Rubber duckies are fun in the bathtub – but how about in the ocean? In 1992 a giant load of rubber duckies fell off a ship near Hong Kong. The toys floated off every which way – and decades later started washing up on beaches all over the world. The ducks took only 4 years to reach the U.S., but about 15 years to reach England! They’re showing scientists which way ocean currents flow – while getting a good long bath.
Lace up: Rubber duckies are usually yellow. See if you can find 4 yellow things in you classroom.
Jog: If 5 ocean-floating rubber duckies bump into 1 more friend, how many duckies does the group have now?
Sprint: If starting now some of the duckies float for 3 years before reaching a beach, how old will you be when they arrive?
Hurdle: If 2 ducks, Squirty and Squeakles, start 500 miles apart, and each one floats 300 miles from their starting point, could they meet up?
High Jump: If 28 rubber duckies start floating from Hong Kong, half of them make it to California, and then half of those make it to Mexico, how many duckies make it to Mexico?
Answers:
Lace up: Items might include clothes, socks, folders or papers, pencils or crayons, or a picture on the wall.
Jog: 6 rubber duckies.
Sprint: Different for everyone…add 3 to your age today!
Hurdle: Yes! Because if they swim straight at each other, they each need to travel only 250 miles.
High Jump: 7 rubber duckies, since 14 make it to California.
