Underwater Habitats

What is unique about underwater habitats?

Talk to your child about what kind of animals live in the water by asking questions like, “Where do fish live?” “What other types of animals live in water?” “What are the different bodies of water?” “Would you find a whale or a shark in a pond? Why? Why not?” As you watch the programs, observe the types of animals and other creatures that live in water. What different types of water habitats can you discover?

Key Vocabulary: Stream, Lake, Pond, River, Ocean

Watch this video to help you understand the different bodies of water.

Watch an episode of Wild Kratts.

Wild Kratts airs Monday - Friday on WITF TV at 7:30am and 12:30pm. You can also watch on WITFK 24/7 at 6pm and 6:30pm. The Wild Kratts episode you choose will help you explore animals and where they live.

Think about different types of underwater animals. They could be underwater animals from the programs you watched. Pick one animal and identify its habitat. Build a “portal” into the animal’s underwater habitat by cutting out the center of your paper plate. Design an underwater world with at least one animal and any other vegetation or details on your paper. Cut the ‘scene’ to fit the inside of plate and glue together.

Materials: paper plate, paper, glue, scissors.

Extension: Write a story about the animals that live in the underwater habitat you created.

• Make a Mangrove

• Ocean Guide

• Deep Sea Follow Me!

• The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer

• Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

• Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes

• Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner

Also check your local library! You can find a list on our main page of local library systems.

If you enjoyed this week's activities and resources, you could be a Marine Biologist. Marine Biologists are scientists who study life in the oceans and other saltwater environments.

• Explore these resources which include hands-on experiments related to Marine Biology.

• Check out this Career Connection.

Also check out our STEM Career Connections page for more ideas about STEM Careers!