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Currents In Motion

Activity

Exploring the Science of Ocean Currents

Recreate ocean currents in a bottle: Fill a clear plastic bottle with water, adding a few drops of food coloring to visualize the flow. Then, tilt and spin the bottle to create swirling currents. Add small objects like beads, glitter, or small shells to see how they react to the currents. Experiment with how changes in temperature (try adding warm and cold water) can affect the current. How do the items float and move?

Science Seed

Ocean currents are like giant rivers of water moving through the ocean. They play a big role in regulating Earth’s climate, transporting warm water from the equator to colder regions and cold water from the poles to warmer areas. Currents are influenced by wind, the Earth’s rotation, and differences in water temperature. When warm water heats up, it becomes less dense and rises, while cold water sinks because it is more dense. This rising and sinking movement helps create currents that flow through entire oceans, moving nutrients and marine life all the way from the equator to the poles and back. By experimenting with temperature differences in your bottle, you can observe how warmer and cooler water behave differently. These movements are similar to how ocean currents help distribute heat and nutrients throughout the world’s oceans, affecting climate, weather, and marine life.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.