Our Ocean Planet

Science / Geography | Ages 7-11

  1. 1. The UK seas with Paul Rose
  2. 2. UK marine habitats with Dr Susana Lincoln
  3. 3. UK marine life with Dr Ceri Lewis and Dr Helen Findlay
  4. 4. Using our seas with Jennifer Gomez Molina
  5. 5. Our ocean voyage with Prof Alex Rogers
  6. 6. The Arctic Ocean and the water cycle with Prof Mark Brandon
  7. 7. The Atlantic Ocean and climate with Prof Penny Holliday
  8. 8. The Indian Ocean and classification with Sheena Talma
  9. 9. The Pacific Ocean and plastic pollution with Jo Royle
  10. 10. The Southern Ocean and penguin adaptation with Dr Norman Ratcliffe
  11. 11. The Southern Ocean and penguin evolution with Dr Michael Dunn
  12. 12. Captain’s log

Our ocean voyage with Prof Alex Rogers

Part of:

AXA Ocean Education

Lesson overview

This lesson introduces students to the breadth and wonder of the ocean. They will learn about the names and locations of the world’s oceans before looking at some of the major marine features. The lesson also sets up the students’ ocean voyage over the next six lessons, where they will explore the different parts of the ocean discovering the diversity and importance of the ocean as well as some of the issues it faces.

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 5b to facilitate this. Students can demonstrate their learning on the appropriate sections of Student Sheet 5a.

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 Subject Update 6 to facilitate this. Students can demonstrate their learning by answering the Slide based questions.