Get to know the ocean through sports!

Topic addressed

Coastal and water sports

Educational objective

This activity will enable students to learn how to find their way on a map and find specific locations using geographical coordinates. They will also gain knowledge on the ocean, coastal and water sports, marine biodiversity and citizen science.

Age group

Students 12-15 years old

Language

English

Competences developed with the exercise

• Use of digital maps and geographic information analysis
• Digital literacy
• Search for information, evaluation of information and summary of information
• Communication and group discussion
• Green competences including valuing sustainability, promoting nature,systems thinking and exploratory thinking.

Principle of the game

Five animated images of coastal and water sports have been hidden in the European Maritime Day (EMD) In My Country 2026 map layer which shows a series of local events organised across Europe under the ‘EMD in my Country’ label. EMD In My Country events aim to raise awareness about the importance of the ocean and seas and to engage the public, particularly young people. Each event is represented by a starfish on the map. This is the visible part of the map. You can click on each starfish to discover information about the event, what it is about, when it is taking place, and who is organising the event.  But, to see the hidden images, you have to play the game!

The game includes five parts:

• Part 1: Find the hidden images of coastal and water sports;
• Part 2: Complete the four-piece puzzle for each sport;
• Part 3: Find out how you can protect the ocean and marine biodiversity when taking part in a coastal or  a water sport;
• Part 4: Find out how you can contribute to citizen science when taking part in a coastal or  a water sport;
• Part 5: Can you think of other water sports that are not included in the map?

Teachers can choose which parts of the game they would like to organise. For example, a single classroom activity could be based on the combination of Part 1 and Part 2 only. The different parts of the game could also be used to create a series of activities across lessons on different dates. The class could be divided into groups for parts of the game (e.g. each group looks for one of the five images, or one group discusses marine biodiversity while another group discusses citizen science).

Before you start playing the game …

Have a look at the following tutorials to learn your way around the Atlas.

• Atlas measure tool tutorial (find out how to see the geographical coordinates of any location on a map)
• Bring the ocean into your classroom with the European Atlas of the Seas 

Did you know that the Atlas also has other videos to help you out? The European Atlas of the Seas playlist on the EMODnet YouTube channel has everything you need! 

Part 1: Find the hidden images of coastal and water sports

Below are the hints from the Atlas team and the geographical coordinates to find the images. Read the text, find the images and complete the table with what you have found!

• To search the images, you will need to open the map layer ‘European Maritime Day in My Country 2026’.
• You can use the + sign in the toolbar to zoom in on specific regions in the map.
• When you click on a starfish in the map which represents an event, a window will open that will allow you to see information about the event.
• The Atlas team added the images near five different starfish on the map. They included the related geographical coordinates in the table below. If you are using your computer to play the game, use the Atlas Measure tool to find these geographical coordinates, deactivate the Measure tool and click on the location you have identified to see the image appear! If you are  using your mobile phone to play the game, have a look at the mobile hints in the table. Once you have found the images, complete the table with the information on the country and the name of the nearby EMD in my Country event.

Looking for more hints?

• Click on the layers’ icon in the toolbar and change the basemap to ‘Cities Template’;
• Zoom in on the following countries: Croatia, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal.

Part 2: Complete the four-piece puzzle for each sport

Once you have found the images and discovered the sports represented in the five images, create a four-piece puzzle for each sport with the puzzle pieces below and explain what stories they tell. Each puzzle should include these four elements:

• Element 1 / Yellow element: the name of a coastal or a water sport;
• Element 2 / Red element: a piece of equipment linked to this sport;
• Element 3 / Blue element: a marine element (e.g. waves) which is important to understand for this sport;
• Element 4 / Green element: a marine species which could be observed when participating in this sport. 

There are several good answers for the marine species, choose one and explain why you have chosen that one.

Part 3: Find out how you can protect the ocean and marine biodiversity when taking part in a coastal or a water sport

Many sport champions and sport enthusiasts have developed initiatives to protect the marine and coastal environment where they envoy their sport. Good practices, guidelines and projects can support a healthy ocean.

• Do you know any sport champions and sport enthusiasts who have developed initiatives? How is their work protecting the ocean?
• Do you know any advice on how to protect the coasts and ocean while enjoying these sports (e.g. not walking in protected dune areas to prevent walking on bird eggs, disturbing animal species or damaging the plants that are holding the dunes in place)?

Create several discussion groups in the classroom to discuss these questions. Each group can summarise their findings and present them to the other groups.

Looking for inspiration? Have a look at the resources included below.

Some examples of water sports experts who have developed initiatives to protect the ocean and connect with the ocean:

• Team Malizia (sailing)
• Fundación Ecomar (sailing, in Spanish)
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation (sailing)
• Maud Fontenoy (sailing, in French)
• Surfriders (surfing)
• Easky Britton (surfing)

Some online documentation which includes recommendations on how you can protect the ocean:

• Five ways you can help protect coral reefs on your next holiday
• Leave No Trace
• An Ocean Lover’s Guide to Boating Sustainably
• Blue World Institute - Dolphin conservation
• Become a Clean Boater: Your 9-Step Guide to Protecting Our Ocean
• Learn about Natura 2000 sites
• Conservatoire du Littoral - Attention, on marche sur des œufs ! (in French)
• Conservatoire du Littoral - Espace pédagogique (in French)
• Nausicaá
• Planeet Zee (in Dutch)
• SSI Responsible Diver Code
• SSI Blue Oceans movement

Part 4: Find out how you can contribute to citizen science when taking part in a water sport.

Did you know that while enjoying your sport you can contribute to citizen science? 

• Can you explain what citizen science is?
• Can you give examples of how citizen scientists can help support scientific research?
• What type of project would you like to contribute to?

Create several discussion groups in the classroom to discuss these questions. Each group can summarise their findings and present them to the other groups.

Looking for inspiration? Have a look at the resources included below.

General information on citizen science

• European Citizen Science Association (ECSA)
• Ocean decade citizen science data sharing guidelines
• CS-MACH 1: Marine Citizen Science Data Horizon

Citizen science projects

• EMODnet joins forces with Scuba Schools International in largest citizen science data partnership
• LandSeaLot Citizen Science Hub
• Innova marina
• PHENOMER
• Los jardineros del mar
• Marine LitterWatch
• OTTERS: Citizen Science for Water Stewardship

Part 5: Can you think of other water sports that are that are not included in the map?

Create several discussion groups in the classroom. Each group will aim to list water sports that are not in the map (e.g. windsurfing). Discuss what you would need to know about the ocean to enjoy these sports, how sports enthusiasts can help protect the ocean and how they could contribute to citizen science.

Congratulations! 

You won the ‘Get to know the ocean through sports!’ game!

Wish to learn more? Explore the map and find out about the other events included in the map.

Remember: 

Adequate training, respect of safety procedures and checking equipment, local conditions and weather are key to all sports.