8th June World Oceans Day

'The ocean covers over 70% of the planet. It is our life source, supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth.

The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, it is home to most of earth’s biodiversity, and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. Not to mention, the ocean is key to our economy with an estimated 40 million people being employed by ocean-based industries by 2030. 

Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming.

Even though there are all of these benefits, the ocean is now in need of support.

With 90% of big fish populations depleted, and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, we are taking more from the ocean than can be replenished. We need to work together to create a new balance with the ocean that no longer depletes its bounty but instead restores its vibrancy and brings it new life.'

These are the opening paragraphs at the United Nations World Oceans Day site.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society is holding a Giving Day to help ensure we are all aware of what is happening to our oceans. 

'Our oceans face more threats today than at any time in the past. The health of Australia’s oceans lies in our hands, in our actions and in our decisions.'

It is hard to miss this fact when you peruse the number of picture books that have been published in recent years about oceans and garbage, oceans and pollution such as oil spills, and about oceans as  ecosystems.

Unlike Mountain Day or River Day, other international days highlighted by the UN, this day covers so much more and it is hard to choose what to focus on. At the age that my students are at, they worry most about the animals that live in the sea and the beaches because that is what they experience regularly. 

Some students in Year 2  get very preoccupied with the difference between an ocean and a sea. This probably occurs because Australia is an island and when they are leaning about its geography they notice the number of oceans and seas listed on the map...Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, Arctic Sea, Arafura Sea, Timor Sea, Tasman Sea, Coral Sea! Australia does certainly need to be concerned about the oceans and seas around it.

Many of the picture books my students read originate in Britain or America so they read about other oceans and seas as well. When they read Caryl Hart and Beth Woollvin's Meet the Oceans, a fun, colourful, rhyming book which allows for a submarine expedition through the oceans. This picture book makes an ideal introduction to the importance of caring for the ocean. Then once you have initiated a discussion you can almost pick up any ocean book to share.

Here's some more recent ones from the school library.

Over and Under the Waves  (2022) by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal

A Turtle's View of the Ocean Blue  (2021)  by Catherine Barr and Brendan Kearney

Earth's Incredible Oceans  (2021) by Jess French and Claire McElfatrick

Save the Seas (2022) by Liz Gogerly and Sr Sanchez

The Big Book of Blue (2018) by Yuval Zommer (not new, but amazing)

Do You Love Oceans? (2023) by Matt Robertson

I Love You, Blue by Barroux

Ocean! Waves For All by Stacy McAnulty and David Litchfield

For primary school students the series Protecting the Oceans  (2021) by Natalie Hyde would be a good starting place.

For more books see lists on Pinterest UN-SDG 14 Life Below Water; Under the Sea.