Sea Creatures and Sea Birds

Investigating living things and their habitats

Lesson length: 2 sessions

Lesson from Grandma Bird series

Text potential

Writing opportunities: Leaflet: information leaflet
Wider learning opportunities: Science: animals and their habitats

Subjects

Science

Purpose

Many different creatures feature in this story, and children will enjoy researching to learn more about them.

Preparation

Have available:

A range of information books and other materials about sea creatures and sea birds.
Access to laptops, tablets, or computers

Process

Organise the class into groups and either allocate a sea creature to each group or let them choose a favourite animal.

Explain that they are going to create a guide to the sea creatures that live on Grandma Bird’s island. Each group will produce a page for the guide. Share ideas about the type of information that will be on each page, or share the Sea Creatures table.

Once the children have researched and collected their information, let them choose how they want to present their page. Provide a range of nonfiction books to be used as a source of inspiration. Talk about them with the class to ignite their interest.

Assemble the pages into the guide, which can be added to the reading corner or the school library for the children to read.

Final reflection

Use the children’s writing to feedback to the class and exemplify good points about writing information.
Invite them to reflect on what they most enjoyed learning.

Key vocabulary

crab, limpet, sea anemone, seaweed, shell, starfish, whelk, sea urchin, seagull

Resources

Bitesize Rock Pools

A look at how the creatures that live in a rockpool survive. The presenter begins by talking about the tide. With the help of an expert, Marcus, they explore rockpool life and how the sea anemone and seaweed anchor themselves to rocks for stability. Finally, they look at how a crab protects itself and how it can re-grow a leg or claw if it loses one.

Visit resource

Contributors

Sam Keeley

Formerly a teacher and local authority advisory teacher, Sam now works with Just Imagine as an English consultant and manager of the year 6 Reading Gladiators programme.