Caffeinated Sharks Invisible Ocean Chemicals: What's in the Water?

In "Caffeinated Sharks," we discovered how everyday things we use, like medicines and coffee, can travel from our homes all the way to the ocean and even into the bodies of sharks! It might seem like a big journey, but a lot of it happens through the water cycle. This mission will help you see how water moves and carries things with it.

The Big Question

How can tiny things from our homes end up far away in the ocean?

What You'll Need

• A clear glass or jar
• Water
• Food coloring (any color)
• A small amount of glitter or small, light-colored sprinkles

Mission Steps

1. Fill the Jar. Fill your clear glass or jar about three-quarters full with water. This is your ocean.
2. Add the "Pollution". Sprinkle a tiny bit of glitter or sprinkles onto the surface of the water. These represent things like medicines or chemicals.
3. Start the Cycle. Gently swirl the water. Watch how the glitter disperses and sinks, showing how small particles can spread throughout the water.
4. Add "Rain". Add a few drops of food coloring to the water. Observe how the color spreads and mixes, much like rain can mix with and move water and its contents.

Talk About It

• What did the glitter or sprinkles represent in our ocean?
• How did the food coloring move through the water? What does this remind you of?
• What are some things you use at home that might end up in the water like the glitter or food coloring?

Take It Further

For older rangers, research the actual path a medicine or chemical might take from a house to the ocean. Think about drains, sewage systems, rivers, and how the water cycle plays a role in that journey.

FAQ

Q: Is this safe to do inside? A: Yes, this mission uses common, safe household items. Just be sure to place the jar on a surface that won't be damaged by a little water, in case of spills. Q: My glitter just sank. Did I do it wrong? A: Not at all! Glitter sinking is part of the process. It shows how some items might settle in one place, while others get carried by currents. Q: How does this relate to the shark in the episode? A: Just like the glitter and food coloring moved around in your jar, pollution from land can move through rivers and oceans, eventually reaching animals like sharks.