Background information:

When we talk about biodiversity we are talking about all the plants and animals that live on Earth, including those that live in the oceans. Unfortunately, our oceans are also suffering from human activity. Issues like overfishing, pollution and climate change are all threatening the long term health of our oceans.

Overfishing - Unregulated fisheries in many parts of the world have seen global fish populations plummet. Many fish stocks are now desperately low, affecting not only those individual species but also those species that rely on them for food.
Pollution - In the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a vast and murky pool of rubbish. Known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch it is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water.
Climate change - Our oceans act as carbon sinks, absorbing the excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere caused by human activity. Unfortunately, the oceans don’t just stop absorbing when they’ve had enough; they keep absorbing until it alters the chemical composition of the oceans waters. This leaves the oceans more acidic; a process known as ocean acidification. This has devastating consequences for shell fish whose shells are made of calcium, which is dissolved by the rising acid levels in the ocean.

Here are just some of the things you can do to help our oceans:

Take action against climate change - Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and dress for the weather instead of using a fan or heater.
Make sustainable seafood choices - When shopping or dining out, choose seafood that from sustainable sources: Sustainable Seafood Guide or Sustainable Seafood Product Finder. Also check the label on your pet’s food.
Use less plastic - Carry a reusable water bottle, store food in non-disposable containers, bring your own reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.
Help take care of the beach - Leave coral and wildlife on the in the sea, and participate in local beach cleanups.
Don't purchase items that exploit marine life - Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products.

Definitions:

Ocean acidification - When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it combines with seawater to produce carbonic acid, which increases the acidity of the water, lowering its pH. Although it is unlikely that the ocean will ever become actual acid (fall below a pH of 7.0), the term acidification refers to the process of the oceans becoming more acidic.
Climate change - A change in global climate patterns apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards, attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

New words for children to learn:

Fin
Gill
Flipper
Webbed feet

Activity: Healthy oceans

Ages - 0 to 2

Preparation: For this activity you will need:

A range of toy sea animals suitable for getting wet. Your selection should include sea animals such as fish, shark, starfish, seahorse etc and should have at least one for each child.
A range of sea-related materials, such as sand, shells, seaweed and pebbles/rocks.
A half full bucket or tub of water (the sea). Place all your materials close to the sea.

Begin the activity by talking to your children about how there are some animals that live on the land and there are some that live in the water.

Using the plastic toys, ask children to place their sea animals in the ‘sea’. Encourage children to look closely at the sea animals and talk about the features of each animal and how these features help them to live in the water (e.g. fins, gills, flipper, webbed feet). Allow children to spend some time playing with the animals in the sea.

What else can you find in the sea? Show children your selection of other sea-related materials and ask them to add them to the sea, talking about what they are as you go.

Provocations

I wonder which animals live in the water?
I wonder how these animals can live in the water?
I wonder what these animals eat?
I wonder how these animals can sleep?
I wonder if we like to eat fish?

Possible lines of development

Water safety.
Make a landscape with land animals and land materials.
Float or sink - test other materials to see which ones float or sink in the water.

Ages - 2 to 3

What to do

Preparation: For this activity you will the following materials -

A range of toy animals suitable for getting wet. Your selection should include sea animals such as fish, shark, starfish, seahorse etc and land animals such as horse, lion, elephant and bird.
A range of sea-related materials, such as sand, shells, seaweed and pebbles/rocks.
A half-full bucket or tub of water (the sea). Place all your materials close to the sea.

This activity may be messy and may be better suited to the outdoors.

Begin this activity by asking children to think about what types of animals live in the water. If you have a centre fish tank, use this as the basis for your conversation.

Ask children to create a sea in the tub of water, taking turns to add items to the sea. Children will need to think about which items might be found in the sea, in particular, which animals you might find in the sea. As each sea animal is added to the sea, talk to children about the features that animal has that allows it to survive in the sea (such as gills or fins).

Allow children to play with their sea.

Ask children to select one sea animal and role-play their animal, imagining they are swimming or walking around a coral reef. Where do they sleep? What do they eat? Who are they friends with? Who are they afraid of? Consider using classroom furniture and materials to represent parts of the coral reef.

Provocations

I wonder what animals live in the sea?
I wonder where animals that live in the sea sleep?
I wonder what animals that live in the sea eat?
I wonder how animal in the sea breathe under the water?
I wonder if animal that live in the sea can make noises?

Possible lines of development

Water safety.
Build a landscape using land animals and land materials.
Float or sink - test other materials to see which ones float or sink in the water.
Create a healthy oceans diorama - download the sea diorama worksheet.

Ages - 3 to 5

What to do

Preparation: For this activity you will the following materials:

A range of toy animals suitable for getting wet. Your selection should include sea animals such as fish, shark, starfish, seahorse etc and land animals such as horse, lion, elephant and bird.
A range of sea-related materials, such as sand, shells, seaweed and pebbles/rocks.
A range of waste materials, such as plastic bag, chip packet, plastic bottle, tin can (all items should be clean and sharp edges covered in masking tape).
A half-full bucket or tub of water (the sea). Place your materials close to the sea.

This activity may be messy and may be better suited to the outdoors.

Explain to children that they are going to create a healthy ocean. The tub of water represents the ocean and there are a selection of things that you may or may not find in the ocean. It’s up to the children to decide what you might find in a healthy ocean.

Ask children to take turns in adding something to the healthy ocean. This should include sea creatures and sea-related materials. Talk to children about their choices and ask them to explain their choices. Help children to understand that all the sea animals have a role to play in a healthy ocean. The smallest animals help to keep the water clean and provide food for the big animals. And the big animals make sure there aren’t too many little animals by eating them! Too many little animals would mean the ocean was unhealthy.

Finally, talk to children about the waste items. Should you be finding waste items in a healthy ocean? No. Waste items in the ocean not only look ugly but can also harm sea creatures. How can we keep waste out of the sea? By putting it in either the rubbish or recycling bin. Take your examples of waste and help children put them into the right bin.

Provocations

I wonder what animals live in a healthy ocean?
I wonder what other things we might find in a healthy ocean?
I wonder what types of waste we will find in a healthy ocean?
I wonder why it is important to have healthy oceans?
I wonder where rubbish should go?

Possible lines of development

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenge and persisting when difficulty arises
Well being	Being involved

Embedding into daily practice

Healthy Oceans

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Summary

Activity guides and printables

Activity Details

Curriculum Mapping

Resources Required

Additional Info

In this activity