This group activity is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the carbon cycle. It is aimed at upper primary classes, as it represents a simplified model of how carbon moves. Students will develop their understanding of how carbon moves between the atmosphere, plants, and animals, as well as how the burning of fossil fuels over the past 250 years has caused an imbalance in the carbon cycle.

This lesson introduces students to the water cycle. They will consider whether it rains more in the UK or the Arctic and then carry out a practical to link the ideas of temperature and evaporation. This full lesson contains: Slideshow 6: The Arctic Ocean and the water cycle with Prof Penny Holliday Lesson Overview and Teacher Guidance Activity Overview: Evaporation rates practical Student Sheet 6a: Water cycle card sort Student Sheet 6b: Water cycle data activity Student Sheet 6c: Water cycle exam style questions Mark scheme: Water cycle exam style questions It forms Lesson 6 of 12 from the Our Ocean Planet resource, which is designed to support Key Stage 2 teachers to teach all aspects of the ocean. It can be used as a full topic with over 20 hours of classroom activities or using a pick and mix approach. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

Students explore how penguins might have evolved to suit past environmental changes. The core of this lesson is the Penguin Evolution Game, which simulates the six stages of adaptation that lead to evolution. This full lesson contains: Slideshow 11: The Southern Ocean and penguin evolution with Dr Michael Dunn Lesson Overview and Teacher Guidance Activity Overview: Penguin evolution script (student-friendly script to describe the six stages of adaptation that lead to evolution) Activity Overview: Penguin evolution game (instructions for running this classroom simulation) Student Sheet 11a: Penguin evolution game cards Student Sheet 11b: Penguin evolution card sort Student Sheet 11c: Storyboard cloze task Student Sheet 11d: Storyboard template It forms Lesson 11 of 12 from the Our Ocean Planet resource, which is designed to support Key Stage 2 teachers to teach all aspects of the ocean. It can be used as a full topic with over 20 hours of classroom activities or using a pick and mix approach. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

Ocean for beginners X-Curric 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) resource. This series of three lessons sets the scene for students who are about to commence Ocean Plastics 7-11. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and encourages students to take a thoughtful and critical approach to the information they receive from the media. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 2 unit Ocean Plastics 7-11.

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson develops student knowledge of a variety of mini-beasts as well as creative writing skills. Students can choose from a range of different mini-beast expeditions on Google Expeditions: the Ambush Bug, Whip Spider, Malayan Jungle Nymph (pictured), Giant Devil’s Flower Mantis or Darkling Beetle. Students first describe their chosen mini-beast using the photos in the Google Expedition, commenting also on how the creature is adapted to its environment. Then, they develop creative writing skills, writing a story from the point of view of one of the mini-beasts. Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/ To download Google Docs versions of the lesson plan and student sheet go to: https://goo.gl/Fhj1xU

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson takes students to space and consolidates an understanding of the different nodes and modules on the International Space Station. Students apply knowledge of human survival, forces and orbit and scientific methodology to design their own Space Station. Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/. This Google Expeditions Lesson is number 4 of a 4 lesson sequence. It can be used as a standalone lesson or in conjunction with others listed below. Links direct to Google Docs versions of the lessons. Lesson 1: Google Expeditions: Introducing the International Space Station https://goo.gl/Wy5A2F Lesson 2: Google Expeditions: Life in Microgravity https://goo.gl/3cqhwv Lesson 3: Google Expeditions: Microgravity and Experiments https://goo.gl/iU4V3z Lesson 4: Google Expeditions: Build your own Space Station https://goo.gl/mCo36M

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson takes students into space to explore microgravity. On the International Space Station, astronauts don’t experience complete weightlessness, but instead microgravity. How does this force affect sleeping, eating and exercising? Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/. This Google Expeditions Lesson is number 2 of a 4 lesson sequence. It can be used as a standalone lesson or in conjunction with others listed below. Links direct to Google Docs versions of the lessons. Lesson 1: Google Expeditions: Introducing the International Space Station https://goo.gl/Wy5A2F Lesson 2: Google Expeditions: Life in Microgravity https://goo.gl/3cqhwv Lesson 3: Google Expeditions: Microgravity and Experiments https://goo.gl/iU4V3z Lesson 4: Google Expeditions: Build your own Space Station https://goo.gl/mCo36M

