Learn about the fascinating underwater world of the Pacific Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef. Make maps and create diagrams of food chains, role-play an underwater expedition, make short documentaries about researched creatures. Finally use colour-wash and 3D sculpture techniques to create a Great Barrier Reef display.

Session 1 Where is the Pacific Ocean?

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, both terrestrial and marine.
  • Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, globes and aerial photographs.
  • Name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans.

Computing

  • Develop confidence and awareness of safe internet use.

Lesson Planning

Research information about the Pacific Ocean and create simple maps.

Teaching Outcomes
To locate the Pacific Ocean and to make comparisons between this and the Atlantic Ocean; To analyse simple maps and create own maps using simple geographical vocabulary.
To use simple search engines and select information appropriate to the task.

Children will:

  • Develop knowledge of world oceans and how they compare.
  • Learn about the Pacific Ocean and the countries around it.

Provided Resources

  • Pacific outline map
  • Pacific aerial photograph

You Will Need

  • Globe
  • Sticky notes
  • Atlases
  • Tablets or computers

Session 2 What lives in the Pacific Ocean?

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, both terrestrial and marine.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features, including sea, ocean and other geographical vocabulary.

Science

  • Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other.
  • Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats.
  • Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food.

Lesson Planning

Explore the habitats specific to the Pacific Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef. Create food chains of the creatures living within the reef.

Teaching Outcomes
To make comparisons between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and analyse their similarities and differences; To use simple geographical vocabulary.
To analyse how important the food chain is for survival of a species; To explore the species at each stage of the Pacific Ocean food chain.

Children will:

  • Gain knowledge of species’ food chains.
  • Understand how species depend on each other for survival.
  • Make comparisons to other known food chains including that of humans.

Provided Resources

  • Marine food chains presentation
  • Pacific food chain images
  • Pacific ocean food chain template
  • Example Pacific ocean food chain

You Will Need

You do not need any particular resources for this session.

Session 3 The Great Barrier Reef safari

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, both terrestrial and marine.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features, including sea, ocean and other geographical vocabulary.

Science

  • Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other.
  • Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats.

English

  • Participate in role-play.

Lesson Planning

Role-play an underwater expedition to the Great Barrier Reef. Research a creature you might find there and then create a short documentary about it.

Teaching Outcomes
To make comparisons between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and analyse their similarities and differences; To use simple geographical vocabulary.
To explore the habitat of the Great Barrier Reef and the creatures that live there.

Children will:

  • Explore the habitat of the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Understand how species depend on each other for survival.
  • Develop presentation skills.

Provided Resources

  • The Great Barrier Reef presentation
  • 12 Pacific search cards
  • What we found in the Great Barrier Reef

You Will Need

  • Tablets or computers
  • Reference books
  • Video camera or smartphone

Session 4 The Great Barrier Reef comes to life!

Objectives

Geography

  • Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places; both terrestrial and marine.
  • Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to key physical features, including sea, ocean and other geographical vocabulary.

Art and Design

  • Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • Use painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas.
  • Develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.

Lesson Planning

Use colour-wash and 3D sculpture techniques to create a Great Barrier Reef display.

Teaching Outcomes
To make comparisons between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and analyse their similarities and differences; To use simple geographical vocabulary.
To understand how to change colour to a different tone; To experiment with different types of sculpture using a variety of media.

Children will:

  • Explore further the habitat of the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Experiment with different types of sculpture.

You Will Need

  • Reference books
  • computers or tablets
  • A3 sugar paper
  • Watercolour paint
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Acrylic or poster paint
  • Wire and pliers (optional)
  • Air-drying clay
  • Rolling pin
  • Plastic modelling tools
  • A camera

Weblinks

There are no weblinks needed for this session.