The Ocean Race relies on nature and we want to do all we can to help protect it. Using our global platform we are raising awareness of the threats to the ocean and the solutions that urgently need to be put in place.

Inspiring the next generation to care for the ocean is vital, so we have developed a range of learning resources to help children and young people understand what makes our ocean so incredible, the problems it faces and how they can help to make a positive impact. Our fun and engaging programmes are suitable for schools, at home learning, young community groups and sailing clubs.

Our  resources help engage participants with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek to ‘transform our world’ by 2030. Our resources align with a number of these goals including:

• SDG 4 Quality Education
• SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production 
• SDG 13 Climate Action
• SDG 14 Life below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• SDG 15 Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems

Champions for the Sea

Our Champions for the Sea programme will help you and your students (aged 6-12 years) discover the excitement of sailing through The Ocean Race, the importance of the ocean and how ocean health is threatened. Through the practical activities and worksheets developed, and using Social and Emotional Learning techniques (SEL), you and your students will be encouraged and empowered to take positive action for the ocean with a true understanding of how we can all make a difference and become Champions for the Sea! 

Topics and resources:

Topics of The Ocean Race Champions for the Sea programme are:

Topic 1 - The Ocean Race (currently a short version available, full module will be released in 2021) 
Topic 2 - Our Ocean Connection & Ocean Plastic Pollution
Topic 3 - How to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution
Topic 4 - My Positive Plastic Footprint
Topic 5 - Science & Sailing

We have developed resources for each topic to help inspire positive action for the ocean:

• Worksheets (for age groups: 6-8yrs, 8-10yrs & 10-12yrs)
• Student booklet 6-8 years
• Student booklet 8-12 years
• Teacher’s Guide with lesson plans & activities
• Evaluation quiz

Resources are currently available in English, French and Spanish. Material will be available in Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, Mandarin and Portuguese in 2021.

Curricula for geography, history, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math), language and global citizenship are catered for in the topics. Different cross-curricular class activities are also optional and listed in the teacher’s booklet of each topic. Refer to each Teacher's Guide for further information on curriculum content.

Although the booklets are age-specific, the 8-12 year-old booklets are a good introductory fact booklet for anyone older who wants to be better informed about The Ocean Race, our ocean connection, ocean health and how we can reduce ocean plastic pollution.

Worksheets are colour-coded for each age group:

• Blue 6-8 yrs
• Red 8-10 yrs
• Green 10-12 yrs

Wisdom is our very popular race mascot! She is based on a real life Laysan albatross from Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and is featured throughout the education resources. Students are encouraged to undertake ‘Champion Challenges’ to help save Wisdom’s home and become Champions for the Sea. Wisdom's Worksheets will enable your students to reflect on their lessons and learn about each topic in a fun way.

The education programme has been used in 54 countries around the world by over 100,000 people. Be sure to sign up to join this education movement to help restore ocean health and add yourself to our Champions for the Sea map!

 

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Let's see where our Learning Programmes are being used around the world ...

Mouse over the countries on the map to see how many students are already using our learning programmes.

 Topic 1 - The Ocean Race 

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Topic 1 is a short introduction to one of the most extreme races in the world: The Ocean Race.

You can download a short intro to the Race here. (More Topic 1 resources will be available in advance of The Ocean Race Europe starting in 2021).

With information on the history of the race, the boat, the route and the teams in this awesome sailing race you and your students will learn everything you need to know about The Ocean Race 2022-23 and be inspired to learn more.

Topic 2 - Our Ocean Connection & Ocean Plastic Pollution

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Topic 2 provides a foundation in understanding the importance of the ocean and how our health is inherently connected with a healthy ocean. The booklets give an understanding of our connection with ocean plastic. The topic introduces how we can have negative effects on the ocean through plastic pollution and how we can start to take positive steps for future ocean health.

