THE SEA
The bottom of the sea interpreted in terms of movement.
Individuals are chosen to represent sea plants and rocks.
Pairs and groups form rocky arches, an octopus and a shipwreck.
Other children swim about among these. They are fish, deep sea explorers, and treasure hunters.
Explorers in a diving bell report what they see to those above in a boat above.
As the divers enter the wreck, it becomes unstable and begins to turn.
As the divers reach the treasure, a killer shark appears.
A diver is caught by the octopus but manages to struggle free with help from the other divers.
Discuss with children how we would describe or record the events in writing. What kind of music would convey the mood and show the dramatic build up of tension in the moments of crisis? Could children create their own music and which instruments would be most appropriate for the different moods in the drama.
Discuss how changing weather conditions can affect the stability of a craft on the sea.
Discuss the work of lifeboat rescuers. In what ways.is the work unpredictable and dangerous? What aspects of the work might individuals do and what, aspects would be tackled as a team?
Act out a situation In which a lifeboat crew goes into action.
How Is the lifeboat station contacted in an emergency?
Act out a 999 call to the coastguard. What kind of questions would the coastguard need to ask in order to establish the facts as quickly as possible?
Improvise a story about a group of people who go out in a boat to fish in a calm sea.
They do not bother to check whether or not weather conditions are likely to change. They do not tell anyone that they are planning to go out in the boat, how far they are planning to go, or when they hope to be back.
Consequently, the weather changes dramatically.
Their boat overturns.
They cling to the underside in the hope that they can hang on long enough to be rescued.
Children taking a cliff top walk catch sight of them.
They telephone the coastguard and the lifeboat puts to sea and arrives- just in time to rescue them.
Discuss the implications of the above story.
Why was it wrong for the people to go out in the boat without checking on weather conditions or telling anyone where they were going?
What should they have done?
Act out the story again. showing them doing the right thing this time.
Sea Travel In The Past
Show pictures of early sailing ships and discuss what kinds of jobs the sailors would need to do on the voyage.
Discuss dangers faced by crews: storm damage, disease, inadequate diet, mutiny, pirates etc.
Choose captains and crew members. Captains tell crew members what jobs to do. Have they missed out any important jobs?
Crew members discuss conditions on board the ship.They are not happy, but dare not tell the captain, as they would be guilty of mutiny and this would cost them their lives.