The Mediterranean is our home sea. It is small, warm, and busy. Many people swim, fish, and travel here. Because of this, the sea needs extra care.
One big problem is plastic. Bags and bottles float for a long time. Turtles can eat them by mistake. Old fishing nets also stay in the water and trap animals. Another problem is dirty water from streets and rivers after rain. It carries rubbish and oil into the sea. On the seabed, Posidonia seagrass grows in wide meadows. It makes oxygen and is a home for fish, but boats can damage it with anchors.
The good news: small actions help a lot. We use a refillable bottle and take our rubbish home. We separate waste and recycle at school and at home. On the beach, we keep off the seagrass and walk on marked paths. In the water, we watch sea life but do not touch. Families can join clean-ups and learn about marine reserves. We save water at home, because every drop goes back to nature.
If we act together, the Mediterranean stays blue, full of life, and ready for future summers.
Tuna come first in our sea. Atlantic bluefin tuna cross the Mediterranean each year; they are powerful, warm-bodied fish and one of the fastest, but scientists usually say the sailfish is the fastest fish overall.
Other key Mediterranean species are loggerhead turtles, which nest on sandy beaches; bottlenose dolphins, which hunt in small groups near coasts; sperm whales, the deepest divers here; and the rare Mediterranean monk seal, which needs quiet caves to rest and raise pups.
Under the water grows Posidonia seagrass, a green “forest” that makes oxygen, protects the shore, and is a nursery for many young fish.
If we protect beaches, reduce plastic, and respect marine reserves, these species can survive and grow.
Comprehension
- Is tuna the fastest fish in the ocean? If not, which fish is usually called the fastest?
- Name two Mediterranean species and say one fact about each.
Answer the questions about you. Word bank (use in your sentences)
always / usually / often / sometimes / never • last weekend / yesterday / this summer • I can… / We can… • pick up rubbish • recycle plastics/paper • refill bottle • save water • use public transport • stay off Posidonia • join a beach clean-up • protect / respect / keep
7 questions
- How often do you go to the beach? Where do you usually go?
Starter: “I usually go to ___ twice a month.” - What did you do last time you went to the sea? (3 verbs)
Starter: “Last weekend I swam, picked up rubbish, and relaxed.” - What can you do to help the Mediterranean at the beach? (3 ideas with can)
Starter: “I can use a refill bottle, can pick up plastic, and can stay off the seagrass.” - At home, how do you reduce waste or save water? (2–3 habits with frequency)
Starter: “We often recycle paper and always turn off the tap.” - Which Mediterranean animal do you want to protect most? Why?
Starter: “I want to protect the monk seal because it is rare.” - Have you seen any problems on our beaches? What is one solution?
Starter: “I saw plastic near the rocks. The solution is to add more bins and clean every weekend.” - Your pledge: What are you going to do next month to help the sea? (when/where/how often)
Starter: “I’m going to join a clean-up on Saturday at ___, twice next month.”
Leo the Lion loves our Mediterranean coast. At sunrise he grabs his board, because surfing wakes him up better than coffee. When a good wave rises, he paddles fast, stands up, and rides it like a moving road. He can feel the salt on his face and the wind in his mane.
After surfing, Leo floats over the Posidonia meadows and snorkels. He moves slowly so he doesn’t scare the fish. If he sees plastic, he picks it up and puts it in a pocket net. “Small actions help a lot,” he says.
On the beach his friends spread towels for sunbathing. They use eco cream, read comics, and listen to music quietly. Soon someone shouts, “Game on!” and a quick match of beach football starts. The ball stays low on the sand; teamwork matters more than power. Next, they put up a net for beach volleyball—two touches, then a clean pass over the top.
In the evening Leo cools down with a walk along the shore. Some kids jog beside him, counting steps between the waves. Finally, they try Leo’s new idea: an Eco-Treasure Hunt. Each team has a list—one smooth shell, one bottle cap, one photo of a seabird. The shells go back to the sand; the rubbish goes to recycling. If we play, share, and protect the coast, the Mediterranean will stay blue for every summer.
Answer these questions:
- Where did you go to the beach last time?
- Who did you go with?
- What games did you play on the sand?
- Did you try snorkelling? What did you see?
- How long did you stay at the beach?
- What did you eat or drink there?
- Did you sunbathe? How did you protect your skin?
- Did you play football or volleyball? Which one did you enjoy more?
- What rubbish did you pick up or recycle at the beach?
- Second conditional: If you could spend a whole day at the beach with any friend, what would you do together?
Lingua-Franca 