Y1/2 (A): Lesson 3: Ocean litter

Investigating what happens to different types of litter soaked in water over time to work out which will impact ocean habitats the least. This lesson is part of the mixed-age scheme.

turtle biting a plastic bag in the ocean

Learning objectives

Knowledge

To describe some ways humans affect the ocean.

Working scientifically

To investigate what happens to different materials in the ocean.

Success criteria

Knowledge

I can recall some different types of litter that affect ocean habitats.
I can describe some of the problems linked to ocean litter.
I can suggest ways to reduce how human litter affects the ocean.

Working scientifically

I can begin to plan an experiment to see what happens to materials in ocean water over time.
I can predict changes to materials over time.
I can observe and make comparisons of materials soaked in water.

Before the lesson

Watch

Lesson plan

Display the Presentation: Sorting ocean objects or arrange the equivalent objects in front of the class (see Have ready).

Presentation: Sorting ocean objects

Make presentation full-screen

Ask the children to discuss with a partner how they would sort the objects into two piles:

Things that belong in the ocean.
Things that do not belong in the ocean.

Ask for a volunteer to be in charge of either moving the objects or dragging the items in the presentation. Take class votes for each item to help decide which pile it belongs in. Encourage the children to justify opinions that differ from the majority, for example, the toy fish should not be in the ocean but a real fish should.

Hold up the storybook 'Somebody Swallowed Stanley' by Sarah Roberts and inform the class that things that do not belong in the ocean can be very confusing for the ocean animals that live there. Point to Stanley, the carrier bag, on the front of the book and ask the class:

Does Stanley belong in the ocean? (No.)

Explain to the class that they should try to remember as many things as possible that do and do not belong in the ocean.

Read the story aloud or use the link: CBeebies - Somebody Swallowed Stanley and pause at key moments to draw attention to things found in the ocean or to relate to the feeding relationships explored.

Questions

What things did you see that belong in the ocean? (Jellyfish, fish, seaweed, the whale, barnacles, anemones and the sea turtle.)
What things did you see that did not belong in the ocean? (Stanley, the carrier bag, Stanley as a kite and its string.)
Why did the animals keep trying to eat Stanley? (Carrier bags floating in water look like jellyfish, which is food or prey for many ocean creatures.)
Why is it dangerous for the animals trying to eat Stanley? (Carrier bags cannot be eaten and may harm or stop the animals from eating real food.)

Ask the class:

Choose one bottle for each type of litter that has been soaking. Ask for a volunteer to hold each bottle at the front of the class. Invite the class to observe the changes to the materials inside the bottles. Ask them to help rearrange the volunteers from ‘most changed’ to ‘least changed’, based on what they can see. Discuss which material could be the worst for ocean animals. Ask the children how confident they are in their choice at this stage of the experiment. They may begin to justify their reasons based on the animals trying to eat Stanley from the book.

Explain to the class that they will leave their bottles in a set place for one week and return to check their predictions and observe the results.

Ask the class: