Plastic in Our Oceans: Exploring Pollution, Wildlife and Sustainable Choices
Dive beneath the waves and discover the fascinating world of our oceans, rivers and marine wildlife! This fun, interactive workshop invites pupils to explore the everyday plastics we use, where they come from and what happens when they make their way into our waterways.
Through an engaging, enquiry-led presentation, pupils investigate how plastic travels from our streets and rivers into the sea, discovering how pollution can affect habitats, wildlife and food chains. They explore real examples of plastic pollution and consider the amazing creatures that share our oceans, encouraging curiosity about the natural world and the importance of protecting it.
The workshop links naturally to the National Curriculum for Science, as pupils explore materials and their properties, including why plastic is so widely used and what makes some materials more sustainable than others. It also connects to Geography, as pupils discover how water systems connect our local environment to rivers, seas and oceans, and how human activity can affect these environments.
Along the way, pupils are encouraged to share ideas and discuss simple choices we can all make, such as reducing single-use plastics, reusing materials and recycling. The emphasis is on positive action and helping pupils see that everyone can play a part in looking after our planet.
The learning comes to life through a creative hands-on making activity, where pupils discover the wonderful natural qualities of cork before creating their own colourful cork fish. Cork is a fascinating material: it is light, flexible and biodegradable, and comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, which can be harvested without cutting the tree down. Cork oak landscapes also provide habitats for a wide range of plants and wildlife, supporting biodiversity.
Pupils then decorate their cork fish with colourful recycled fish scales, creating a unique, eye-catching eco fish that they can take pride in. Each finished fish becomes a fun and memorable way of telling the story of using less plastic and making more sustainable choices.
Their finished fish can be taken home or displayed in school, helping to keep the conversation about plastic, oceans, natural materials and protecting wildlife going long after the workshop has finished.
Workshop Details
- Duration: 45–60 minutes
- Suitable for groups of up to 35 or 70 pupils
- Supports KS1 and KS2 Science, Geography and PSHE/Citizenship
- Interactive exploration of plastics, marine pollution and environmental impact
- Focus on single-use plastics, habitats and sustainability
- Hands-on creative activity decorating a cork fish using recycled materials
- Encourages environmental responsibility, creativity and critical thinking
- Artwork can be taken home or displayed in school
This workshop is also available as a live online session, offering a more affordable and flexible option for schools and remote learning contexts. Please contact us for further details.
Perfect for Curriculum Enrichment and Themed School Events
The Plastic in Our Oceans – Exploring Pollution, Wildlife & Sustainable Choices Workshop supports a wide range of curriculum objectives while giving pupils a practical, memorable and hands-on learning experience.
📚 Curriculum Subjects Covered
🧪 Science
🌊 Oceans & Rivers
🐠 Marine Life & Wildlife
🌿 Habitats & Biodiversity
🔗 Food Chains
🌍 Geography
🌎 Human Impact
💚 PSHE
🤝 Citizenship
♻️ Recycling
🗑️ Waste
🚯 Plastic Pollution
📦 Materials & Their Properties
🌱 Sustainability
💚 Environmental Responsibility
🛠️ Design & Technology
🎨 Creativity & Making
🔬 STEM
🧠 Critical Thinking
Ideal for School Enrichment Days
This workshop is perfect for:
♻️ Eco Days
⭐ WOW Days
🌱 Sustainability Week
🔬 British Science Week (5–14 March)
♻️ Global Recycling Day (18 March)
💧 World Water Day (22 March)
🌎 Earth Day (22 April)
🌿 Outdoor Classroom Day (usually May – annual date varies)
🌍 Great Big Green Week (usually early June – annual dates vary)
🌱 World Environment Day (5 June)
🏫 School Sustainability Day (5 June)
🌊 World Oceans Day (8 June)
🌬️ Clean Air Day (usually the third Thursday in June)
♻️ National Recycling Week (10–16 November)
