Topic: Coral Reefs
Key Points:
-What is Coral?
-Symbiotic Relationships
-What type of reefs are there?
-Coral Spawning
-Benefits of Coral Reefs
-How are our corals doing?
-Threats to coral reefs
-What can we do?
Video Activities:
-Symbiotic Relationships (WORKSHEET 1): Worksheet 1- Symbiotic Relationships
-Coral Spawning Activity (WORKSHEET 2) :
Worksheet 2 (PRINT OUT FOR ALL STUDENTS)
Worksheet 2A for younger (PRINT OUT FOR STUDENTS PREK-3RD)
Worksheet 2B for older (PRINT OUR FOR STUDENTS 4TH GRADE THROUGH 8)
Coral Species Identification (WORKSHEET 3): Worksheet 3
DIY Coral Polyp (WORKSHEET 4): Worksheet 4- Make your own coral polyp
Follow Up:
Bubble Reef (WORKSHEET 5): Worksheet 5
Accessible videos:
Coral song (Elementary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cusz66JZXkA
Coral Bleaching (Elementary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEdoizgeNJk&t=35s
Coral Bleaching(middle school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyEw_Rl8mqM&t=25s
All About Coral Reefs (elementary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BKd5e15Jc
Coral Reef decline, nutrients (middle school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czE13GPIZ7U
PBS News Coral Reefs (middle school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1AyIs1xNCk
Corals in Crisis: Coral Disease (middle school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-WIs4J2oW8
Suggested Movie:
Netflix Chasing Coral
Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6fHA9R2cKI
Complimentary resources:
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/corals-and-coral-reefs
https://scripps.ucsd.edu/projects/coralreefsystems/about-coral-reefs/value-of-corals/
https://oceana.org/marine-life/marine-science-and-ecosystems/coral-reef
Video polling questions:
These questions will be asked throughout Lesson 2, some are review and some are new!
-What is an abiotic factor?
-What is a biotic factor?
-What organism goes through photosynthesis?
-What does an omnivore eat?
-What’s an example of an apex predator?
-Is coral a plant, rock, animal?
-Corals are Cnidarians, what other animals do you think could be related to coral?
-Do you think it’s good or bad that they are all connected?
-What type of relationship do you think coral and zooxanthellae have?
-Where would a new coral grow best?
-What type of reef does the Florida Keys have?
-Do you think corals are important?