These activities are based on the article ‘Under the Sea!’ from issue 18 of Animal Planet magazine (included). There are opportunities to develop comprehension and writing skills using the resources provided.
Pupils will explore the world’s largest habitat – the ocean – learning about creatures that live at different depths. They will create an animal that could live in the ocean, thinking about the adaptations it would need to live at a particular depth.
In the writing task, pupils will imagine they are in a submarine, travelling to the ocean floor. They will write a journey story, describing the creatures they see on their adventure.
Teachers’ notes are included for each of the activities, with suggested activities to develop the unit further.
This resource pack includes:
- Copy of the Animal Planet article ‘Under the Sea’
- Comprehension question cards (with answer sheet)
- ‘Design an ocean creature’ worksheet
- ‘Ocean depths’ worksheet
- ‘Creatures from under the sea’ images
- Writing prompt
- Planning sheet
- Themed writing paper
- Teaching notes
What is Animal Planet magazine?
This pack has been created in association with Animal Planet magazine, which fuels curious minds, helps children make sense of the world and sparks joy on every page.
To find out more, and register your interest in a school subscription, visit the Animal Planet magazine website.
National Curriculum Programme of Study Links
READING
Pupils should develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read by listening to and discussing a wide range of … non-fiction
Pupils should understand what they read by
- checking that the text makes sense to them, discussing their understanding and exploring the meaning of words in context.
- asking questions to improve their understanding of the text.
Pupils should be taught how to retrieve, record and present
information from non-fiction.
WRITING
Pupils should plan their writing by discussing and recording ideas
(years 5 and 6 also by drawing on research where necessary)
Pupils should draft and write by
- organising paragraphs around a theme
- in narratives, creating characters, setting and plot and (year 5 / 6) create atmosphere and integrating dialogue to convey character and advance action.
SCIENCE (year 6)
Pupils should be taught to identify how plants and animals are
adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that
adaptation may lead to evolution.