California Academy of Science
Coral Reef Habitat Match
Different animals live in different habitats, and each animal has specifically adaptive traits that make them tailor-made for their environments. This is true on land and in the ocean. Little ones examine how various marine animals have...
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Fragile Reefs
Students research how coral reefs form, where they are located, and what plant and animal species find shelter in reefs, build and display diorama to represent coral and animals that live in coral reef, and participate in discussion...
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Who Has the Data? Monitoring Coral Reefs
Students access data to characterize coral reefs. In this scientific research lesson, students access data and explain the need for such data when monitoring coral reefs. They will identify and explain three major threats to coral reefs.
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Coral Reefs
Learners research coral reefs and identify their benefits to humans, threats to the reef, how to reduce and eliminate threats, and more. In this coral reef lesson plan, students research the reefs, and take a field trip to an aquarium.
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How do living and non-living structures affect coral reef habitats?
Learners create model coral reefs showing surface area and including examples of communities. In this coral reef instructional activity, students research and explore the functions or benefits from a coral reef. Learners...
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Monitoring Coral Reefs
Learners investigate data on coral reef monitoring in a marine protected area in the Florida keys. In this coral reef lesson plan, students use online data from a marine protected coral reef to complete a worksheet about coral...
NOAA
Deep-Sea Ecosystems – Cool Corals
Young oceanographers research deep sea corals that thrive on chemosynthesis. The activity focuses on the biology of the animal, preferred habitat, associations, and interactions.
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Oceans-Coral Reefs
Second graders investigate coral reefs. For this oceanology lesson, 2nd graders discuss what constitutes a coral reef and the wildlife that lives there. Students watch a video about coral reefs and take an online quiz.
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Design a Reef!
Students design a functional model of a coral reef ecosystem. In this coral reef activity, students identify the energy sources and material cycles of a coral reef. They write an essay about their niche in their own ecosystem.
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Coral Reefs
Students research an inhabitant of a Caribbean coral reef using a list of common organisms that live on or near it. Students then write a description of their organism and draw a picture or a 3-D model of it. Eventually they all work...
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Easy as Pi
Students describe the importance of structural features that increase surface area in a coral reef habitat. In this investigative lesson students quantify the impact of modifications on surface area in model habitats.
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Blue Planet: Coral Seas
Young scholars create a poster about coral reefs. In this oceanography lesson, students teach the class about a given aspect of the coral reefs. Young scholars create posters with images and facts about this habitat.
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What's Down There
Students write an essay about the coral reefs. In this oceanography lesson, students investigate the reef of Bonaire and compare it to reefs that are not thriving. Students then explore the differences that contribute to the overall...
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Exploring Life in the Coral Reef
Students study life forms in coral reefs. In this ocean life lesson, students study life in coral reefs as they create a coral reef sculpture.
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Into the Sea
Students display an awareness of the diversity of species in the coral reef, their habitat and adaptations. They conduct research to find and then color code the locations of coral reefs around the world.
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Guess Who? Coral
Fourth graders identify and group coral formations. In this coral identification lesson, 4th graders examine coral pictures, discuss vocabulary, and provide similarities and differences in the growth formations.
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Coral Reefs Endangered
Students research where in the world coral reefs are located. In this ecology lesson, students create food chains and food web. They simulate growing coral reefs to understand their characteristics better.
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Make an Edible Coral Reef
Students create an edible coral reef out of food and candy. In this Science instructional activity, students explore what a coral reef is and the coral reef's importance to the ecosystem. Additionally, students discover the...
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Coral Bleaching
High schoolers examine the relationship between corals and zooxanthellae, identify stresses to corals, and explain coral bleaching. In this sea life lesson students predict the effects of increased temperatures on coral reefs.
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Staghorn Coral
Students recognize that staghorn coral helps reef growth in the Caribbean. In this Coral Reef lesson, students design a habitat model using various art materials to explain how staghorn coral helps the reef grow. Students share...
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What is Coral?
Students discuss what they know about coral reefs and are introduced to the importance of preserving coral reefs. In this coral reef lesson plan, students make connections between coral ecology in the classroom and in the real...
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What's Down There?
Students analyze data on coral reefs and use this to help characterize reefs. In this mapping coral reefs lesson students identify and explain the major threats to coral reefs.
Teach Engineering
Extinction Prevention via Engineering
It's time to save endangered species through engineering. The third lesson in a nine-part Life Science unit has young environmentalists study species extinction. An engaging discussion leads to some ideas on how to use engineering design...
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Seals, Corals, and Dollars...
Students explore the interdependence of animals and their habitat. In this Hawaiian ecology lesson, students work in groups to research the necessity of preserving precious coral as a habitat for monk seals. Students prepare...