birds flying in front of a map of the world's oceans
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Fascinating Facts About Oceans

Learn the difference between it’s and its as you discover fascinating facts about our world’s oceans! 

From the May/June 2021 Issue

Directions: On your own document, underline the correct choice of it’s or its in each sentence below. We’ve underlined the first correct answer for you. 

1. Earth’s five oceans are the largest bodies of water on the planet. It’s / Its estimated that ocean water covers about 70 percent of Earth’s surface.

2. The Pacific Ocean is the biggest ocean. It’s / Its also the deepest. It’s / Its waters hold underwater mountains and volcanoes. 

3. Don’t try to drink ocean water. It’s / Its full of salt! It’s / Its salt mostly comes from rocks that break down in the ocean. 

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4. A gulf is a part of the ocean that is almost completely surrounded by land, like the Gulf of Mexico. It’s / Its warm waters flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

5. It’s / Its true that all oceans are connected. We’ve explored less than 20 percent of this underwater world. It’s / Its filled with plants and animals waiting to be discovered.

6. The blue whale isn’t just the largest animal in the ocean. It’s / Its also the biggest animal on Earth. It’s / Its body can be longer than a basketball court, and it’s / its heart is the size of a piano!

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Can't Miss Teaching Extras
Watch This

Extend your students' learning with a video. Show this 8-minute overview of the oceans of the world from Clarendon Learning.

Teach This

Jump over to the National Geographic Kids site to learn more about ocean habitats. 

From the Storyworks 3 Archives

Learn how some artists are reducing trash in the ocean by making art, in the Mini Read “These Animals Are Made Out of Trash.”

From the Storyworks 3 Archives

Make a geography connection with another Grammar article. “Fascinating Facts About Continents,” from the September 2020 issue, is a perfect match!

Watch This

Your students will love this 5-minute video from the BBC about whales!

Text-to-Speech