World Ocean Day, which takes place on 8 June 2023, aims to inform the population about the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and to mobilise and unite everyone on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.

Incorporating topics related to the environment and sustainability in schools’ curriculums is a topic that is gaining more and more attention in the world of education – and rightfully so. Knowing where to find the best resources to support your teaching about the environment, and how to leverage these resources to best suit your pupils, can boost your own confidence in the classroom whilst adding a lot of enjoyment to the pupils’ experience.

Cheam Fields Primary Academy has been looking ahead to World Ocean Day as a school community for some time. Each year group, from Reception to Year 6, will be getting involved with an array of activities. 

Allowing pupils’ innate creativity and imagination to shine through will go a long way in keeping pupils engaged to learn about difficult topics in a positive way. Turning such lessons into a celebration is also a wonderful way to bring the school community together and provide opportunities for pupils to share with one another what they have been learning on the same topic. 

Celebrating days like World Ocean Day brings science lessons to life for pupils by drawing attention to real-world issues. This can in turn present benefits for the wider school community as it provides inspiration for everyone to examine steps they can take in school and at home to reduce their environmental impact. 

Laura Weeks, Year 6 teacher at Cheam Fields Primary Academy, quotes:

"Receiving support from LEO Academy Trust helps to make this a reality, particularly in the form of empowering school leaders with numerous workshops during our 2022 Trust Conference on the theme of ‘Sustainability’. Keeping staff and pupils aware of environmental issues ensures that we all share one vision to have a positive impact on the world around us."

To read the full article, please click here.