Explore the impact of human activity on our oceans with this comprehensive lesson collection. Featuring curated BBC video clips and printable activities, these resources dive into topics like pollution, overfishing, and ocean habitats, helping students understand the challenges facing ocean life and inspiring them to become ocean conservation advocates.
In Majestic Blue Whales Under Threat, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights the largest animal to have ever lived—the blue whale. Weighing nearly 200 tons, these gentle giants feed almost exclusively on tiny crustaceans called krill. By taking in massive gulps of water and filtering out krill, a single blue whale can consume up to four million krill per day. However, global environmental changes threaten the fragile ecosystem that supports these magnificent creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Dive into the captivating world of whales with this BBC Learning Hub playlist, featuring 12 stunning clips from landmark BBC series. Explore the lives of blue whales, orcas, and grey whales as they glide through oceans, communicate, hunt, and nurture their young. Perfect for sparking curiosity, these breathtaking videos bring the majestic giants of the sea into your classroom or home.
In A Sea Otter Comeback, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how sea otters were hunted and almost became extinct, as well as why they are an important part of the ocean ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In The Unique Underwater Ecosystems of Submarine Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough goes deep beneath the ocean surface, where volcanic eruptions have built enormous submarine mountains — some taller than Mount Everest when measured from the seafloor. These underwater peaks create unique ecosystems, as powerful ocean currents sweep nutrients up their slopes. This influx of nutrients supports vibrant marine communities, including soft corals, whip corals, and giant sponges that filter nourishment from the water. Though these ecosystems thrive in complete darkness, they rely entirely on the energy transported by deep-sea currents. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Whale Sharks and Fishermen’s Bond, host Simon Reeve explores Cenderawasih Bay, where fishermen have a special bond with local whale sharks. The fishermen believe the sharks bring them good luck and have cared for the sharks for years. Simon dives into the water to see these massive creatures up close and learns that whale sharks feed on tiny fish and plankton, not humans. He also discovers how vital it is for the community to protect the ocean and its ecosystem for future generations. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Coral Bleaching, witness the effects of global warming on coral ecosystems. The world’s oceans are warming due to climate change, which negatively affects coral reefs, home to about a quarter of all ocean life. Coral is highly sensitive to temperature changes, and as ocean temperatures rise, coral bleaching becomes more extreme. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Climate Change — The Facts, a documentary that delves into the science of climate change and its far-reaching consequences.
In The Rich Feeding Grounds of the Southern Ocean, explore life in the incredible ecosystem of the Southern Ocean. Life flourishes there despite the harsh conditions. Humpback whales use ingenious hunting techniques to feast on krill, the most abundant animal species on Earth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In How Volcanic Islands Form, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how an island forms in the middle of the ocean, fueling the development of a new ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Nine North Creates an Extraordinary Ecosystem, narrator David Attenborough goes deep beneath the Pacific Ocean near the Galápagos Islands, to examine the hydrothermal vents known as "Nine North." The vents release superheated water, creating an extraordinary ecosystem. Towering mineral chimneys support a thriving community of giant tube-worms, some growing up to three meters long. These deep-sea creatures rely on the energy from the vents to survive, making them some of the fastest-growing marine invertebrates. However, this environment is unpredictable—vents can suddenly go dormant, leading to the rapid extinction of entire micro-worlds. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Flotsam Can Become Its Own Floating Ecosystem, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how flotsam can become its own floating ecosystem. Fish come to the flotsam for protection, food, and cleaning. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
Explore the impact of human activity on our oceans with this comprehensive lesson collection. Featuring curated BBC video clips and printable activities, these resources dive into topics like pollution, overfishing, and ocean habitats, helping students understand the challenges facing ocean life and inspiring them to become ocean conservation advocates.
In Majestic Blue Whales Under Threat, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights the largest animal to have ever lived—the blue whale. Weighing nearly 200 tons, these gentle giants feed almost exclusively on tiny crustaceans called krill. By taking in massive gulps of water and filtering out krill, a single blue whale can consume up to four million krill per day. However, global environmental changes threaten the fragile ecosystem that supports these magnificent creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Dive into the captivating world of whales with this BBC Learning Hub playlist, featuring 12 stunning clips from landmark BBC series. Explore the lives of blue whales, orcas, and grey whales as they glide through oceans, communicate, hunt, and nurture their young. Perfect for sparking curiosity, these breathtaking videos bring the majestic giants of the sea into your classroom or home.
In A Sea Otter Comeback, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how sea otters were hunted and almost became extinct, as well as why they are an important part of the ocean ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In The Unique Underwater Ecosystems of Submarine Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough goes deep beneath the ocean surface, where volcanic eruptions have built enormous submarine mountains — some taller than Mount Everest when measured from the seafloor. These underwater peaks create unique ecosystems, as powerful ocean currents sweep nutrients up their slopes. This influx of nutrients supports vibrant marine communities, including soft corals, whip corals, and giant sponges that filter nourishment from the water. Though these ecosystems thrive in complete darkness, they rely entirely on the energy transported by deep-sea currents. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Whale Sharks and Fishermen’s Bond, host Simon Reeve explores Cenderawasih Bay, where fishermen have a special bond with local whale sharks. The fishermen believe the sharks bring them good luck and have cared for the sharks for years. Simon dives into the water to see these massive creatures up close and learns that whale sharks feed on tiny fish and plankton, not humans. He also discovers how vital it is for the community to protect the ocean and its ecosystem for future generations. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Coral Bleaching, witness the effects of global warming on coral ecosystems. The world’s oceans are warming due to climate change, which negatively affects coral reefs, home to about a quarter of all ocean life. Coral is highly sensitive to temperature changes, and as ocean temperatures rise, coral bleaching becomes more extreme. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Climate Change — The Facts, a documentary that delves into the science of climate change and its far-reaching consequences.
In The Rich Feeding Grounds of the Southern Ocean, explore life in the incredible ecosystem of the Southern Ocean. Life flourishes there despite the harsh conditions. Humpback whales use ingenious hunting techniques to feast on krill, the most abundant animal species on Earth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In How Volcanic Islands Form, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how an island forms in the middle of the ocean, fueling the development of a new ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Nine North Creates an Extraordinary Ecosystem, narrator David Attenborough goes deep beneath the Pacific Ocean near the Galápagos Islands, to examine the hydrothermal vents known as "Nine North." The vents release superheated water, creating an extraordinary ecosystem. Towering mineral chimneys support a thriving community of giant tube-worms, some growing up to three meters long. These deep-sea creatures rely on the energy from the vents to survive, making them some of the fastest-growing marine invertebrates. However, this environment is unpredictable—vents can suddenly go dormant, leading to the rapid extinction of entire micro-worlds. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Flotsam Can Become Its Own Floating Ecosystem, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how flotsam can become its own floating ecosystem. Fish come to the flotsam for protection, food, and cleaning. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.