Summary
Stunning microscope footage reveals the drifting world of plankton — the tiny organisms at the base of the ocean food web. Marine biologist Tierney Thys shows how these drifters feed nearly all ocean life and produce much of the oxygen we breathe.
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Ages 7+
TED-Ed lessons move quickly and use rich vocabulary — best for grades 5–6 (some grade 4 with support). No content concerns; preview once for pace.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Plankton are microscopic, but the whole ocean food web rests on them.
- What are plankton, and why are they called 'drifters'?
- How do plankton support bigger ocean animals?
- How can something so small produce so much of Earth's oxygen?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: plankton, food web, microscopic, oxygen.
Try it: Draw a simple ocean food web that starts with plankton and ends with a big animal.