Our corner of the ocean, the North East Atlantic, is home to incredibly diverse habitats and species. Discover the wonders of our ocean and why a healthy ocean is important not just to marine life, but all life on Earth. Explore how your school is connected to the ocean, and describe the five parts of the ocean. Students will also learn why the ocean is salty and what causes the tides. Includes fact file to support teaching, What did the ocean ever do for us? video, ocean map, water cycle illustration, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 1 in the Amazing Ocean series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/amazing-ocean/#1-introducing-the-ocean

In this activity-led session students will discover some of the weird and wonderful animals living in the deep sea, and how they have adapted to the harsh conditions. Activities include paired work, class scientific observation, group measuring exercises and analysing images. At the end of the lesson, students can design their own deep sea creature to include the adaptation features covered. Includes fact file to support teaching, deep sea image reel, giant creature cards, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 4 in the Amazing Ocean series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/amazing-ocean/#4-life-in-the-deep

Rockpools are fascinating environments to explore. This lesson involves taking your class on a trip to local rockpools. Students will focus on habitat conditions, adaptations and grouping animals. This lesson provides pre- and post-activities to increase learning opportunities. Includes fact file to support teaching, rockpool image reel, rockpool spotter sheet, seashore code, video, worksheet, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 5 in the Amazing Ocean series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/amazing-ocean/#5-outdoor-rockpool-explorers

Bring the seaside to the classroom through a virtual rockpool exploration. Students will study these fascinating habitats, exploring the conditions and adaptation features and begin to group animals. Includes fact file to support teaching, rockpool image reel, rockpool spotter sheet, video, worksheet, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 6 in the Amazing Ocean series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/amazing-ocean/#6-indoor-rockpool-explorers

Working in small groups, students will learn about and sort animals by their features and characteristics. By the end of the activity, students will be able to define invertebrates and vertebrates, and name and describe characteristics of marine mammals, reptiles, birds and fish. Includes image cards for matching and sorting game, worksheets, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 7 in the Amazing Ocean series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/amazing-ocean/#7-grouping-animals

Did you know that leatherback turtles are found here in the UK? In this lesson, students will learn about biology, migration patterns and conservation of sea turtles. They will manipulate and present scientific data, increase their map skills, and develop their reading and writing skills. Includes fact file to support teaching, image reel, species fact cards, worksheets, videos, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 9 in the Amazing Ocean series :https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/amazing-ocean/#9-tremendous-turtles

This lesson introduces the idea of sustainable food. Students will look at where seafood comes from then analyse and present data on the most common types of seafood here in the UK. Includes fact file to support teaching, shopping list template, data analysis worksheet, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 1 in Sustainable Seafood series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/sustainable-seafood/#1-what-do-we-eat-and-where-does-it-come-from

This lesson for older students takes a look into fish farms and whether they can be a sustainable source of seafood, exploring fish life cycles, farm management and community viewpoints. Includes fact file to support teaching, salmon lifecycle activity, poster, community viewpoint letter templates, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 3 in Sustainable Seafood series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/sustainable-seafood/#3-can-you-really-farm-fish

The Plastic Challenge is the Marine Conservation Society’s annual month-long challenge to avoid and reduce consumption of single-use plastics. In this lesson, students will consider how they, your school and the local community can reduce their environmental impact by helping to reduce the amount of litter being produced, used and disposed of. Includes fact file to support teaching, activities, Waste Funnel diagram, Plastic Challenge planning sheet, and links to follow-up learning. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 5 in Marine Litter series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/marine-litter/#5-the-plastic-challenge

Fishing is an important industry in the UK. In this games-led session, explore different fishing methods and management measures aimed at making seafood more sustainable. Students will learn how ocean-friendly fishing helps protect our seas and wildlife, economies and livelihoods, and helps provide safe food as part of a healthy diet Includes fact files to support teaching, activities, worksheets, and game instructions. Linked to national curriculum in England, Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland, Curriculum for Wales, and Eco-Schools topics. Lesson 3 in Protect the Ocean series: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/fun-learning/primary-learning/teaching-resources/ks2-p7/protect-the-ocean/

A visual PDF information sheet illustrating the lifecycle of marine turtles, including brief descriptions of the stages of mating, nesting, hatchlings, growing up, and the lost years. Each life stage is numbered and accompanied by a description, and are all placed around a central image of a turtle.

A PDF information sheet about some of the different fish species consumed in the UK, including how some species are caught, types of fish farming, and different kinds of fishing gear. Lots of images are included in this visual resource, and there’s a match-up activity where the type of fish and its most popular commercial use are paired.

A PDF resource matching up a detailed image of different underwater creatures found in the UK with their names on the second page, including different species of jellyfish, starfish, and anemones.

Suitable for: Key Stage 2 Timing: This Learning Outline is designed to be split into several lessons depending on the age and ability of students as well as the length of lessons. Curriculum Links: English - Talking and Listening, Reading Computing Science About the activity An introduction to the biggest fish in our sea and the second biggest in the world, the Basking Shark. Students will use resources from our Cool Seas Explorer Centre Online classroom (Ocean Giants section) available at www.mcsuk.org/coolseas, to investigate why Basking Sharks are endangered. In groups they will then produce a short film using digital software (e.g. Windows Moviemaker, iMovie) to promote Basking Shark conservation. The best video should be shared with MCS at education@mcsuk.org with details of the class and school. If possible student films should also be shared on school social media pages to share the learning with a real audience. For other free teaching resources visit www.mcsuk.org/coolseas.