Lesson 1 Ж Infants and First Class
Me and the Sea: In Our Aquarium
Lesson Plan
How are we the same and how are we different from each other? How are we the same as creatures in the sea? How are we different? What lives in our aquarium? What are some of the main
features of these creatures? Where in the aquarium can we find them?
Curricular Links:
SESE Geography:
Skills:
Geographical Investigation – questioning, observing, recording, communicating
A sense of place and space
Strands: Natural Environments – The local natural environment
Environmental Awareness and Care – Caring for my locality
SESE Science:
Skills:
Working scientifically – questioning, observing, sorting and classifying, recording
and communicating
Strands: Living Things – Myself & Plants and Animals
Environmental Awareness and Care – Caring for my locality
SPHE:
Strands: Myself – Self-identity
Myself and Others – Relating to Others
Myself and the Wider World – Developing citizenship
Arts Education, Visual Arts:
Concepts: An awareness of line, shape and form
Strands: Looking & Responding
Making Drawings
English:
Skills:
Literacy
Strands: Oral - Developing receptiveness, competence, confidence & cognitive abilities
Reading – Developing skills, interests, attitudes, response
Writing – Fostering the impulse to write.
Objectives:
An investigation of what lives in a saltwater aquarium through discussion,
questioning, observation, and supporting practical, artistic and reading activities. Looking at
student’s responsibilities for how they should care for these creatures and their aquarium home.
Time:
Part A: 35-45 minutes
Activity Option (visit to the GETNS aquarium): 20-30 minutes
Part B: 35-45 minutes
Materials:
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“Me and the Sea: In Our Aquarium”
Presentation & Presentation Notes. *Presentation on DVD or through PREZI
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Matching Activity
Instructions
http://prezi.com/pn71it0pby8q/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
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Community Collage Activity
Instructions
Creature Colouring pages
Creature Stencils & card
Colouring pencils, paint, glitter, scissors, glue etc
Background stencils & large A0 sheets of poster paper
Visit to the GETNS Activity
Spot & Record sheets, pencils
“Me and the Sea” reading books
Lenny the AnemoneЖJamie the FlatfishЖThe Travels of Jeremy the Blenny
Harry the Hermit CrabЖSandy and Stella the Starfish at the Rockpool
Method:
1) This lesson is ideally delivered together with 6th class students, who are the KEEPERS of the BLUE
MARBLES, and who will have been trained to support with the activities. It has been put together in
such a way that the presentation is the foundation, marking the flow of information and the timing of
activities. Notes on the presentation and on the activities are in the accompanying “presentation
notes” and “activity instructions” pages.
2) Ideally the content can be done over 2-3 different sessions, with the option of taking small groups
to make some observations and recordings at the GETNS aquarium delivered either as part of Lesson
Part A or Lesson Part B, or as its own activity. Note that Part A should precede both the aquarium
observation session, and Part B.
3) The suggestion for Part B is to begin with an art activity. When you get to this point, you may want
to quickly review the “What’s in our aquarium” creature slides from Part A, to facilitate the children
choosing one creature to study in more detail through the art activity.
4) The timing of the activities embedded within the information/presentation is based on the
students having enough learning around the creatures and waterscape of the aquarium, that the
activities will then support and further embed their learning. However, any of the activities could be
done in isolation.
Note on KEEPERS OF THE BLUE MARBLES: The contributions of sixth class supporters are at the
discretion of the teachers. Ideally they are involved at the minimum in supporting the activities –
especially the visit to the GETNS aquarium and the book reading. But if sufficiently prepared, they
may be in a position to deliver much of the teaching content also. There is a separate set of guidance
notes for the KEEPERS of the BLUE MARBLES.