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Creating Currents

Activity

Exploring Water Movement

Find a small stream or pond in the Park. Use sticks or leaves to create “currents” in the water, observing how they move with the flow. Discuss how ocean currents influence water temperature, weather patterns, and wildlife.

Science Seed

Water in streams and ponds moves in patterns, influenced by the slope, obstacles, and the speed of the flow. Just like the currents in these small bodies of water, ocean currents move large volumes of water across the globe. These currents are important because they influence water temperature, weather patterns, and the habitats of marine life. Warm currents near the equator can bring heat to coastal areas, while cold currents help regulate temperatures and provide nutrients to ocean life. Understanding currents helps scientists predict weather and understand the ecosystems that depend on them.

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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 the Memorial Park Conservancy

The mission of Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

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