Oceans of curiosity
In this live lesson, students will explore one of the ocean’s most surprising ideas: that muddy seabeds are busy places where many sea creatures live and work together.
At first glance, seabed mud looks empty and lifeless. But when scientists look more closely, they discover worms, shellfish, crabs and other animals all sharing the same space and shaping their environment together.
Joining us live, marine scientists from the University of Exeter will share stories from their fieldwork in Canada, where they study how life on the seafloor works as a team. Students will discover how different sea creatures depend on one another, and how scientists use curiosity to understand what’s happening beneath the waves.
Through stories, images, quick questions, and a child-friendly Ask Me Anything, this session puts curiosity first, showing that science often begins by noticing something ordinary and asking, “What’s really going on here?”
Upcoming broadcast
- 45 mins
- Ages 7-11
Broadcast via YouTube Live (please check school access)
Learning objectives
This live lesson supports students to:
Develop curiosity about the ocean and the natural world
Discover that habitats can be full of life even when they look empty
Understand that scientists ask questions to learn more about how the world works
Explore how different sea creatures live and work together on the seabed
Preparation
This is a standalone lesson for British Science Week 2026. No prior knowledge or specific preparation is required. Teachers may wish to explore selected primary (ages 7-11) resources from the Convex Seascape Survey to extend learning after the lesson.
A simple student reflection sheet will be available to download from this page, focusing on:
One thing that surprised me
One sea creature I learned about
One question I would like to ask a scientist
If you have never joined a live lesson before, visit the support centre for technical guidance and classroom tips.
Submitting questions in advance
Teachers and students are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the live lesson. This helps us group similar questions together, allowing the scientists to answer more of them during the session.
Once you have registered for the lesson, use the question box on the right-hand side of the lesson page to submit your class’s questions. Questions can be added at any point before (and during) the live broadcast.
Lesson steps
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
We welcome students and introduce an ocean mystery: how can muddy seabeds be full of life? Students share first impressions and questions, beginning the lesson with curiosity rather than answers.
2. Meet the scientists (8 minutes)
Marine scientists from the University of Exeter share short, story-based accounts of their fieldwork in Canada:
Where they go to study the seabed
What they look for when they collect samples
What questions make them curious
The focus is on exploration, teamwork and asking good questions.
3. How sea creatures work together (8 minutes)
Students learn how different seabed animals interact. This helps students see the seabed as a shared, living habitat.
4. Quick curiosity questions (5 minutes)
The scientists answer short, engaging questions such as:
What’s the strangest thing you’ve found?
Which sea creature surprised you the most?
What question do you still want to answer?
5. Ask Me Anything (20 minutes)
Students take the lead, asking their own questions about:
Sea creatures and habitats
Life on research boats
Being a scientist
Exploring the ocean
Scientists respond live, showing that curiosity and not knowing yet are part of science.
6. Staying curious (5 minutes)
Students reflect on how their thinking has changed and what new questions they have. The session ends by reinforcing that curiosity - looking closely and asking questions - is how scientists learn about the ocean.
Brought to you by
In partnership with
Teach the goals
Oceans of curiosity
In this live lesson, students will explore one of the ocean’s most surprising ideas: that muddy seabeds are busy places where many sea creatures live and work together.
At first glance, seabed mud looks empty and lifeless. But when scientists look more closely, they discover worms, shellfish, crabs and other animals all sharing the same space and shaping their environment together.
Joining us live, marine scientists from the University of Exeter will share stories from their fieldwork in Canada, where they study how life on the seafloor works as a team. Students will discover how different sea creatures depend on one another, and how scientists use curiosity to understand what’s happening beneath the waves.
Through stories, images, quick questions, and a child-friendly Ask Me Anything, this session puts curiosity first, showing that science often begins by noticing something ordinary and asking, “What’s really going on here?”
Upcoming broadcast
- 45 mins
- Ages 7-11
Broadcast via YouTube Live (please check school access)
Learning objectives
This live lesson supports students to:
Develop curiosity about the ocean and the natural world
Discover that habitats can be full of life even when they look empty
Understand that scientists ask questions to learn more about how the world works
Explore how different sea creatures live and work together on the seabed
Preparation
This is a standalone lesson for British Science Week 2026. No prior knowledge or specific preparation is required. Teachers may wish to explore selected primary (ages 7-11) resources from the Convex Seascape Survey to extend learning after the lesson.
A simple student reflection sheet will be available to download from this page, focusing on:
One thing that surprised me
One sea creature I learned about
One question I would like to ask a scientist
If you have never joined a live lesson before, visit the support centre for technical guidance and classroom tips.
Submitting questions in advance
Teachers and students are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the live lesson. This helps us group similar questions together, allowing the scientists to answer more of them during the session.
Once you have registered for the lesson, use the question box on the right-hand side of the lesson page to submit your class’s questions. Questions can be added at any point before (and during) the live broadcast.
Lesson steps
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
We welcome students and introduce an ocean mystery: how can muddy seabeds be full of life? Students share first impressions and questions, beginning the lesson with curiosity rather than answers.
2. Meet the scientists (8 minutes)
Marine scientists from the University of Exeter share short, story-based accounts of their fieldwork in Canada:
Where they go to study the seabed
What they look for when they collect samples
What questions make them curious
The focus is on exploration, teamwork and asking good questions.
3. How sea creatures work together (8 minutes)
Students learn how different seabed animals interact. This helps students see the seabed as a shared, living habitat.
4. Quick curiosity questions (5 minutes)
The scientists answer short, engaging questions such as:
What’s the strangest thing you’ve found?
Which sea creature surprised you the most?
What question do you still want to answer?
5. Ask Me Anything (20 minutes)
Students take the lead, asking their own questions about:
Sea creatures and habitats
Life on research boats
Being a scientist
Exploring the ocean
Scientists respond live, showing that curiosity and not knowing yet are part of science.
6. Staying curious (5 minutes)
Students reflect on how their thinking has changed and what new questions they have. The session ends by reinforcing that curiosity - looking closely and asking questions - is how scientists learn about the ocean.
Brought to you by
In partnership with
Teach the goals