Why can travelling on a boat make you feel sick? This engaging KS2 reading comprehension lesson explores seasickness and the surprising way our eyes, inner ears and brain work together to understand movement.

Designed for Years 5–6 / Upper KS2, the resource combines an accessible nonfiction reading passage with comprehension, vocabulary, creative thinking and extension activities. It can be used as a complete reading lesson, for guided or independent reading, as a science-linked literacy activity, or as cover work.

This resource includes:

Engaging nonfiction reading passage about seasickness
Before You Read activities
10 reading comprehension questions
Vocabulary Detective activities
Creative “Your Turn” task
Finished Early? extension activity
Extra Challenge
Five-senses homework activity
Full answer section

The passage explores the vestibular system inside the inner ear, how the semicircular canals help detect movement, why conflicting information from the eyes and inner ears can cause motion sickness, and why looking at the horizon can help. It also introduces other forms of sensory conflict, including motion sickness caused by virtual reality.

The activities encourage pupils to retrieve information, explain scientific ideas, work out vocabulary from context and think about how different senses work together to give the brain information about the world.

Suitable for Year 5, Year 6, KS2 reading comprehension, nonfiction reading, science reading, the senses, the human body and cross-curricular English/science lessons.

Format: Printable PDF
Age range: 9–11 / Years 5–6
Answers included