daily activities
Extreme Environments
The Darkest Depths
So far, we’ve been inside volcanoes, braved the sweltering heat of the Sahara, and escaped frostbite at the North and South Poles. Now, we’ll explore the final frontier on planet Earth: The deep sea. It is said that we know more about the moon (about 235,000 miles above), than we do about the deep sea (just about 2.5 miles below). Ninety-five percent of the ocean remains unexplored, but what we do know about the deep sea is just as astounding as it is mysterious. Join us today in exploring the 5%.
FOR PARENTS
Ask About Today
What's the most extreme thing you learned about the deep sea today?
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explore
60-75 minutes
01
Into the Abyss
Below the ocean’s surface is a beautiful yet mysterious world that accounts for over 95 percent of Earth’s living space. We call it the deep sea, and it remains largely unexplored—for good reason. As you dive down, you’ll notice that light quickly starts to fade, temperatures drop to near freezing, and the pressure is enough to make you feel like your whole body might explode! However, the diverse life that makes up our incredible oceans has adapted and flourished there for millions of years. Watch this video to understand how.
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02
The Deepest Place on Earth
Thousands of climbers have successfully ascended to the top of Mount Everest, the tallest point on Earth. But only two people have successfully descended to the Earth's deepest point, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. Located in the Pacific Ocean, the Mariana Trench is deep enough to fit all of Mount Everest with more than a mile of water to spare! At depths that deep, things can get a bit... extreme! Dive in with this 45-minute video from History.com.
03
Creatures of the Deep Sea
What could possibly live in the cold, dark, high-pressure waters of the deep sea? Jump in a submarine with National Geographic's explorers and find out!
04
Light in the Deep
Some animals are "bioluminescent," which means they can create their own light. Many of the creatures that live in the darkest depths of the sea, like the angler fish, have adapted this ability to hunt and survive. Find out how it works in this video from TED-Ed.
05
create
30-45 minutes
01
Make a Denizen of the Deep
One of our favorite ocean animals is the octopus! It’s one of the smartest animals in the sea, and they say If we could turn all the animals into humans to take an intelligence test, octopuses would outscore plenty of humans. So today, we’re going to use a few materials around the house to craft a 3D octopus and a few of its ocean friends!
02
How about a Shark?
Finished up your octopus? Try a new challenge: A moving paper shark!
03
Finally, a Fish
Just keep this one away from your shark...
move
10-15 minutes
01
Training for the Deep
Put your flippers on! It’s time for some deep-sea core strength training with Cosmic Kids. Pause the video while you master each pose, or repeat it once you've gone through the whole thing!