Ocean Life in VR
A whole-class dive to the reef and beyond.
About this workshop
Take your whole class on an oceanic adventure to learn about sea creatures in this marine workshop. Pupils go on a journey of discovery with Glido the alien to learn all about ocean life.
Our developers created content that gets pupils up close to dolphins, coral reefs and the creatures of the deep, with the facilitator guiding the class through each environment together.
Ideal for World Ocean Day or a coasts and habitats topic, this leaves children with a sense of wonder and responsibility towards our precious oceans.
How the session runs
What happens
- 01
Corals and Fish
Pupils drop into the Great Barrier Reef, big enough to be seen from space. They find out that coral is an animal, that tiny algae inside it make its food, and how fish use gills to take oxygen straight from the water.
- 02
Jellyfish
The class swims into a swarm of jellyfish - invertebrates that are about 98 per cent water, with no bones, heart, brain or blood. Pupils see how the stinging tentacles catch prey and keep predators away.
- 03
Dolphins
A pod of dolphins gives the class its marine mammals - air-breathing, live young, milk. Pupils meet echolocation, where a dolphin clicks and listens for the echo to find its way and its next meal.
- 04
Whale Sharks
The last film brings in the largest fish in the ocean, and nothing like a great white. Pupils see a mouth that opens about four feet wide and watch it filter feed, straining plankton from the water as it swims.
- 05
Virtual museum
Pupils finish in the museum to explore at their own pace, discovering fascinating facts and some interactive wildlife surprises along the way.
What pupils will learn
The science they take away
When creating our content, we start with the curriculum.
- 01How ocean habitats differ from shallow reef to deep sea
- 02How marine animals are adapted to depth, pressure and darkness
- 03The difference between fish and marine mammals
- 04What a food chain looks like in the ocean
- 05How coral reefs support a huge number of species
- 06How pollution and warming water affect marine life
- 07Classification - we cover the main animal classes as well as some invertebrates and plant life
Curriculum links
What this covers in the National Curriculum
Science - Living things and their habitats
- Understand that around three quarters of Earth’s surface is covered by water and that the ocean is home to millions of species.
- Recognise that coral reefs are among the most biodiverse habitats on Earth.
- Distinguish between vertebrates and invertebrates, and classify a range of ocean animals as fish, mammals or invertebrates.
- Understand that ocean animals have adaptations that help them survive, including for feeding, movement, breathing and camouflage.
- Recognise that dolphins are mammals, and explain how they use echolocation to navigate and find prey.
- Identify the whale shark as the world’s largest fish and understand how filter feeding works.
In your school
From the coral reef to the deep sea, without anybody getting wet.
Logistics
What we bring, what you need
We bring
- A fully networked class set of VR headsets
- Our own ocean content, built for primary pupils
- A DBS-checked facilitator to lead every session
- Cleaning and hygiene kit used between every class
You provide
- A school hall or a large, clear indoor space
- A parking space close by to unload equipment
- A member of school staff present in each session
Questions schools ask
Before you book
- Do pupils need any prior knowledge of ocean habitats?
- No. The session introduces every animal and habitat as it goes, so a class new to the topic starts on equal footing with one that has studied it.
- Is the content the same for every year group?
- The environments are, the facilitation is not. The questions and vocabulary are pitched to the class in front of us.
- Can we run it alongside Eco in VR?
- Yes, and the two work well as a paired whole-school day.
- How long is each session?
- Around 45 minutes, with up to six sessions across the day.
Feedback from schools
What schools said
Five-star Google reviews of Education Group, who deliver our workshops. Reviews naming this workshop come first.
Our school loved their habitats VR experience. The instructor was lovely and kept children engaged and calm. Would 100% book again!
As a specialist SEN school for autistic pupils aged 4-16, it is important that external providers can adapt their approach to meet the individual needs of our learners and Education Group consistently achieves this. Their sessions are always well planned, engaging, and tailored to the needs of our pupils.
A great workshop. Fantastic resources and Chris was great with the children. They were engaged throughout and talked about it for ages afterwards. This is the third time we have used them and they never disappoint!
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