About Sharks for Kids + Free Printable Workbook

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Sharks are some of the most fascinating and mysterious creatures in the ocean. They have been around for over 400 million years and their life cycle is still a mystery to scientists!

I’m glad you’re here! Now we are going to learn about sharks for kids. We’ll learn what they eat, where they live, and more. You’ll learn all about these amazing animals in no time at all.

Shark fun facts for kids

More fun educational facts and printables for kids

Shark fun facts

  • Sharks can see a one-inch object from 16 feet away.
  • Some types of sharks can grow up to 14 feet long.
  • A shark’s teeth are as sharp as knives and keep growing back if they fall out or break off.
  • Some sharks, like the lemon shark, give birth to live babies instead of laying eggs.
  • Sharks don’t have a skeleton, but they’re still very strong because their skin is so tough!
  • Some sharks, like great whites and tiger sharks, can live in freshwater as well as saltwater!

Where do sharks live?

A shark habitat depends on the species. Different kinds of sharks live in different areas of the ocean.

Some, like the hammerhead shark and whale sharks, can be found near the surface while others prefer to stay deep under the sea. There are sharks like the whitetip reef shark and grey reef shark that live in coral reefs, while others like the Greenland shark live under arctic ice!

What do sharks eat?

Sharks are carnivores, meaning that they only eat meat. Most sharks usually go after bigger and slower prey like tuna or sea turtles and will also sometimes attack smaller animals like seals or otters if they get the chance!

Despite its large size, the whale shark only eats small prey like shrimp and plankton because of their small teeth.

Life cycle of a shark for kids

Sharks are born live and grow inside the mother’s uterus, which is called a “womb” or a “uterus”.

The usual gestation period for a shark is about 12 months. How many pups are born at a time depends on the species of shark.

A female bull shark can have anywhere from 20-50 pups at a time, while sand tiger sharks only give birth to two or three babies!

Types of sharks

There are more than 500 species of sharks in the world and some that we like to talk about include hammerheads, whale sharks, and tiger sharks.

Hammerheads live near the surface while whale sharks and tiger sharks live in the deep parts of the ocean.

One interesting fact about a great white is they don’t have any teeth! Instead, their mouth has rows of sharp plates called denticles. When it’s time to eat, they ram their prey with its head and then use the sharp denticles to cut through.

Shark FAQs

Are sharks mammals?  Sharks are fish.

Do sharks lay eggs?  Male and female sharks produce babies called pups.

How many teeth do sharks have? Sharks usually only have one set of teeth, which they use to constantly replace over time as they wear out and break off.

Do sharks sleep? No. Sharks don’t have a true sleep cycle and can be found swimming or hunting at any time of day.

Do sharks have bones?  Yes. Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage and their body is divided into the head, thorax, and abdomen.

What color are sharks? The skin of most sharks can range from white to black depending on the species.

When do sharks give live birth? A female shark will mate with a male once or twice a year and then produce up to 20 pups.

Shark printables

I hope you enjoyed learning some interesting shark information for kids. Learn more about sharks for kids with this fun printable shark workbook.

Shark printables for kids
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Please feel free to share this blog post if it was helpful and informative for you! In the meantime, happy surfing!

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