The Teacher’s Guide provides cross-curricular active learning lessons with individual and group work inclusive of water experiments and physical education in the form of a fun, educational dance.

Topic 3 - How to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution

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Topic 3 dives deeper into the problems connected to plastic pollution and raises awareness of our contribution to the issue by calculating our own personal use of plastic with the ‘My Plastic Footprint’ worksheet. The topic encourages solutions-based thinking and creativity, incorporating the R’s to help us reduce ocean plastic pollution. Young ocean advocates and Champions for the Sea, around the world, are featured in the student booklets to help inspire your students into positive action.

The Teacher’s Guide provides cross-curricular active learning lessons with individual and group work inclusive of a microplastic experiment, solution-based and joined-up thinking observation games, creativity and crafts.

Topic 4 - My Positive Plastic Footprint

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Topic 4 introduces the idea of creating a better world through positive action. Students will gain foundational knowledge of linear and circular ways of thinking, logical thinking, the circular economy and upcycling ideas. This topic helps to give an understanding and a grounding in a more sustainable way of thinking - circular. Examples of positive participation in the circular economy and innovative solutions are provided to help inspire students to understand that the solution lies in the ways that we live and the choices we make.

The Teacher’s Guide provides cross-curricular active learning lessons with individual and group work inclusive of teamwork activities, experimentation with bioplastics, research and communication, and arts through upcycling.

Topic 5 - Science & Sailing - perfect for science week!

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In Topic 5 students are introduced to the wonders of ocean science including the excitement and challenges of studying the largely unexplored ocean. They are encouraged to think about and record their own connections to the sea through enquiry-based tasks. Students gain an understanding of the investigative process of science and learn specifically about ocean microplastic pollution and how we all can contribute to reducing it.

The Teacher’s Guide provides cross-curricular active learning lessons with individual and group work inclusive of social and emotional learning including cooperation, recognition and management of feelings and empathy. Project and place-based learning is part of the lesson plans to help students understand their location and sources of microplastic pollution in their local context.

This module is subdivided into five suggested lesson plans ideally to be delivered over five days as part of science week. The module addresses STEAM themes, global citizenship, geography, drama and language.

To help the next generation of sailors and sports enthusiasts to understand what's happening to our incredible ocean we have created an engaging World Sailing Sustainability Education Programme. Developed by The Ocean Race and produced with World Sailing and 11th Hour Racing, the programme provides an overview of sailing and sailing-related sustainability issues with an emphasis on how young sailors can take action and make an impact as individuals and within their sailing club.

The World Sailing Sustainability Education Programme was inspired by the award-winning Champions for the Sea education resources also available to download on this page.

The World Sailing modules are based on six sustainability-related themes, each consisting of a booklet, a trainer’s guide and a worksheet for age groups 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 years.

The topics are:

1. Race with World Sailing
2. Resources & Climate Change 
3. Navigating Wildlife & Biodiversity 
4. Reducing Waste 
5. Oil & Fuel
6. Boat Cleaning & Maintenance 

The materials ensure the next generation of sailors are aware of key sustainability issues and also highlight the impact that the sport can make and how they can bring about positive change.

The programme is available below in 8 languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish.

Download your preferred language by clicking on the relevant file:

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• Sign up here to view & download all the materials. Login here if you are already registered

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• Sign up here to view & download all the materials. Login here if you are already registered

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• Sign up here to view & download all the materials. Login here if you are already registered

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• Sign up here to view & download all the materials. Login here if you are already registered

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• Sign up here to view & download all the materials. Login here if you are already registered

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• Sign up here to view & download all the materials. Login here if you are already registered

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Sign up to access our free downloadable learning resources.

You can chose to opt-in to receive our quarterly newsletter so that you'll be the first to know when new material is released and can avail of additional bonus resources! 

By signing up and using our programme you will be joining a group of dedicated educators from around the planet, inspiring positive action for the ocean and making your mark on The Ocean Race Champions for the Sea map!

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