Hello, little explorers! Today, we’re diving into a splashy story about some brave rubber ducks that set sail on an unexpected adventure across the big, wide ocean. Are you ready? Let’s quack our way through this exciting tale!

The Great Storm Surprise

Once upon a time, on January 10, 1992, a big ship was sailing from Hong Kong in East Asia all the way to Tacoma, in the United States. But oh no! The ship got caught in a storm while crossing the Pacific Ocean. The wind was so strong that it knocked over some giant containers on the ship. And guess what was inside one of those containers ? 28,800 little rubber ducks and their toy friends—blue turtles, red beavers, and green frogs!

Ducks on the Run

After the storm, these cheerful toys started their big adventure, floating away in the ocean. A few months later, they began to wash up on the shores of Alaska in the far North of the American continent, surprising everyone with their jaunty colours and friendly smiles!

Super Detective Scientists

Two clever ocean scientists, Curt and Jim, heard about the ducky discoveries and went into detective mode. They wanted to find out how these toys were travelling across the sea. So, they asked people along the coast to keep their eyes peeled for more wayward toys. And the toys were everywhere!

Following the Currents

The toys sailed the seas, helping Curt and Jim understand how ocean currents work. Some ducks floated south around the Pacific, while others ended up in the chilly Arctic, trapped in ice! These tiny toys taught scientists a lot about where ocean currents go and how fast they move.

Mighty Ocean Mess

But wait, there’s more! The duckies’ journey also helped everyone see the bigger picture—a big mess, actually! Each year, thousands of cargo containers fall overboard, adding to the ocean's garbage. This floating rubbish is a problem for our marine friends, like turtles and whales.

Did you know? Around one million birds and 100,000 marine animals get hurt because of all this plastic! That's a lot! But we can help keep the ocean safe by learning about what we throw away.

Here are some activities for you and your friends!

These activities are not only fun but also help us learn about the ocean and how we can protect it. Enjoy!

Rubber Duck Race:  Create your own rubber duck (or use your favourite rubber toy) race in the bathtub or a small pool. Use a straw to blow air and move your toy along the water. See whose toy reaches the finish line first!

Beachcomber Hero:  Next time you visit the beach, play this game: create a bingo card with items like seashells, seaweed, or driftwood. Look for these items and see who gets bingo first!

Currents Puzzle:  Draw a simple map of the world and use string to show the paths of ocean currents, just like the rubber ducks travelled. Use different colours for different ocean paths!

Story time Adventure: Write or draw a short story about a brave rubber duck (or your favourite fish) and its journey across the ocean. Share it with friends and family!

Photo Hunt: Go on a photo hunt in your house or neighbourhood to find items that can be recycled, like plastic bottles or cans. Talk about how recycling helps keep our oceans clean!

Be a Beach Detective: You can be a hero for the ocean, too! If you visit the beach, keep an eye out for special toys or unusual treasures that may have travelled a long way across the waves. Together, we can learn and help protect our big blue ocean!

Until next time, keep exploring and keep caring for our planet!