A changing ocean KS1 full lesson

Lesson overview
This lesson helps students understand that oceans can change over time and how these changes affect marine life. Students will explore both natural cycles and human-caused changes, with a focus on temperature impacts on marine habitats and animals through visual media and movement-based activities.

Learning outcomes

• Notice that oceans change in different ways
• Understand that some changes happen again and again (like tides)
• See that other changes happen because of people
• Discover how ocean animals find homes and food when things change

Climate change and sustainability
As part of the strategy to embed climate and sustainability learning throughout primary school, this lesson has been designed to develop pro-environmental values and build the foundational knowledge needed to address climate and conservation topics more fully in later years.

Values integration

• Understanding that change happens
• Care about ocean changes
• Connection to marine life
• Recognition of local and global changes
• Climate change links

This lesson helps students understand that while oceans naturally change, some new changes are affecting ocean life in concerning ways. By connecting local changes to more dramatic changes in coral reefs, students begin to grasp how warming seas affect ocean creatures and their homes. This creates a foundation for understanding climate impacts across different scales - from local beaches to global oceans - preparing them for learning about positive actions in the next lesson.