Tag Archives: ocean themed books

2026 Ocean Events: Curriculum-Aligned Classroom Activities for the Whole Year

Early Years Ocean Incursions

 

Planning meaningful, engaging and curriculum-aligned learning about the ocean just got a whole lot easier!

At Ocean Life Education, we work with Early Years, Primary and Secondary Schools in South East Queensland, Australia to bring marine science, conservation and sustainability to life through hands-on, Australian Curriculum aligned incursions, excursions, and events.

To help teachers plan ahead, we’ve created this 2026 Ocean & Environment Events Calendar and matched key dates with simple, classroom-ready activity ideas you can use all year long – whether you’re teaching foundation or upper primary.

Ocean Events Calendar 2026This guide is perfect for:

✔️ Unit planning and inquiry units

✔️ Sustainability and science

✔️ Geography and HASS

✔️ National events & real-world connections

Why Teach Using Real-World and Local Events Helps:

  • Build relevance and student engagement
  • Support inquiry-based learning
  • Strengthen links to the Australian Curriculum
  • Create natural opportunities for cross-curricular projects
  • Connect classroom learning to real conservation issues

And furthermore – they work brilliantly alongside an Ocean Life Education incursion, excursion or event.

Term-by-Term Classroom Activity Ideas

🐢 Term 1: January – March

Seaweek Australia

 

Key Events:

World Wetlands Day (Feb 2)

World Whale Day (Feb 15)

SeaWeek (Feb 28 – Mar 8)

Clean Up Australia Day (Mar 1)

World Wildlife Day (Mar 3)

Earth Hour (Mar 28)

Classroom Ideas:

🧊 Foundation – Year 2

  • Sort pictures into land, wetland and ocean habitats (check out our Ocean Habitats video here) explaining that wetlands aren’t the ocean, but some wetlands are where the land and ocean meet. They’re like nature’s in-between zone.
  • Read popular ocean-themed books like:

Big Blue Whale – Nicola Davies
An illustrated non-fiction book that introduces children to the blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, explaining its size, habitat, and how it survives in the ocean. Great for introducing marine animals and basic facts.

🌏 Years 3–6

  • Great Barrier Reef for SchoolsDiscuss how students can help clean up the Great Barrier Reef Habitats  and how everyone can make a difference using our Human Impact Resources/ Activities. Why not organise a school clean-up audit and graph the results.
  • Investigate where our water comes from and where it goes
  • Create a “Save Our Seas” poster campaign
  • Read popular ocean-themed books like:

 

The Brilliant DeepOcean Speaks – Jess Keating. Ages 6–10 (Primary)
A picture-book biography about Marie Tharp, the scientist who helped map the ocean floor, showing how curiosity and persistence can lead to major scientific discoveries. Works well for units on science, scientists, and inquiry.

The Brilliant Deep – Kate Messner. Ages 7–12 (Upper Primary)
The inspiring true story of how one person’s idea helped start coral reef restoration. Ideal for learning about reefs ecosystems, human impact, and conservation.

 

Incursion & Excursion link:

👉 Marine habitats, animal adaptations, food chains, and human impact

🐧 Term 2: April – June

Key Events:

Earth Day (April 22)

World Turtle Day (May 23)

World Dugong Day (May 28)

World Environment Day (June 5)

World Ocean Day (June 8)

World Sea Turtle Day (June 16)

Classroom Ideas:

🎨 Early Years

 

Turtle Life Cycle

 

 

🔬 Primary

Incursion link:

👉 Australian marine animals, classification, life cycles, conservation

🦈 Term 3: July – September

Key Events:

Plastic Free July

Shark Awareness Day (July 14)

Coral Reef Awareness Week (July 20–26)

World Mangrove Day (July 26)

National Science Week (Aug 15–23)

World Whale Shark Day (Aug 30)

Biodiversity Month (September)

World Clean Up Day (Sept 20)

 

Classroom Ideas:

Plastic Diary♻️ Whole School

 

 

 

🪸 Science Focus

 

Incursion link:

👉 Ecosystems, food chains, biodiversity, reef health, pollution

 

🐙 Term 4: October – December

Coastcare Week

Key Events:

World Teachers’ Day (Oct 5)

World Octopus Day (Oct 8)

World Jellyfish Day (Nov 3)

National Recycling Week (Nov 9–15)

World Fisheries Day (Nov 21)

Coastcare Week (Dec)

Classroom Ideas:

Shark resources

 

📊 Years 3–6

  • Explore sustainable fishing vs overfishing
  • Create infographics about sea jellies, sharks or octopus
  • Design a future ocean with healthy ecosystems

 

Incursion/ excursion link:

👉 Sustainability, human impact, adaptations, marine careers

 

How Ocean Life Education Supports These Units

Our Early Years & Primary incursions are:

✔️ Australian Curriculum aligned

✔️ Hands-on and inquiry-based

✔️ Tailored for the year level and your needs

✔️ Linked to Science, Geography, HASS and Sustainability priorities

✔️ Designed to build real-world environmental understanding

We bring:

🐢 Live marine animals

🦈 Interactive displays and artefacts

🌏 Engaging conservation stories

🧠 Age-appropriate scientific concepts

Planning Tip for Teachers

When planning your yearly overview:

Ready to Bring the Ocean into Your Classroom?

Ocean Life Education works with schools across Australia to deliver unforgettable, curriculum-aligned marine education experiences.

 

 

Ocean Life EducationOcean Life Education helps Australians connect with the ocean and understand why it matters. Through engaging, hands-on programs, we explore Australia’s marine environments, the animals that live there, and the challenges our oceans face.

Our curriculum-aligned sessions are delivered in schools, at events, and in the field, and are tailored to each group. Using real marine animals and interactive activities, we build curiosity, deepen understanding, and inspire students to care for and protect our oceans into the future.

