Bringing The Ocean To The Classroom

Teaching is one of the busiest and most demanding professions. We’re here to support and contextualise in-class learning and support sustainability requirements with an array of cost-effective, tried-and-tested presentations and workshops themed around our ocean.

Suitable for primary, secondary and A-Level, we cater for all ages and key stages, ensuring explicit links to the National Curriculum.
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Why choose Incredible Oceans?

Our presentations and workshops have been developed and trialed in schools by practicing teachers with real classroom experience.
Our educators are true experts in their field and draw upon their individual knowledge and experience to make each presentation unique.
Unlike other organisations, education is our sole purpose – we’re not campaigners, trying to sell something or get more members.
We are cost-effective – our record value for money was just 28p per pupil!
We take the stress out of organising extra-curricular activities – let us come to you at a time that fits around your timetable. No need for coaches, letters home, and permission slips.
As well as science, our presentations meet EcoSchools and DfE sustainability criteria. Everything is fully risk-assessed and we come with £5 million of public liability insurance.

Who we’ve worked with:

Presentations & Workshops

Our presentations are fully interactive and full of curriculum links. Typically, presentations are 45-minutes long + 15 minutes questions. Workshops are 1-hour long and restricted to 30 participants for health and safety.

Presentation

Description
Whales and dolphins are definitely some of the most charismatic creatures on Earth; the massive blue whale, the devious orca, the courageous humpback and many, many more. So let’s explore these ocean giants and their amazing adaptations.

KS1, KS2, KS3

Presentation

Description
Being that we’ve only explored 5% of our ocean, we discover a new creature every two weeks. Come with us on voyage into the depths as we encounter the weird and wonderful creatures en route, we explore how they've adapted to life in the deep ocean.

(KS1, KS2, KS3)

Presentation

Description
Ever wondered why more people have been to the Moon that have been to the bottom of our ocean? Drawing from our TEDx talk, we look at the technological and physiological hurdles to overcome to visit each of these environments. It surprises people that visiting our ocean is HARDER than going to space!

(KS3, KS4, KS5)

Presentation

Description
When it comes to discussions around climate change, the dialogue is always ‘plant trees & stop flying’, yet the ocean, despite being linked to the atmosphere, is often left out. Discover all the ways that the ocean reduces the effects of climate change and how it may hold the answers to solving the climate crisis.

(KS3, KS4, KS5)

Presentation

Description
Plankton are the microscopic plants and animals found in every pond, puddle, river, lake and ocean in the world. Despite their tiny size, they play a big role in keeping us (and the rest of the ocean!) alive in a number of ways. These weird and wonderful organisms not only underpin the marine food chain but also produce most of the oxygen that we breathe!

(KS3, KS4, KS5)

Presentation

Description
Let’s join Jason and his Argonauts as we embark on a voyage of discovery to learn about the creatures that inspired countless fishy tales and salty sea-dog stories. Mermaids, dragons, sea serpents, The Kraken, The Meg; unbelievably, all of these are based on REAL sea creatures!

(KS1, KS2, KS3)

Presentation

Description
Unless you’ve been hiding under a single-use bottle, you’ll know that our use of plastic is a BIG issue. Instead of overwhelming and depressing, this presentation focuses on solutions to ocean plastic, including simple solutions to try on the day-to-day.

(KS2, KS3, KS4)

Storytelling

Description
Everyone has a favourite whale, right? Drawing upon Herman Melville’s iconic novel, Moby Dick, we go looking for the ocean’s most charismatic creatures; sperm whales. Find out about their astonishing abilities and their place in whaling history.

(KS1, KS2, KS3)

Storytelling

Description
The octopus is the closest thing to an alien on Earth; a higher-level organism with a body and brain entirely different to a human. As we explore their amazing adaptations, you’ll come away from this presentation with a new perspective on life (as well as a new favourite animal!).

(KS2, KS3, KS4)

Storytelling

Description
Using the storybook, The Ocean Is My Home, (written by ocean scientists at the European Global Ocean Observation System), we take a journey with Sammy the Sea Turtle as we explore the amazing ways that scientists find out about how our ocean works.

(KS1, KS2)

Workshop

Description
Part-science, part-art, participants use simple hand-held microscopes to observe and document the tiny plants and animals that live in a drop of water.

(KS1, KS2, KS3)

Workshop

Description
A circus of activities where participants learn about the engineering principles that underpin ocean-going vessels. A great introduction to the world of marine engineering as we get creative making canoes, paddle-boats, submarines and hovercrafts.

(KS1, KS2, KS3)

Workshop

Description
Starting out looking at classification and adaptations, participants go on to learn how to conduct a scientific dissection of a fish NB. Not for the squeamish!

