The ocean covers about 70% of the earth's surface and contains 97% of the world's water. With a wide variety of habitats - coral reefs, tide pools, kelp forests, sandy bottoms, the deep sea - the ocean is home to almost 50% of the world's species. Humans use the ocean for food, travel, and recreation. Yet so much more is to be discovered. Dive into learning about the ocean as you and your students explore this month's Land, Sea, & Air.

Use the activities below to introduce students to the properties of water. Older students can begin to explore a few aspects of the ocean such as food chains, currents, and sound mapping.

Students in grades K-3 will explore the properties of frozen water with Ice Power. Kindergarten through third grade students will understand how humans use the ocean and how our daily activities can have an impact on the ocean with The Ocean & You.

Students in grades 4-8 will learn how ocean pollution affects the entire food chain with Bioaccumulation Relay. Explore how researchers map the ocean floor using sound with Mapping the Ocean. Fourth through eighth grade students can explore how ocean waters travel around world with Ocean Currents Around the World. Students in grades 4-8 will locate the world's oceans with Oceans all Over.

Which ocean is where? How do they all connect? Which are tropical and which are cold? Find out the answers to these questions and more using The Ocean PowerPoint presentation in your classroom.

Learn about animals that live in the icy polar seas such as polar bears, beluga whales, and penguins. Explore animals that live all over the world such as killer whales and bottlenose dolphins. Choose from the list of info books by using the link immediately below.

Use our online Fun Guides to explore various ocean habitats including Key West, Shamu's Underwater World, and Wild Arctic.

Each year in September, hundreds of thousands of clean-up volunteers converge on every major body of water throughout the world. This cleanup engages people of all ages to remove trash and debris from the world's beaches and inland waterways, to identify the sources of debris, and to change behaviors that negatively impact the marine environment. Check out the link below for more information.

Researchers worldwide are working to conserve ocean resources and protect marine species. Learn about some of these projects sponsored by the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

Looking to explore ocean habitats and animals? Bring your students to SeaWorld for a one-of-a-kind field trip experience! To learn more about SeaWorld field trips, please use the following links:

Too far for a field trip? Discover more about the ocean without leaving your classroom! SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Emmy award-winning series ShamuTV is broadcasting Our One Ocean on November 20th, 2009. You can find out the program details, time, and satellite information for the broadcast by following the link immediately below.

Want to learn more or discuss hot conservation topics? Visit our Schooling Blog to learn about current conservation issues and even give your two cents about them.