Our Ocean Planet Science Geography ages 7-11 unit is a KS2 teacher resource. Students discover marine topics across both the UK and globally, developing ocean literacy.
The ocean surrounding the UK is the Atlantic Ocean, the second largest ocean in the world. In total it covers more than one fifth of the Earth’s surface. In the middle of the Atlantic there are lots of mountains deep underneath the water.
Wikipedia / Alvesgaspar
Largest harbour
On the South coast of Dorset is an area sheltered from the sea called Poole Harbour. The harbour was formed at the end of the last ice age when sea levels rose. It is the largest harbour in the UK, and one of the biggest in the world.
Wikipedia / Arpingstone
Longest river
The River Severn runs 220 miles from Plynlimon in the Welsh mountains to the sea. On its journey, the fresh water in the UK’s longest river, travels through Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
Encyclopedia Britannica / Chris Bayley
Highest cliff
On the North coast of Exmoor is Hangman Cliff. The cliff is a very steep rock face and made is of limestone. The cliff rises to 1,43ft (or 318m) from the sea which makes it the highest in the UK.
Wikipedia / Martin Bodman
Newest sea
During the last ice age, the English Channel was dry land with a massive river running down the middle. When all the ice melted, the English Channel was flooded to make the UK’s newest sea. A sea is a smaller part of an ocean near land.
NASA
Busiest port
Felixstowe is a town on the coast of Suffolk facing the North Sea. People have lived in Felixstowe for over 1000 years, but it didn’t become important until the port opened in 1875. More ships load and unload goods at the Port of Felixstowe than anywhere else in the UK.
Wikipedia / John Fielding
Remotest island
Fair Isle is an island with less than 100 people and only one school! The nearest inhabited places are the Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands which are both over 20 miles away by sea. So the island's most famous having the UK's remotest coastline. The coast is where the sea meets the land.
Wikipedia / Neil Fairbrother
Most popular beach
In the middle of the 18th century, people started to spend their free time in a new way: by going to the beach! Beaches are areas covered by sand or pebbles where the land meets the sea. Since 1840, when the rail station opened, there have been millions of visitors making Blackpool the most popular beach in the UK.