Hey, there little lady.
Today is the big day.
Are you ready for your shark week?
I think so Mrs. Day.
I am a little nervous though.
Girl, you got this!
As smart and gifted as you are you better
get in that classroom and show everyone you
are made of excellence.
I hear you Mrs. Day, but I am still a little
afraid to speak in front of everyone.
Why don't you practice a little bit with me?
Really Mrs. Day.
Why don't you tell me where sharks are found
in the world?
Oh, that is easy Mrs. Day.
Sharks are found all around the world in cool,
coastal waters throughout our planet's oceans.
Well, that makes a lot of sense.
Every time I go to visit my friends on the
coast, we stay away from a few of the beaches
because they have shark warning signs.
That is because great white sharks are very
dangerous Mrs. Day.
Great White Sharks are carnivores, which means
that they like to eat meat like fish and large
mammals like sea lions, seals, small toothed
whales, and even sea turtles.
They have to be pretty large to eat a seal.
They are Mrs. Day.
Most great white sharks grow to an average
of 15 feet in length.
There have even been some that have been recorded
being over 20 feet in length and weighing
up to 5,000 pounds.
That would make it hard for them to swim around
being that heavy.
Listen to this Mrs. Day.
Sharks art not built like humans.
Humans have bones.
Sharks have cartilage.
Cartilage is not like bones that are stiff.
Cartilage is very flexible allowing sharks
to swim freely through the ocean waters.
So not only are they as large as a school
bus, but tough too with skin made of denticles
instead of ordinary fish scales.
The denticles are constructed like hard, sharp
teeth and help to protect the shark from injury.
So not only are they big.
They are big and tough.
You're right.
Sharks have around five rows of sharp teeth
shaped like triangles that they use to tear
off parts of their prey swallowing it whole.
Oh my.
That is scary.
It sure is.
From the time they are born baby sharks that
are called pups are about five feet in length
and have to take care of themselves on them.
Why is that?
Because mother sharks are not like many of
our moms who take care of us growing up.
Once baby sharks are born, they swim away
from their mothers, because the mothers may
eat their own pups.
Those baby sharks are in trouble with mothers
like that.
So how are sharks born?
Great white sharks carry their pups for a
year before giving birth – that’s longer
than humans.
They normally have 2 to 12 babies at a time.
Well, little lady from where I am standing
you don’t have to worry about your presentation.
You sound ready to me.
You think so Mrs. Day?
I know so!
Now go and bring home an A making us all proud.
Thanks Mrs. Day.
