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Introducing the world’s oceans
This Geography scheme of work video supports teachers in introducing pupils to the five oceans of the world, their locations, and key facts that distinguish them. The video also addresses common misconceptions and helps teachers build clear, accurate geographical understanding for Key Stage 1 pupils
The lesson explains that oceans are vast bodies of saltwater that together cover around 70% of the Earth’s surface. Pupils will learn the names and locations of the five oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. The video clarifies the difference between oceans and seas, noting that seas are smaller areas of saltwater near land and that there are around 50 named seas globally. Examples include the Hudson Bay in Canada and the Dead Sea, a landlocked saltwater body between Israel and Jordan. Teachers are guided in addressing misconceptions, particularly the idea that there are “two Pacific Oceans” due to how world maps are often labelled. The video suggests using a map centred on the Pacific Ocean to illustrate that it is a single, continuous body of water. Teachers are also supported in helping pupils visualise the Pacific as the largest and deepest ocean, spanning from Asia and Oceania to the Americas, and home to the Challenger Deep, the ocean’s deepest point.
This video prepares teachers to support pupils in building global locational knowledge and using atlases or digital maps to identify the oceans by position and size.
See more of our Year 1 and Year 2 Geography scheme of work.
