1. Created by: Cecelia Fulmer 2nd Grade

2. * The Gulf of Mexico, the ninth largest body of water in the world. * The Gulf is bordered by the United States to the north (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas), five Mexican states to the west and the island of Cuba to the southeast.

3. * When Sea water from the Caribbean Sea enters the Gulf through the Yucatan Strait; Caribbean Sea * it then circulates (rather quickly) in a clockwise loop current before exiting the gulf through the Florida Straits into the Atlantic Ocean, * forming the Gulf Stream, one of the most powerful water currents on the planet. * Now you know the Gulf Stream is one of the powerful water currents on the planet.

4. * What is an Ecosystem? * The Gulf of Mexico is an Ecosystem. This means that plants and animals are found in this particular location. These plants and animals depend on each other to survive. * An ecosystem includes all of the living organisms in a specific area. These systems are the plants and animals interacting with their non-living environments (weather, Earth, Sun, soil, atmosphere). An ecosystem's development depends on the energy that moves in and out of that system.

9. * The Gulf of Mexico ecosystem provides a wide array of valuable resources to the nations on its shores.

10. * Fish, Shrimp, Oysters, Crabs, Muscles, Flounder

12. * Due to living in and around the Gulf of Mexico we have many jobs in our area that other mid states may not have. If you continue grow up and remain around this area you could be: * A Fisherman, Crabber or Shrimper * Someone who works with Marine Resources, A Marine Police * A Ship Captain, a tugboat captain * A Coast Guard worker * A Roughneck (Someone who works on or around an oil rig) * Can you think of any more occupations that are in or around water? Occupations in and Around the Gulf

18. * Where is it located? * What are some types of food we have because of living near the Gulf? * What can you be when you grow up if you want to live near the Gulf? * What types of recreation can we do if we visit the Gulf? * Can you add anything to the lists above?????