(KS2, KS3, KS4)

Workshop

Description
There’s been an oil spill and you’ve been called in to help! Problem-solve your way to a cleaner ocean in this race against time as teams compete against each other to clean up their own oil spill. Explore what oil is, why it is important and the environmental impacts of our reliance on oil.

(KS1, KS2, KS3)

Workshop

Description
Developed in conjunction with the Royal Society of Chemistry, we explore ocean chemistry with a circus of experiments that includes electrolysis of seawater, saltwater batteries, deep-sea biochemistry, seaweed chlorophyll extraction and plastic recycling.

(KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

Workshop

Description
With our orca skull replica as the centre piece, we instruct you through a still-life drawing class as participants flex their creative muscles. During drawing tasks, learn about orca anatomy, behaviour, and evolution.

(KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

Teacher Training

As much as we love coming into your school to showcase the wonders of the ocean, for lasting impact we also train teachers. Having run primary and secondary teacher training sessions, we show teachers how to meet the needs of the curriculum by using oceanic examples to help contextualise classroom learning. The course is super hands-on as we highlight simple, low-cost but effective demos and practicals for you to do with your students.

We also offer online teacher training seminars via the National College.

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The Team

As well as higher level qualifications and experience in ocean science, all of our team are gifted educators that draw upon their expertise to make each presentation their own.

Dr Russell Arnott PGCE

South West
After teacher training at the University of Sussex, Russell became Assistant Head of Science at a South London secondary school. He founded Incredible Oceans CIC to enhance the National Science Curriculum with oceanic themes, advocating for innovative teaching through roles in educational associations like EMSEA and presentations at conferences such as ASE and PSTT.

Russell conducts teacher training sessions, collaborating with STEM Learning and other institutions, offering webinars on topics like climate change and practical chemistry experiments.
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Elissa Phillips

South East
After a swashbuckling season of activism against Icelandic whaling, Elissa is turning her marine conservation experience to helping educate the next generation, from classrooms to conferences. After a decade working in the corporate world, she is now focussing on marine conservation and activism. Drawing upon her background in theatre and running training seminars, she makes the learning about our ocean entertaining, engaging, and accessible for all ages. As an avid scuba diver, Elissa would rather be under the sea, however, when landlocked, she can be found sharing the wonders of the ocean with others and fighting to protect them.
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Claudia Allen

Northern Ireland
As an experienced Pilates instructor, Claudia is used to commanding large groups in a clear and enthusiastic way. As well as having taught Pilates at primary level through to adult, she has years of experience delivering ocean themed classroom sessions.

After completing her Master's in Environmental Biology, she went on to work as a research assistant onboard Swansea University’s flagship research vessel, the RV Mary Anning. During her presentations, she brings research to life, drawing from her experience working with and studying UK wildlife including dolphins, porpoises and Atlantic salmon.
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Celine Van Weelden MSc

Spain
Celine completed her MSc in Ecology at the University of Montpellier (France) studying orca behaviour and has diverse experience working with marine mammals and seabirds. Having worked in Europe, Canada and Southern Africa, Celine has experience as a research assistant, a guide and a science communicator. As co-author of ‘Ocean Endangered’, Celine enjoys being creative with science leading her to design ocean-themed children’s games and art installations. Celine is always coming up with fun new ways to share her knowledge of and passion for the ocean.
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Pavan Kaur Virdee

East London
Having been born and brought up in Kenya, Pavan obtained an innate love for nature, and in particular dolphins! Having studied Marine Biology at Swansea University, she is passionate about marine education and specifically, promoting more diversity within the field. With experience running dolphin behavioural studies with the Atlantic Whale and Dolphin Foundation, Pavan is now building new synergies in which she can advance ocean literacy and involvement in ocean science in more diverse audiences, especially within the Sikh community.

Jasmine Tribe

South East
Jas, a water baby since birth, holds a BSc in Environmental Science from Plymouth University, specializing in shark and ray conservation. With extensive experience in scuba and freediving, Jas has worked with various organizations worldwide, including the Marine Biological Association (UK), Ionian Dolphin Project (Greece), and The Manta Trust (Maldives), fulfilling their dream of working with manta rays. In the UK, Jas managed SharkFest and founded Oceans Festival UK; a celebratory event bringing the ocean to the city of Bristol. Jas also has several years experience in campaigning, behaviour change projects, and facilitation, engaging diverse audiences, and promoting collaboration, inclusivity and reconnection to ourselves and the wider natural world.

Associate Scheme

Interested in getting involved? Recognising that it can be difficult to get started on your marine science or science communication pathway, we believe in helping others get experience and improve their confidence and presentation skill without the need for restrictive unpaid internships or volunteering; we recognize the value of your experience and qualifications. If you are interested in becoming an Incredible Oceans associate, get in touch.
Incredible Oceans CIC,
2a Harbour Court, New Street,
Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3HY
info@incredibleoceans.org +44 (0) 7592 984 021
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