SEA LIFE School Trips – Teacher Friendly Curriculum Guide
A visit to SEA LIFE can be much more than a fun day out - it can be a powerful springboard into meaningful learning across the curriculum, inspire deep curiosity about the ocean and support whole-class projects, cross-topic links and student wellbeing.
Why Visit SEA LIFE?
Real-world relevance:
Students encounter real marine life and habitats that connect curriculum learning with living examples - magnifying understanding of life cycles, classification, ecosystems and human impact.
Emotional engagement & wellbeing:
Aquarium environments can calm, focus and inspire, helping students (especially neurodiverse learners) feel present and curious, which supports deeper learning.
Conservation in action:
SEA LIFE encourages students to think critically about environmental issues, sustainability and stewardship - linking science knowledge to real global challenges.
Discover your local SEA LIFE
Curriculum Links by Key Stage
Based on official national curriculum topics, here are clear links you can use for planning and assessment:
- Classification of animals & plants - observe and group marine creatures.
- Habitats & food chains - explore how habitats meet needs and how energy flows through ecosystems.
- Adaptations - describe how features help survival (e.g., fins, camouflage).
- Environmental change - investigate pollution and conservation.
- Ecosystem interdependence & biodiversity.
- Human influences on natural systems (climate change, pollution).
- Scientific enquiry - record, analyse and explain observations.
- Name and locate oceans, coasts and major climate zones.
- Understand physical geography of marine environments.
- Human-environment interaction - impact of tourism, fishing, plastics.
- Writing: narratives, informational reports and persuasive texts about ocean life and conservation.
- Speaking: presentations, discussions and debates about real challenges facing the oceans.
- Observational drawing of animals, textures and colours.
- Create sculpture, prints or mixed media inspired by habitats.
- Shared responsibility for protecting ecosystems.
- Discuss choices and consequences: recycling, consumption and sustainability.
Top Tips for Lesson Planning
Prepare students to make meaningful connections before the trip:
Knowledge Building
- Vocabulary wall: habitat, ecosystem, adaptation, biodiversity, conservation.
- Inquiry questions: What do fish need to survive? How do humans impact the sea?
Creative Prep
- Draw favourite ocean animals.
- Write poems or haiku about the sea.
Science & Maths
- Collect data: how many species are in different zones? Graph comparisons.
- Simple classification keys for local species vs marine species.
Observation Tasks
Provide students with task cards for:
- Spotting specific adaptations.
- Noting signs of human impact (e.g., information on plastic pollution).
- Comparing habitats (coral reef vs open ocean).
Evidence Collection
Encourage photos/sketches to be used later in assessments or classroom displays.
Social & Emotional Learning
Discuss how seeing animals up close makes students feel — link to empathy and responsibility.
Discover your local SEA LIFE →Reflective Writing
- What surprised you most? Why?
- How can we help protect the oceans?
Cross-Curriculum Projects
- Science + English: research a threatened species and write a report.
- Art + Geography: create a 3D model of an ocean food web.
- PSHE: design a class campaign to reduce single-use plastics.
Use SEA LIFE as a launch point for:
- Ocean literacy units
- Science inquiry projects
- Environmental campaigns
- Art showcases
- Literacy portfolios
Practical Trip Planning Tips
Teacher ratios & risk assessment: Free teacher tickets are offered based on student numbers, with discounted rates beyond that. Each centre also provides a supporting risk assessment to support schools in the writing of their own.
Workshops & Sessions: Some centres offer targeted workshops or experiences like rockpool encounters.
Free Resources: SEA LIFE offers worksheets, activities and fact sheets, geared to different ages and subjects. These are excellent for follow-up lessons or homework.
Discover your local SEA LIFE
Deep sea exploration awaits at SEA LIFE
Whether it be a day trip or part of a residential itinerary, discover the city and coastal locations of our aquariums.