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson develops students’ understanding of friction. Abstract concepts, such as friction, can often be hard for students to understand. Take your students on a rock-climbing expedition to El Capitan, where they can see the importance of understanding friction and then perform a series of hands-on investigations in the classroom to develop understanding of the concept. Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/ To download Google Docs versions of the lesson plan and student sheet go to: hhttps://goo.gl/aAp4Ic

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson develops students’ understanding of gravity. Abstract concepts, such as gravity, can often be hard for students to understand. Take your students on a rock-climbing expedition to El Capitan, where they can see the importance of understanding gravity and then perform a series of hands-on investigations in the classroom to develop understanding of the concept. Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/. To download Google Docs versions of the lesson plan and student sheet go to: https://goo.gl/tuNykS.

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson develops students’ understanding of experimental conditions and how microgravity might affect some of the investigations they conduct in the classroom. The International Space Station is not just a place for amazing views of planet earth, but a space science laboratory for conducting experiments. How might the experiments you conduct in the classroom be different if you were an astronaut doing them in space? Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/. This Google Expeditions Lesson is number 3 of a 4 lesson sequence. It can be used as a standalone lesson or in conjunction with others listed below. Links direct to Google Docs versions of the lessons. Lesson 1: Google Expeditions: Introducing the International Space Station https://goo.gl/Wy5A2F Lesson 2: Google Expeditions: Life in Microgravity https://goo.gl/3cqhwv Lesson 3: Google Expeditions: Microgravity and Experiments https://goo.gl/iU4V3z Lesson 4: Google Expeditions: Build your own Space Station https://goo.gl/mCo36M

This series of three lessons sets the scene for students who are about to commence Ocean Plastics 5-7. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and highlights some of the issues which will be explored in more detail in the full Key Stage 1 unit Ocean Plastics 5-7.

Our ocean and us KS1 introduces students to the ways in which we use the ocean and discuss and share their knowledge. Students work in groups to plan and build a diorama which illustrates some of the ways we use the ocean. Students also reflect on how damaging this ecosystem could be detrimental for all of us. This is one of three lessons. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and highlights some of the issues which will be explored in more detail in the full Key Stage 1 unit Ocean Plastics 5-7. Get the other lessons in this unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-5-7

Our ocean in crisis KS2 is a resource for year 3, year, 4, year 5, and year 6 students.This lesson asks students to share what they know about ocean plastics pollution and sort ideas into the categories true, false or uncertain, leading to the realisation that there might be different agendas for the information we receive in the media. Student’s research and present about an ‘Ocean hero’ and their achievements. They then discuss the ways in which they can make a difference by making a pledge to change one thing. This is one of three lessons. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and encourages students to take a thoughtful and critical approach to the information they receive from the media. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 2 unit Ocean Plastics 7-11. Get the other lessons in this unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-7-11

Our ocean and us KS2 is a resource for year 3, year, 4, year 5, and year 6 students.In this lesson students are introduced to the concept of ecosystem goods and services, through discovering how we depend on the oceans for food, transport, livelihoods and more. Students work in groups to plan and create a diorama which illustrates some of the goods and services the ocean provides. Students also reflect on how damaging this ecosystem could be detrimental for all of us. This is one of three lessons. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and encourages students to take a thoughtful and critical approach to the information they receive from the media. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 2 unit Ocean Plastics 7-11. Get the other lessons in this unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-7-11

Our ocean in crisis KS1 introduces students to the idea that plastics can damage the ocean. Students find out about an ‘Ocean hero’ and their achievements and create a portrait of that hero describing what they have achieved. For home learning, students make a pledge to change one thing to help the oceans. This is one of three lessons. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and encourages students to take a thoughtful and critical approach to the information they receive from the media. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 2 unit Ocean Plastics 7-11. Get the other lessons in this unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-7-11

