Frozen Oceans at home

Cross-curricular | Ages 7-11

  1. 1. Our ocean voyage
  2. 2. Arctic Ocean and the water cycle
  3. 3. What organisms live in the Arctic?
  4. 4. How do humans and animals keep warm in the Arctic?
  5. 5. How is the Arctic changing?
  6. 6. Captain's log

Our ocean voyage

Part of:

AXA Ocean Education
Lesson overview

This lesson introduces students to the breadth and wonder of the world’s ocean. Students will learn about the names and locations of the world’s ocean basins before looking at some of the major marine features. The lesson also sets up the students’ learning over the next lessons, where they will explore different aspects of the Arctic Ocean.

Learning outcomes
  • Name and locate the world’s oceans
  • Name and locate major marine features
  • Write geographical descriptions for major marine features
Lesson steps
  1. Mission statement from Prof Alex Rogers (5 mins)
    Students are introduced to the ocean voyage they will go on for the next six lessons. Opportunities for literacy practice using Prof Alex Rogers’s opening statement.
  2. Our ocean in numbers (5 mins)
    Students guess the answers to ocean questions choosing from a list of numbers on the board.
  3. Naming and locating the oceans (20 mins)
    Students follow clues to name and locate the world’s oceans. Students also have the opportunity to solve the problem of trying to count the number of oceans.
  4. Marine wonders (20 mins)
    Students explore some of the world’s major marine features. This is also an opportunity to practise atlas skills or the use of online maps.
  5. Voyage map (45 mins)
    Using the idea of a marine chart, students use the map template to make their own voyage map, where they can record their learning over the next weeks as they explore the world’s oceans.
  6. Reflection (10 mins)
    Use the reflection pyramid to guide students to review their learning for this lesson.
Differentiation

By task
To support lower ability students, focus on naming and locating the world’s oceans and major marine landscape features. Use the Slides and Student Sheet 1b to facilitate this. Students can demonstrate their learning on the appropriate sections of Student Sheet 1a.

To challenge higher ability students, focus on questioning the logic, practicality, and validity of dividing the ocean up into different named, bodies of water. Use the Slides and the Subject Update to facilitate this. Students can demonstrate their learning by answering Slide based questions.