Marine Animal Movement

Context

Unit: Adventures in Ocean Habitat
Lesson: 5 of 8
Duration: 30 minutes
Class size: 10 preschool students
Teacher context: Special needs teacher; most students are autistic and sensory learners

WALT (We Are Learning To)

Imitate how different marine animals move through the water.
Use movement (like swimming or floating) to express how marine animals behave.
Share and compare my movements with my friends.

Learning Objectives (Aligned with New Zealand Curriculum Refresh – Science, Years 0-3)

Science Learning Area: Understanding living world: Living things in their environment
Explore and describe how living things move and behave (Science - Nature of Science and Living World strand).
Develop curiosity about the natural world through sensory and physical experiences.
Use multiple senses (including movement) to interact with and learn about the environment.

Key Competencies:

Managing self: Taking part in activities and expressing ideas through movement.
Relating to others: Sharing ideas and cooperating with peers during interactive activities.
Using language, symbols, and texts: Using body language to communicate understanding of marine life behaviour.

Success Criteria

I can move like different marine animals.
I can show how animals swim, float, or crawl.
I can watch my friends’ movements and talk about what I see.
I feel happy and calm using my body in different ways.

Resources

Picture cards/photos of marine animals (fish, octopus, crab, dolphin, sea turtle)
Soft mats or open space for safe movement
Sensory toys (optional, e.g., water textures, sea creature toys)
Visual schedule of the lesson steps (laminated or projected)
Simple marine animal story or rhyme for warm-up

Lesson Plan Overview

Time	Activity	Description	Differentiation Strategies
5 mins	Welcome & Warm-up	Sing a short ocean-related rhyme or story with movement (e.g., "We’re swimming in the sea"). Use pictures and props.	Use visual props and tactile objects for sensory input; allow students to move at their own pace.
10 mins	Main Activity: Marine Animal Movement Imitation	Show a photo/card of a marine animal. Model how it moves (e.g., flap arms like fins for dolphin, crawl sideways for crab). Invite students to copy the movement. Rotate through 4-5 marine animals.	Provide physical prompts or shadow students’ movements for those who need help. Allow movement breaks. Use clear, slow instructions with visual cues.
8 mins	Partner Sharing & Movement Game	Pair students to show their best marine animal movement to each other. Encourage them to watch and imitate their partner’s movement. Teacher circulates to support interaction and prompt language like "Can you show me how you swim like a fish?"	Pair sensory seekers with gentle, calm peers. Use hand-over-hand assistance if needed. Use simple language prompts and encourage non-verbal communication.
5 mins	Cool Down & Reflection	Use calming movements (slow floating or “breathing like a turtle”) as a calm-down routine. Ask students to share how they felt moving like animals, with prompts or choice boards.	Use sensory cushions or weighted blankets if calming needed. Support emotional expression with visual emotion cards.

Differentiation Strategies

For sensory learners/autistic students:
- Use clear, consistent routines and visual schedules.
- Combine verbal instructions with visual demonstrations.
- Allow choice in how to express movement (big or small, fast or slow).
- Use calm, low-stimulation environment with minimal background noise.
- Allow use of sensory items before and after active movement.
For students needing physical support:
- Provide physical guidance or model movements beside them.
- Seat students if preferred, using arm/hand movements only.

Extension Activities (For advanced learners)

Create a short sequence of two or three animal movements to perform in order.
Use simple scarves or fabric to mimic water movement alongside their marine animal movements.
Draw or colour their favourite marine animal after moving like it.

Assessment & Feedback

Observation of student participation and engagement during movement imitation.
Use simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down or picture cards to check understanding of each animal’s movement.
Note ability to share and take turns during partner activity.
Provide positive, specific feedback: "I like how you moved your arms like the dolphin’s fins!"

Dyslexia-Friendly Reading Supports

Use large, clear fonts on all visual cards and schedules.
Include pictures of the animals alongside any words.
Use simple, repetitive language in instructions and descriptions.
Provide audio recording of instructions if helpful.

Curriculum Links Summary

Curriculum Framework	Specifics for This Lesson
Science	Living things’ behaviours in environments (Nature of Science, Living World)
Key Competencies	Managing Self, Relating to Others, Using Language, Symbols and Texts
Approaches	Sensory-rich, student-centred, inclusive teaching for diverse learning needs

This lesson plan honours the curriculum’s intention for preschool age learners to actively explore and represent their understanding of nature through engaging, sensory, and movement-based experiences while supporting diverse needs and developmental levels.

Please feel free to ask for any additional resources or modifications to suit your particular learner group!