How many Oceans are there?

[srssmith]

Hi this is my first year and my first week homeschooling. We are using Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory and for todays lesson Unit 1 Day 2 under the Science Exploration it says that we have 5 oceans and in the God's Wonderful Works book on page 45. It says we have 4. Sorry but I am a little confused.

[pjdobro]

I think that depends on who you ask. The Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Arctic Ocean are generally recognized as the oceans of the world. Many also consider the southern portions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans as a separate ocean called the Southern Ocean. So both answers are correct depending on who you ask. I think 4 oceans is more old school and what I was taught in school, but I think 5 is more the prevailing idea these days.

[StephanieU]

NOAA says 5, although really it is only 1.
"While there is only one global ocean, the ocean is geographically divided into the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern (Antarctic).

These five oceans are not separate bodies of water; they form one continuous oceanic mass. The boundaries between these five oceans arose over time for a variety of historical, cultural, geographical, and scientific reasons.

The Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans are known as the three major oceans.

The Southern Ocean is the 'newest' ocean. The boundaries of this ocean were set in 2000 by the International Hydrographic Organization. The U.S. is a member of this organization, represented by the NOS Office of Coast Survey."

[MelInKansas]

Thanks for asking the question, I had wondered that myself! I have learned so much by homeschooling

[mrsrandolph]

In Preparing , they will be taught that there are 5. Including the Southern Ocean.