Introduction to the Ocean
Discover key Ocean ecosystems, why the Ocean is important to all life on Earth, Ocean threats (like climate change and pollution) and how we can all take action to protect our Ocean.
View resourceIntroduction to the deep sea
- Ages 5 - 7
- Biodiversity, Habitats, Marine life, Pollution
- UK Curriculum
- English
- (flexible) 30 min – 1 hour
How deep is the Ocean?
This KS1 Ocean Academy resource introduces young children to the deep sea.Â
Explore the Ocean’s zones and the extraordinary animals that live there. Through hands-on, age-appropriate activities (pin-the-animal, printable depth sheets, and group discussion), students will practise identifying and classifying species and learn where plastic can travel in our Ocean — even to the deepest trenches.
This learning resource pack includes a short, gentle introduction to microplastics and everyday actions using the 5Rs to reduce pollution. Activities are adaptable for whole-class or small-group delivery and are designed to spark curiosity, empathy and practical action without fear-mongering.Â
Students will:Â
- Identify and name a variety of deep-sea animals
- Classify animals by the Ocean zone they inhabit
- Understand that plastic reaches even the deepest Ocean and what microplastics are
- Make simple, everyday pledges to reduce plastic through the 5Rs
- Build observation, vocabulary and sorting skills
Learning resource details
All resources created by Ocean Generation are backed by Science.Â
We steer clear of fear-mongering and, instead, provide science-backed facts, spark curiosity and empower action.  Our resources are designed to be seamlessly integrated across multiple subjects, improve Ocean literacy and connect classroom topics to real-world environmental issues.
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This Ocean learning resource supports:Â
Early science skills (identification & classification), geography-based thinking about habitats, and to citizenship-style thinking about everyday actions that affect the Ocean.
-  Science: identify and classify, habitats, living things
- Geography: marine zones, local/global environments
- Citizenship / PSHE: responsible behaviour, community action Â
Students will:Â
- Learn the names and features of deep-sea creatures and zones (sunlight, twilight, midnight, abyss, trenches)
- Investigate where plastic can travel in the Ocean and why it matters
- Explore microplastics in an age-appropriate way
- Consider everyday choices (the 5Rs) that reduce pollution
This resource includes:Â
- Presentation for whole-class delivery
- Teacher facilitation notes, for the presentation
- Teacher resource for additional context
- Printable Ocean depth sheet and animal cut-outs
- 5Rs classroom discussion prompts and home-action ideas
Related SDG Goals
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