Onsite Educational Workshops and Activities
We have been busy reviewing our education programme for schools and now offer a set of new education workshops for age 7-11 students! Drawing on our core principles to offer students the feeling of connectivity and empathy for our world's oceans, explore our habitat and adaptation and conservation workshops below.
We are currently reviewing our pre-school, age 5-6 and secondary school programmes. In the meantime, you might like to explore our free lesson plans.
Workshop Lesson Plans
Habitat Explorers (age 5-6)
BOOK THIS WORKSHOP IF… YOUR STUDENTS ARE STUDYING HABITATS AND ADAPTATIONS
Invite students to become Habitat Explorers as they dive deep underwater into the ocean habitats of some of our SEA LIFE creatures! Together they will jump into a world of amazing discovery to learn about different underwater habitats and the creatures that live there. Thinking about habitats and adaptation, students will consider the challenges of different underwater habitats (rockpool, coral reef, deep sea), matching creatures and their adaptations to the different habitats that they discover, and eventually creating their very own sea creatures!
Students will...
- Broaden knowledge of the marine environment and associated species.
- Identify and describe a variety of ocean habitats and understand that different creatures live in these habitats.
- Identify the challenges of different underwater habitats and how animals need to adapt to overcome them.
- Identify advantages and disadvantages of certain characteristics belonging to creatures under the sea.
Habitat Explorers (age 7-11)
BOOK THIS WORKSHOP IF… YOUR STUDENTS ARE STUDYING HABITATS AND ADAPTATIONS
Invite students to become Habitat Explorers as they dive deep underwater into the ocean habitats of some of our SEA LIFE creatures! Together they will jump into a world of amazing discovery to learn about the different zones of the ocean and the creatures that live there. Thinking about habitats and adaptation, students will consider the challenges of different micro-habitats in the ocean, matching creatures and their adaptations to the different zones that they discover, and eventually creating their very own sea creatures!
Students will:
- Understand that the ocean is made up of layers or zones and that each is a different micro-habitat for sea creatures
- Identify the five different layers or zones of the ocean and understand that different creatures live in the different ocean zones.
- Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways.
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of certain characteristics in different habitats.
- Consider the challenges that creatures face in different ocean zones and how they might overcome them to survive.
Workshop Lesson Plans
Layers of the Ocean (Pre-Visit)
The ocean is composed of various layers or zones, and it is incredibly deep. Students have the opportunity to develop sensory maps based on the amount of light each ocean zone receives. They can also conduct an experiment to create a layered "Ocean in a Jar" using liquid density.
Inheritance & Variation (Post-Visit)
This lesson is going to be super helpful in identifying inherited characteristics in living things. You'll learn that variation occurs within offspring as well as across a species, and you'll be able to easily tell the difference between inherited and environmental characteristics.
Our Sea Creatures (age 7-11)
BOOK THIS WORKSHOP IF…. YOUR STUDENTS HAVE NEVER VISITED A SEA LIFE CENTRE
Invite students to learn about some of our core SEA LIFE creatures! Together they will dive into a world of amazing discovery to learn about three core creatures: sharks, jellyfish and seahorses – understanding their different needs and completing exclusive SEA LIFE quizzes for each. Students will think about the importance of animal welfare and use the core aquarium standards to create tanks for the different creatures, based on their understanding of creatures’ needs and happiness markers.
Students will:
- Explore creature features by identifying with core SEA LIFE creatures and discussing their differences
- Empathise with sea creatures and understand the need for animal welfare and protection.
- Understand the role of the Aquarist/Curator at SEA LIFE.
- Create a unique tank, considering key features including: shape, water flow, substrate, aquascape and appropriate tank mates.
- Inspire a love for marine wildlife and an interest in animal welfare
Workshop Lesson Plans
Incredible Sea Creatures (Pre-Visit)
In this lesson, students get to dive into the wonderful world of sea creatures and the ocean. They'll get to put their thinking caps on and come up with a list of cool questions to ask during their visit to SEA LIFE. Also, they can create Fact Cards for three amazing sea creatures.
Creative Writing (Post-Visit)
How about we get creative and have some fun with SEA LIFE? Students will have the chance to write about their SEA LIFE experience using cool and powerful words to describe their favourite sea creature. They'll also create a poem or short story based on the sea creature they choose, helping to improve their writing skills and have a blast while learning about the amazing world of marine life.
Sea Defenders (age 7-11)
BOOK THIS WORKSHOP IF… YOU ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A PLEDGE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE OCEAN
Invite students to become Sea Defenders! They will investigate it is important to protect our oceans, raising awareness of their own relationships with the ocean and how their daily actions can positively or negatively affect the marine environment. Students should be inspired to make changes in their lifestyle and actively contribute towards solutions.
Students will:
- Appreciate litter, pollution, and its impact on the world.
- Identify different materials and which recycling bin they belong in.
- Understand the terms: biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and plastic pollution.
- Understand the impact of human behaviours: that marine wildlife can get tangled in fishing lines, nets and plastic pollution.
- Take action to reduce negative impacts on the marine environment and make a pledge for the protection of the ocean.
Workshop Lesson Plans
What the Ocean Means (Pre-Visit)
Embark on a journey to explore the significance of our oceans. Students will create a persuasive poster campaign to preserve this invaluable natural resource.
Ocean Pollution (Post-Visit)
Let's reduce, reuse, and recycle waste to protect the oceans. By using less plastic, finding ways to reuse products and recycling, we can prevent pollution and harm to marine life
Save Our Seas: The Rangers Challenge
A visit to SEA LIFE Loch Lomond during a school trip can positively impact students' connection and empathy towards marine life. It can also inspire them to become champions of ocean conservation. Our new 'Save our Seas: The Rangers Challenge' activity pack is designed to assist students as they explore 8 different zones within the aquarium. During their visit, they will have the opportunity to meet some of our amazing marine friends, such as Lily, Pickle and Cub, the Asian Short Claw Otters. By using these packs, they can unlock 'Otterly' excellent knowledge about marine animals and their habitats.
Key Learning Outcomes (Age 5-11yrs)
Pupils will consider:
- The different sea creatures they’ll encounter and their habitats.
- How sea creatures are being negatively impacted by human behaviour.
- What can be done to help protect the sea creatures and their habitats
There are extension activities within the booklet for further challenges. We offer two versions of the pack, one tailored to ages 5-7yrs and the other 7-11yrs.
How it works...
- Before the trip, pupils will be set their challenge by a video message from Ranger Bethan.
- At SEA LIFE Loch Lomond, They’ll encounter our crab-ulous creatures and their habitats.
- They’ll record their learning using our activity pack filled with engaging tasks.
- Back at school, they’ll apply their learning by creating an informative campaign educating their community.