📚 Recommended Resources & Useful Links

Primary Incursions & Excursions

Primary Resources & Activities

34 Easy Ocean Crafts and Learning Activities for Kids – We Are Teachers

Saltwater Schools – Ocean Lesson Plans Australia: Marine Stewardship Council

We hoped you enjoyed reading our blog: 2026 Ocean Events: Curriculum-Aligned Classroom Activities for the Whole Year

Celebrating the Ocean and Learning through Key School Events

Blue planet for schools

 

Throughout the school year, there are numerous opportunities to engage students, celebrate education, and make a positive impact on the community. Here’s how schools can participate in and make the most of some key events with meaningful activities and themes related to the ocean.

Clean Up Australia Day: Beach Cleans in Queensland

Clean Up Australia Day offers schools the chance to combine environmental stewardship with hands-on learning. In Queensland, schools can organize student-led beach clean-ups, focusing on local coastal areas. These events not only help protect marine ecosystems but also teach students about the impact of pollution on ocean life. Ocean Life Education can enhance the experience by hosting an on-location Human Impact program delivered by one of our qualified Marine Educators and focusing on our live marine animals and using educational resources and fascinating artefacts to bring learning to life.

How to Get Invoved in a Beach Clean 

Book Week, 16-23 August 2025: Popular Ocean Science Books for Primary Schools

Book Week is a fantastic opportunity to inspire curiosity about the ocean through engaging stories and informative texts. Popular books like “Big Blue Whale” by Nicola Davies, “Ocean Speaks” (inspiration for science learning) by Jess Keating, and “The Brilliant Deep” (coral restoration) by Kate Messner bring ocean science to life for young readers. Incorporating these books into classroom activities, such as art projects or creative writing inspired by the stories, can deepen students’ understanding of marine environments.

Our Ocean Literacy Program

 

Under 8s Week, 19-23 May 2025: Ocean-Themed Activities for Young Learners

Under 8s Day celebrates the importance of learning in the early years of a child’s life, and an ocean theme is perfect for engaging young minds. Schools can set up activity stations with ocean-themed crafts like creating jellyfish mobiles, sensory play with water and sea animal toys, or storytelling sessions featuring ocean adventures. A mini “beach day” with sand play and shells can also bring the thrill of the sea into your location.

Interactive Marine Displays

 

Science Week 2025, 9-17 August: Nature’s Hidden Language

Science Week’s theme, “Nature’s Hidden Language,” offers a chance to explore the fascinating ways marine life communicates and interacts. From the clicking sounds of dolphins to the bioluminescent signals of deep-sea creatures, students can dive into the mysteries of the ocean. Schools can host hands-on workshops, like building underwater sound detectors or experimenting with light patterns, to uncover these hidden languages. Guest talks from marine biologists and educators can further inspire budding scientists. Our interactive marine displays offer the opportunity to observe communication and interaction firsthand. Sea stars for example, primarily communicate through chemical signals by releasing chemicals into the water, which can alert other sea stars to potential dangers. By including an Ocean Life Education interactive display in your science week event, students can observe how this happens first hand.

Primary Incursions – Ocean Life Education

 

International Women’s Day, 8 March 2025: Ocean Life Education’s Inspirational Team

International Women’s Day is a wonderful time to highlight the contributions of young women in marine education. Ocean Life Education’s team includes inspirational educators who have followed their passion for the ocean into rewarding careers. During our programs, schools can invite our passionate role models to share their journeys, offering insights into marine science, environmental advocacy, and the importance of following your dreams. Their stories can empower students, especially girls, to envision futures in STEM fields.

Learn About our Inspirational Team

 

World Teachers’ Day, 5 October 2025: Celebrating Teachers’ Impact

On World Teachers’ Day, schools can celebrate the extraordinary efforts of educators who shape young minds and inspire future careers. Teachers play a pivotal role in introducing students to the wonders of the ocean and the importance of environmental stewardship. Activities like a “Thank You Wall,” where students post notes of appreciation, or a special assembly to honour teachers’ contributions can make this day memorable. Ocean Life Education is proud of its exceptional teachers who are dedicated and passionate about sharing their love and knowledge of the ocean to inspire others to want to learn more.

State Education Week, 21-25 October 2025: Ocean-Themed Initiatives for Schools

State Education Week provides a platform to showcase innovative programs and celebrate school achievements. Schools can organize ocean-themed events such as student-led exhibitions, where projects on marine conservation and ocean ecosystems are displayed. Collaborative art installations, like a mural made from recycled materials, can involve the entire school community. Hosting open days with marine education activities and inviting local environmental groups can highlight the school’s commitment to sustainability and hands-on learning. Ocean Life Education’s interactive marine display is the perfect complement to an open day, where real life animals provide bring learning to life!

Our Events & Programs

About Ocean Life Education

Our oceans are teeming with incredible biodiversity, from tiny plankton to majestic whales, playing a crucial role in maintaining the planet’s health. Ocean Life Education plays an essential role in raising awareness about the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and the threats they face.

We bring the ocean to life with our mobile incursions across South East Queensland! Visiting early learning centers, schools, and other settings, we deliver interactive, curriculum-based programs featuring live marine animals and engaging marine displays.

The crew at Ocean Life Education are always on hand to assist with any events you are planning, bringing our diverse team of live marine animals to add extra excitement through interaction on the day. Our animals include a baby shark, freshwater turtle, sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins.

 

Useful links

Our Programs

Schools Guide to Ocean Events 2025

Science Week Website

For more information about what we do, check out Ocean Life Education.

We hoped you enjoyed reading our blog: Celebrating Key School Events and the Ocean.

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