Lesson overview

This lesson builds on the spatial and temperature zone understanding from the first lesson to explore ocean habitats and their animals. It helps students understand that different ocean animals need different conditions to survive, just like land animals. Students learn that the ocean isn't just one uniform space, but contains distinct habitats that provide homes for different creatures.

Learning outcomes

• Know that the ocean contains different types of homes (habitats)

• Connect ocean animals to their preferred homes

• Map ocean habitats and animals to different areas of the ocean

Preparation needed

The teacher should prepare the slideshow with images of ocean animals and habitats. The student sheets should be printed in advance. For the habitat investigation activity, please refer to the separate ‘Activity Overview Ocean habitat investigation’ for detailed setup instructions.

Lesson steps

1. Exploring ocean animals (10 minutes)

The lesson begins with a revision of the temperature zone map from the previous lesson. Ask students to recall the ocean temperature zones (warm, mild, cold). Then introduce today's focus: discovering which animals live in these different ocean areas.

Show photos of a selection of ocean animals on slide 3 and facilitate a discussion with questions such as:

• Have you seen any of these animals before?

• Where do you think they might live in the ocean?

• Do you think they prefer warm or cold water?

Use slide 6 to see if the temperature map can help students place the animals in different parts of the ocean.

2. Discovering ocean homes (15 minutes)

Introduce the key concept that, just like on land, animals in the ocean have different types of homes. Use slides 6 to 10 to introduce the five different habitats that are being studied in this lesson. For each habitat, ask students what they see in the photos, which animals they think might live there, and how the habitat might feel.

Basic descriptions for the habitats:

• Coral reef: warm, colourful underwater structures near land where many fish live

• Open ocean: deep blue water far from land, where many different animals swim

• Seagrass meadow: underwater fields of grass in mild and warm waters near land

• Polar ocean: cold, icy areas at the top and bottom of our world

• Sandy shore: beach areas where the ocean meets the land

Extend this section using the Student Sheet Ocean habitat cards and the categorisation sheets. Working in small groups, students should decide which section each habitat should be placed in:

• Temperature: cold, mild, or warm

• Depth: shallow or deep

• Distance: near shore, far from shore

A summary of correct sorting:

• Coral reef: warm / shallow / near shore

• Open ocean: cold, mild, and warm / deep / far from shore

• Seagrass meadow: mild and warm / shallow / near shore

• Polar ocean: cold / shallow and deep / near shore and far from shore

• Sandy shore: cold, mild, and warm / shallow / near shore

Additional information is included in the Ocean habitats gallery linked from the lesson page and as a QR code from the Student Sheet.

3. Ocean habitat investigation (20 minutes)

Conduct the habitat investigation activity as described in the separate Activity Overview Ocean habitat investigation. Photos of each of the animals included are on slides 16 to 30, with further details included in the Gallery Ocean animals linked from the lesson page.

The class should be divided into small groups, rotating through five stations featuring different ocean habitats. Images of the featured animals are included in the lesson slideshow for reference and discussion.

A simplified version of this activity would involve student groups placing the habitat cards around a desk area and then placing animal cards next to the habitat where students think they would be found. This can involve student groups recording their thoughts on the Student Sheet Ocean habitat record or through a whole class discussion.

Connecting habitats and animals can be reviewed using slides 31 to 40.

4. Creating our ocean habitat map (10 minutes)

Return to the temperature map from the previous lesson. Add habitat pictures to show where these ocean homes are found: coral reefs in warm waters, seagrass in mild waters, polar habitats in cold waters, sandy shores along coastlines, and open ocean across temperature zones.

The discussion should focus on which animals might be found in each area. Connect the concepts of distance from shore, temperature, and depth as factors that create different habitats.

5. Review through stories (5 minutes)

Tell simple stories about different ocean animals and their habitats. Example story starters include: "A clownfish lives in a coral reef because..." or "Penguins swim in polar waters where..."

Check understanding through questions such as:

• "Where does this animal live?"

• "Why is that a good habitat for this animal?"

• "What might happen if this animal's habitat changes?"

Science Key Stage 1

• Living things and their habitats: Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited

• Living things and their habitats: Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their marine habitats

• Working scientifically: Use observations to compare and contrast ocean environments

Geography Key Stage 1

• Human and physical geography: Identify hot and cold areas of the world in relation to the North and South Poles

• Geographical skills and fieldwork: Use simple directional language to describe locations within the ocean

PSHE Key Stage 1

• Living in the wider world: Develop awareness of the wider world and our responsibility towards ocean environments