KS1

Topic: Oceans and Seas Block B: Atlantic Underwater

World

Session 2
National
Curriculu
m
Teaching
Objectives
National
Curriculu
m
Teaching
Objectives
Resources

What Lives in the Atlantic Ocean?

Science: To identify and name a variety of common animals including fish,

amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals; To identify that most living things live in
habitats to which they are suited.
To explore how animals in the Atlantic demonstrate adaptation to their environment
through camouflage and an ability to repel water.

Art: To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products; To use
drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and
imagination; To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour,
pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
To create collaged images of Atlantic sea creatures to explore the idea of camouflage
and adaptation; To understand the role of patterning in camouflage.

Atlantic Marine Life; Gull; How to Make

Camouflaged Creatures; Atlantic Silhouettes,
printed on A3 or A4 paper; Experiment
Record Chart; Patterned scrapbook paper or
wallpaper; Scissors; Glue; Large jar with lid;
Food colouring; Cooking oil.

Weblinks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orrdcwTuXmQ Camouflaged octopus;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHlRQEIt2-Y Camouflaged flounder;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8RlGbpuhgc Other camouflaged sea creatures.

Whole class:
Talk partners discuss conditions below the waves in the Atlantic and then feed back their friends
ideas. It is a cold and dark environment, generally. Even up above the waves, it can be stormy and
wild. No humans live under the sea but what does? Take suggestions and then look at Atlantic
Marine Life (session resources). Which creatures do you recognise? Can we identify any other
creatures shown in this picture? Have you ever seen any of these in real life, in an aquarium,
maybe? All of these creatures are adapted to living in wet, cold, dark, stormy conditions. Discuss
the term adapted, meaning having features that are suited to living comfortably in their habitat.
Point to the gull in the photograph. What creature is this? Show the Gull image (session resources)
and talk about how the gull is adapted to its environment. It has a long, strong beak for catching
fish and digging for worms. It has big, sharp eyes to see little movements in the sea. Point out its
webbed feet for paddling in water and its spiked claws for gripping onto rocks. Why does it need big
wings? It also has thick, downy under-feathers to keep it warm, even in the cold. Introduce the word
camouflage. Does the gull need to be camouflaged? Why? How does it camouflage itself? Point out
that a gulls feathers are the same colour as rocks and waves, so it can hide amongst them. How
does the gull stay dry in all that bad Atlantic weather, or when it dives into the water for fish?
Explain that an oily substance on its feathers stops water getting through to its skin, keeping the
gull bird dry and warm. They are waterproofed, a bit like our waterproof coats! Lets see how that
works.
Fill a jar full of water. Add a few drops of green or blue food colouring and watch its dispersal as it
mixes completely with the water. Show the chn the oil. What will happen when I add this to the jar?
Take suggestions and demonstrate. Why is there no blending of the oil and water? What if we mix it
harder? Demonstrate. Can we make the water go on top of the oil? Turn over jar. Discuss the
repulsive effect of oil on water. Animals use oil to repel water and stay dry and warm. Unfortunately,
oil can also harm them: if oil spills into the sea, it makes life really hard for sea creatures. Imagine
trying to come through oil if you were a bird or fish! If appropriate, ask the chn to complete the
Experiment Record Chart (session resources).

Easy/ Medium/ Hard

The chn follow the instructions on How to Make Camouflaged Creatures, using printed copies of
Atlantic Silhouettes (see session resources). Chn finishing early write a short paragraph about how
their creature is adapted to its life in the Atlantic.
Teacher to support as needed.
Plenary Show the video clips of the camouflaged octopus, camouflaged flounder and other
camouflaged sea creatures. Can you spot the camouflaged sea creature in these
videos? Where are they? What are they? Why are they camouflaged?
Outcom Children will
Understand that animals in the Atlantic are adapted to their environment
es
Conduct an experiment that demonstrates how oil repels water
Learn that that many marine animals and sea birds use an oily substance to
remain dry
Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.

KS1

Topic: Oceans and Seas Block B: Atlantic Underwater

World

Explore how and why sea creatures make use of camouflage

Use patterned paper to create pictures of camouflaged Atlantic marine creatures

Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.