World Ocean Day for Schools

World Ocean Day for Schools will be eight years old this year! We’ve evolved so much since our very first event in 2018, and we’re really excited to be launching something special right before the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

We’ve always believed that the best way to increase ocean literacy in young people is to connect them to their local blue spaces and help build a sense of agency. We realised in 2022 that engagement for World Ocean Day for Schools was coming predominantly from coastal schools. We built the Our Blue platform as a way to shift from an ocean story to a water story – helping young people recognise that they can be ocean advocates no matter where they live.

Since then, over 3000 schools have added their local blue space to our map. Today, we have blue spaces in over 105 countries and counting! Once a school adds their blue space, they get access to free lesson plans and teaching resources and the opportunity to take part in the Our Blue global experiment.

This year, we wanted to do something a little different. We were curious to find a way to make the UN Ocean Decade challenges relevant and accessible for young people. For those of us who work in ocean conservation, these challenges are part of our day-to-day approach. They give a fantastic overview of the work required to protect our ocean. So we asked ourselves, how do we make this fun for kids? How do we bring these challenges to all blue spaces and give young people the opportunity to feel like they are part of the Ocean Decade?

And so we designed the Ocean Decade Challenge for Schools – an innovative card game designed to bring the UN Ocean Decade Challenges to life for young people. Perfect for teaching in and outside of the classroom, this interactive deck invites kids to explore real-world ocean, river, and lake issues through enquiry-based learning, creativity and collaboration.

The game helps students engage with big ideas like marine pollution, climate resilience, and ocean equity in an accessible and age-appropriate way. Each round begins by selecting the blue space, then tackling a real-life environmental scenario through the lens of one of ten UN Ocean Decade Challenges. Students lean into their strengths and learn how to apply their skills to the mission. With scenario-based problem-solving, students are empowered to think critically, work as a team, and develop tangible solutions, building both ocean literacy and self-efficacy.

Designed to be flexible, inclusive, and curriculum-friendly, the card deck is a valuable resource for educators seeking to integrate ocean literacy, systems thinking, and values-led learning into the school day. It requires no prep, no screens, and works across age groups, making it an ideal activity for World Ocean Day.

On Friday 6th June, join us for a live assembly and take part in the Ocean Decade Challenge! We’ll be showcasing stories of incredible ocean, river and lake advocates from across the world to help inspire you as your class takes on a mission to solve.