Awareness Activities About Ocean Creatures in The Classroom

The depressions on the bottoms of the seas and oceans contain significant wealth, even though they are far from the continents and are full of plants.Mineral resources such as oil and natural gas can be found in these areas.It can be thought that there is no life in these areas. Because there is no sun there, the temperature is very low and dark.  Researchers state that deep sea environments are important. Lava and gases emerging from magma in the deep seas mix with ocean water and contribute to the material cycle. Remote, deep areas that are difficult to reach affect our lives somehow. Researching these areas well helps us understand our planet's formation processes. Hydrothermal vents discovered in these areas are areas on the ocean floor where hot water sources that spurt water and gas are located. These vents, originating from cracked areas on the Pacific Ocean floor, were first discovered in 1977 around the Galapagos Islands. Hydrothermal vents are formed as a result of crustal movements, and the seawater that seeps into the cracks and fissures close to the magma heats up under the influence of the magma.Due to the high pressure at the bottom of the ocean, the temperature reaches several hundred degrees Celsius. When the hydrothermal fluid encounters the colder ocean water, the minerals in the hydrothermal fluid solidify by cooling and begin to accumulate. These minerals, which are deposited in this process, take the form of a vent. These vents contain a wide variety of minerals. The temperature inside these vents can reach a 350-400 degrees Celsius. These vents are significant for heat transfer in the oceans. Perhaps one of the most important outcomes of hydrothermal vents is the existence of deep ocean Creaturess. Thanks to their physical and chemical properties, these vents create suitable environments for chemosynthetic bacteria to thrive. Ocean Creaturess such as crabs, shrimps, starfish, and mussels, which feed on chemosynthetic bacteria, are found in cold and dark areas that are otherwise too deep to support life under normal conditions. In our lessons, we conduct general studies on ocean environments and the diversity of Creaturess living in their depths. We show videos on this subject in the classroom. We have our students draw pictures of ocean Creaturess., and illustrate various marine life. We aim to enhance our students knowledge and curiosity about this fascinating deep-sea ecosystem.

Key Words: Ocean Creaturess, Gifted and Intelligent Students, Class Activities