Oceans (Endangered Biomes)

Investigating the planet’s biomes and examining the modern threats to each ecosystem, this interactive series challenges young readers to look at how their own actions affect the planet's health. With compare-and-contrast facts and vocabulary-building sidebars, each engaging guide reveals how environmental threats—both human and natural—affect plants and animals.

Detailing the largest biome, this guide surveys the environmental threats to the earth’s oceans. Teaching students about coral reefs—the rainforests of the ocean—this educational resource explores topics such as the connection between increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the bleaching of the reefs. By comparing the size of an island of floating plastic and other trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to the state of Texas—and how that floating island impacts ocean life—the guide shows young environmentalists why consuming less plastic is important.