Take a voyage of discovery

We should aim to be as blue as we are green, and develop an appreciation for the beautiful, fascinating world below the waves.

For every person that’s ever gazed out to sea, how many really think about what’s going on beneath the waves and the impact we are having? After all, Earth is the blue planet; two-thirds of the surface is covered by five major oceans that are as diverse and vulnerable as the landscapes that surround us.

We can recreate landscapes, visit places, and stimulate children’s senses with the tastes, sounds and sights of the natural world, but experiencing the oceans is more of a challenge. Even if you’re lucky enough to live near the coast, the sight you’re often greeted with is no more than a vast expanse of water. Beach combing may give some clues as to what lies beneath, but the reality is beyond most imaginations.

World Reef Day on 1 June serves as a reminder of the importance of our oceans, in particular coral reefs and marine conservation. It’s a vital reminder of how we need the next generation to care for the whole planet, not just the third that we can see. Coral reefs are otherworldly and the most populated parts of the ocean, so what better place to start your voyage of discovery?

• A coral reef may look like a collection of delicately structured rocks, but it’s made from living creatures called coral.
• Most coral reefs are between 5,000 and 10,000 years old.
  
• The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system on Earth. It can even be seen from space!
  

[Coral reef facts for kids! - National Geographic Kids]

Capturing a child’s imagination leads to endless learning opportunities. Visit any aquarium or aquatics centre, and you’ll see children with their noses pressed against tanks looking for ‘Nemo’. The endearing story of the little clown fish has become a children’s classic, so for most, Finding Nemo will be their first virtual encounter with the inhabitants of the deep blue sea. And it’s a good place to start!

Nemo lived in an anemone in the Great Barrier Reef, so many children will already have some understanding of what a reef looks like, with the film’s animation giving a realistic depiction of the vivid colours and exotic marine life that exists.

It’s not easy to have firsthand experiences of the ocean. The closest most of us will get to an underwater adventure is a visit to a Sea Life centre, but it’s an expensive outing. Many larger pet stores and garden centres have aquariums. However, if you do decide to arrange a visit, check with the centre beforehand.

During the visit, you can then take note of the marine creatures that children are captivated by and look for the learning opportunities to build upon afterwards!

The variety of reefs, rocks, seaweeds, and sea grasses on the ocean floor are countless. Extend your continuous provision by turning your water tray into a mini ocean bed, adding sand, rocks, shells and pond plants or making your own with brightly-coloured plastic strips secured to a playdough base.

For further inspiration, look for ideas on the internet (while also considering health and safety implications) – just about any item can be turned into an anemone or reef! You could even focus on using items that end up in our oceans to send out a strong message about the impact of littering.

Many settings have sensory rooms designed to create a calming environment, capture a child’s imagination and stimulate their senses. There’s a feeling of being underwater with blues, greens and purples reflecting across ceilings. Fibre optic lights allow children to run their fingers through to feel them move like squid tendrils, while light boxes replicate the colours and movements of the currents.

For those settings that lack a dedicated sensory room, create your own octopus garden with drapes of netting and silky fabrics suspended from the ceiling. Add an ocean projector night light for as little as £30 and some comfy cushions, and you have an effective underwater experience without getting wet or needing a snorkel.

Make hanging sea life mobiles to capture babies’ attention, as they need moving objects to strengthen eye muscles when they focus on a specific object. Your older children will enjoy creating for the baby room but, of course, make sure that all hanging items are firmly secured and out of reach of grasping fingers.

For the younger children and babies, an underwater treasure basket is easily put together and could include:

• shells
• natural sponge
  
• pearl necklaces
  
• seaweed (if you can get it)
  
• sea glass
  
• rain sticks
  
• blue and green silk scarves
  
• pieces of netting.
  

Ensure that all items are safe for young children to handle and never leave a child unsupervised with a treasure basket.

Virtual reality headsets offer a truly immersive underwater experience and are used increasingly in schools. However, they are not recommended for children under 13 years of age. There are other virtual reality experiences that are suitable, though, such as interactive floor and wall software. It may sound expensive, but a basic kit starts from just a few hundred pounds and may be an ideal use of Early Years Pupil Premium funding that will benefit every child.

Whether it’s a tiny fluorescent fish, a leafy sea dragon (yes, they do exist!) or a lion’s mane jellyfish, it only has to capture one child’s imagination to open a world of possibilities – there are sea creatures living among reefs that defy description:
bit.ly/U5-sea-creatures.

Though this hidden world is more ‘visible’ than ever due to virtual reality and digital media, it’s still so important that educators open children’s eyes to the wonders of the oceans, because that’s what will encourage them to grow into its future custodians.