This is the second in a six lesson unit, Submarine STEM KS2. This lesson explores the depth of the ocean through creating a scale diagram of the different ocean zones and identifying significant points within these zones. This lesson is from the Submarine STEM 7-11 unit. You can access the unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teacher-resources/submarine-stem-science-ages-7-11. The unit enables students to explore materials, forces, and living things while working scientifically. The unit is based on real life submersible exploration of the XL Caitlin Deep Ocean Survey off Bermuda, the Sargasso Sea. To experience the full impact of this scheme of work it can be taught in advance of our annual Submarine Live event. Live lessons can be booked for free here: https://encounteredu.com/live

In this lesson students investigate the insulating properties of materials and consider how the adaptations of Arctic organisms help develop these. The context of the lesson is helping to develop new clothing for Tyler Fish, one of the Catlin Arctic Survey explorers. This full lesson contains: Slideshow 4: How do humans and animals keep warm in the arctic? Lesson Overview and Teacher Guidance Activity Overview 4: Investigating insulating materials Student Sheet 4a: Investigating insulating materials Student Sheet 4b: Scientific poster template Student Sheet 4c: Scientific poster template (advanced) Student Sheet 4d: Blubber gloves It forms Lesson 4 of 5 from the Frozen Oceans 7-11 unit of work. Take your class to the North Pole with this cross-curricular investigation of the Arctic Ocean. The lessons progress to cover varied topics and skills needed for a science research expedition in the polar regions. Themes include Arctic food webs, training like an explorer, expedition food, insulation and clothing, the impacts of melting ice and conducting a press conference. The lessons can also be combined into a Polar Challenge Day. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

In this lesson students learn about the impacts of ice in the Arctic melting by watching a series of demonstrations. The context of the lesson is the work of Dr Helen Findlay who was investigating the effect of environmental change on the Arctic ecosystem. This full lesson contains: Slideshow 5: How is the Arctic changing? Lesson Overview and Teacher Guidance Activity Overview 5a: The albedo effect Activity Overview 5b: Sea level rise Activity Overview 5c: Ocean circulation demonstration Student Sheet 5a: Sentences card sort Student Sheet 5b: Arctic issues storyboard It forms Lesson 5 of 5 from the Frozen Oceans 7-11 unit of work. Take your class to the North Pole with this cross-curricular investigation of the Arctic Ocean. The lessons progress to cover varied topics and skills needed for a science research expedition in the polar regions. Themes include Arctic food webs, training like an explorer, expedition food, insulation and clothing, the impacts of melting ice and conducting a press conference. The lessons can also be combined into a Polar Challenge Day. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

This lesson is focussed on food and nutrition for Key Stage 2 (KS2) students. Students learn about diet and the importance of a balanced diet through the experiences of polar explorers. Using creativity and scientific research skills, students will create a menu suitable for an Arctic expedition. The lesson is introduced by Fran Orio, a specialist polar cook, who can make amazing meals in the most extreme circumstances. This full lesson contains: Slideshow 3: How do you eat like an Arctic explorer? Lesson Overview and Teacher Guidance Activity Overview 3: Pemmican recipe Student Sheet 3a: Researching food Student Sheet 3b: Polar menu It forms Lesson 3 of 5 from the Frozen Oceans 7-11 unit of work. Take your class to the North Pole with this cross-curricular investigation of the Arctic Ocean. The lessons progress to cover varied topics and skills needed for a science research expedition in the polar regions. Themes include Arctic food webs, training like an explorer, expedition food, insulation and clothing, the impacts of melting ice and conducting a press conference. The lessons can also be combined into a Polar Challenge Day. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

This lesson combines science and creativity to help young people learn more about life on the coral reef and the food chains that link them together. The output for this activity is to create a mobile to hang at home or in the classroom, showing some of the main types of life that can be found on the coral reef, and how they are related through predator-prey relationships. This is a single lesson from the unit Coral Oceans 7-11. This science-based unit uses the stunning imagery and 360 media from the XL Catlin Seaview Survey and covers several of the main concepts for students studying living things at upper elementary level. The unit can be used as a standalone primer for students, using a new and exciting context of corals, clownfish and sharks, or as a comparative study to the local environment. Students work through a series of connected lessons to develop their understanding of: habitats and how they provide the basic needs of plants and animals identification, classification and the use of keys life cycles, anatomy and sexual reproduction how animals obtain their food using the idea of food chains how animals and plants are adapted to their environment human impact on the environment Access the full unit’s resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/coral-oceans-science-7-11