, like the Gulf Stream, and gyres, the large, circular currents that exist in all the world’s oceans. You’ll also hear about the Coriolis Effect, the global conveyor belt, and the cool California Current. So don’t drift off--pay close attention to this movie!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Ocean Currents:
- What is one new thing you learned about ocean currents?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining ocean currents.
- Draw or give one example of your own.