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Entertainment

How to Celebrate Shark Week with Kids

July 08, 2021

Entertain and educate younger members of the family with these shark-inspired activities

 

In honor of Discovery Channel's 33rd Shark Week, there's a whole host of thrilling, shark-themed activities you can do with kids. The annual event focuses on conservation efforts and challenges viewers' misconceptions about these feared predators,

From visiting an aquarium to hunting for shark's teeth on the beach, here are some of the best ways to celebrate Shark Week with the entire family.

 

Head to the Aquarium

Taking your kids to an aquarium is the perfect Shark Week activity, whether you are home or on vacation.

Aquariums provide an immersive way for youngsters to learn about sharks, their habitats and the threats they face. Many feature tanks filled with a variety of species or touch tanks where kids can get up close and personal with small, harmless sharks. Some aquariums also offer visitors the chance to watch shark feeding time.

If you can't go to an aquarium in person, then check out Monterey Bay's live Shark Cam for a bird's eye view of their resident sharks.

 

Track Sharks Around the Globe

OCEARCH is an organization that uses the latest satellite technology to track and study tagged sharks and other marine life in their natural habitats. Using their Shark Tracker on a computer or smartphone, mini shark fans can follow great whites, mako sharks and others types, and learn about their migration patterns.

 

Adopt a Shark

Oceana, one of the largest international ocean conservation advocacy organization, offers a program called Adopt-a-Shark. If you purchase a Shark Adoption Pack, you can help support efforts to protect sharks, including banning shark finning, a major factor in the decline of the shark population. It comes with shark cookies, a great white shark plush and an adoption certificate.

 

Read Up on Sharks

Reading about sharks is an excellent way for children to learn about these creatures of the deep. Head to your local library or bookstore and check out Hark! A Shark! by Bonnie Worth featuring Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat, Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman and Shark Lady by Jess Keating. Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham is an awesome book for tweens and teens that's based on a true story.

 

Dance to Baby Shark

The whole world caught on to the catchy song featuring a family of sharks that went viral on YouTube. While it might drive you crazy, your baby sharks will love to sing and dance to this kids' anthem. Get extra brownie points by booking tickets to Baby Shark Live, now on tour across the country.

 

Make Killer Shark Jell-O

Kids will love helping make this simple but tasty Shark Week treat. All you need is blue Jell-O and shark gummies. Make the Jell-O according to the instructions, add the gummies and refrigerate until it's set.

 

Hunt for Shark Teeth on the Beach

Did you know that some sharks can lose up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime? A fun way to celebrate Shark Week with your budding marine biologists is to head to the beach and hunt for shark teeth, which often wash up on the shore. Look for black or triangular shapes in the sand and start making a collection.

 

Binge Shark Week Shows

During Shark Week, you can expect a host of exciting programming dedicated to these often-misunderstood ocean predators. Just say "Shark Week" into your Cox Contour voice remote to access the programming.

Must-watch shows for younger viewers include Crikey! It's a Shark, featuring Robert Irwin, son of the legendary animal expert Steve Irwin, who comes face-to-face with a great white; and Stranger Sharks, with Mark Rober and Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things) who hunt for the oddest sharks they can find.

Or you can program your own Shark Week movie marathon with family-friendly favorites, including Finding NemoShark TaleSoul Surfer and of course, Jaws, for the older kids.

 

Are you ready to sink your teeth into Shark Week? It's the ideal time to learn about these awesome creatures.

 

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