SHARKS

Grades 2-5
Includes: Reading comprehension,
multiple choice, writing assignment,
creative art and more
 Sharks have a reputation as being vicious killer

predators eating everything they find. But, in fact, sharks

are more often the victims. Millions of sharks are

killed each year to meet demands for their fins, which are

made into soups and eaten as a status symbol. The huge

demand for fins has led to depleting the shark population

worldwide.

Sharks are an important part of our marine

environment and must be protected.

Sharks have been around for hundred of millions of

years. Despite their reputation as dangerous, vicious

predators, sharks are most likely to be killed by humans.

Efforts are being made to control overfishing and illegal

fishing which is the major cause of the decline in the

shark population. Governments around the world are

taking steps to halt the decline in the shark population.

 Our oceans are home to more than 465 different species of

sharks. Sharks are at the top of the marine food chain and feed

on the various species of fish and other creatures found in the

ocean’s ecosystem. Sharks play an important role in helping to

keep the ocean’s ecosystem in balance.

Sharks breathe through a series of five to seven gill slits

located on the side of their bodies. Sharks do not have bones,

They belong to a family of fish that have skeletons made of

cartilage which is lighter and more flexible than bone.

Most sharks eat fish, mollusks, krill, plankton, marine

mammals, and other sharks. Their keen sense of smell allows

sharks to detect blood in the water from miles away.

Sharks usually hunt their prey at night. They can migrate

great distances to hunt food and breed. Some sharks show

some level of social behavior and swim in schools. Others are

solitary and roam the ocean basins alone, except during mating

season.

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 The great white shark likes to feed on prey such as seals and

sea lions. These sharks are able to swim faster than 60miles per

hour and surprise their prey.

Other species of sharks dwell on the ocean floor and bottom-

feed. Most sharks attack schooling fish and filter large

quantities of plankton and krill through their mouths.

Sharks do not mature quickly. Normally, it takes sharks 12-15

years to reach maturity and be able to reproduce. Baby sharks

are called “pups”. Pups are born with a fully-fledged set of teeth

and must survive on their own after birth.

Sharks predate dinosaurs by more than 200 million years.

The largest known species of shark were known as megalodons.

These prehistoric creatures are the largest known marine

creature in the history of our planet. Scientists

believe they may have reached the length of more than 60 feet.

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Name_______________

Multiple Choice

1. When do sharks usually hunt their prey?

a. In the morning
b. When humans are around
c. At night

2. How do sharks breathe?

a. Through a series of 5-7 gill slits
b. Through a blowhole
c. With their lungs

3. How fast can a great white shark swim?

a. Faster than a speed boat
b. More than 30 miles per hour
c. More than 60 miles per hour

4. What is the largest known marine creature in

the history of our planet?
a. great white shark
b. megaladon
c. tiger shark

5. What are baby sharks called?

a. pups
b. calves
c. herds
Name_________________

Fill in the Blanks

fins protected ecosystem swim prey

gill slits pups smell megaladons population

Fill in the blanks with the correct answer for each statement.

1. Sharks are an important part of our marine environment and must

be _______________.

2. Sharks usually hunt their ____________ at night.

3. Millions of sharks are killed each year because of the huge demand

for their _____________.

4. Governments around the world are taking steps to halt the decline in the

shark _________________.

5. Sharks feed on various species of fish, marine life, and creatures found

in the ocean’s _________________.

6. Sharks breathe through a series of 5-7 __________________ located

in the side of their bodies.

7. Their keen sense of ______________ allow sharks to detect small drops

of blood in the water from several miles away.

 Name_____________

True or False
Write True or False on the line next to each sentence.

______ 1. Sharks have a reputation of being vicious predator killers.

______ 2. Sharks do not play an important role in the ocean’s marine environment.

______ 3. The huge demand for fins has led to an increase in the shark population.

______ 4. Sharks have many bones.

______ 5. Sharks usually hunt for their prey at night.

______ 6. Their keen vision allows sharks to see blood from miles away.

______ 7. Overfishing and illegal hunting are a major threat to the shark population.

______ 8. Sharks mature and reproduce at a very early age.

______ 9. Pups (baby sharks) must survive on their own after they are born.

______10. There are more than 465 species of sharks in the oceans of the world.
Name________________

Draw a picture of a shark and write a

paragraph about your drawing.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

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 Great White Sharks
Interesting facts about the great white shark:

___Great white sharks can be found throughout the world’s oceans (except
Antarctica), mostly in cool waters close to the coast.

___Great white sharks are white with a grey underbelly. Than can swim
over 60 miles per hour.

___Great white sharks have more than 300 triangular teeth arranged
in rows. They can lose over 1000 teeth in their lifetime.

___Great white sharks rarely attack people. When they do, it is because
they have mistaken the person as a seal or sea lion. There are only
5-10 human attacks each year. Almost all of their victims survive
because the shark realizes it has made a mistake and swims away.

___Great white sharks main diet consists of seals, sea lions, and small
whales.

___Great white sharks have a great sense of smell. They can smell just
on drop of blood in the water, and other food more than 2 miles away.

___When a great white shark gives birth, she usually has 2-10 pups.
The mother does not care for her young pups. They have to survive
on their own.

___Great white sharks are on the top of the food chain and aren’t likely
to be killed by other sea creatures. Illegal hunting by humans is
the biggest threat to the great while shark population.
Name________________

Fill in the boxes with facts you leaned about great white sharks.

Fact 1 Fact 2

Fact 3 Fact 4

Fact 5 Fact 6
Name_________________

Using Adjectives
Fill in each circle with an adjective that you think could best describe
the a great white shark.

GREAT
WHITE
SHARK
 Name________________
(add coloring page if available)

PAGE
COLORING
Name___________________

Color Page

Great White Shark