NOAA
Importance of Deep-Sea Ecosystems – The Benthic Drugstore
You never know what you will find next in the deep sea ecosystem. So far, scientists have found items that work as anti-tumor agents, anti-inflammatory agents, agents that stop uncontrolled cell division, and much more. The lesson begins...
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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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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.
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Pipeline to the Coral Reefs
Students discuss the relationship of density to stratification. In this marine science lesson, students create a model of upwelling events using cold and warm water. They discuss how water phenomena affect coral reefs.
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KWL Chart and Background Article
Students discuss an ecosystem. In this coral reef lesson, students fill in their own KWL chart and contribute ideas to a whole class KWL chart. They read an article as a class to spark ideas for facts they can add to the "K" part of the...
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Dead Zones: Why Are the Waters Dying?
Students investigate the effects of pollution on marine ecosystems. They read and discuss an article, identify the effects of pollution on marine life, conduct research on local nutrient pollution, and conduct local water quality studies.
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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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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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The Coral Reef
Fourth graders discuss life in a coral reef, and view photographs and a computer program about coral reefs. They design and create colorful watercolor, ink, and crayon drawings of coral reefs.
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The Work of Waves and Wind
This is not revolutionary, but it is informative. Earth science viewers in grades 7-12 get carried away with wave and wind erosion. They view diagrams of how waves impact ocean shorelines. They see examples of the different types of sand...
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Bermuda Reef Diorama
Students build a Bermuda coral reef to gain a better understanding of this ecosystem.
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Corrosion to Corals
Young scholars study galvanic exchange and how it produces electric currents. In this ocean lesson students predict what metals deteriorate in salt water.
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Growing Coral
Students define the words coral and coral reef, and identify the Great Barrier Reef on a map or a globe. They observe crystal formations that develop in a way similar to the way coral polyps create their calcium carbonate cups.
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Deep Sea Coral Biodiversity
Young scholars research life forms on tropical coral reefs in order to explore the biodiversity of the ecosystem. In this biodiversity lesson plan students work in groups and complete their coral reef activity.
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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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Caution: Do No Bleach!
High schoolers explore coral reef bleaching. In this coral reef lesson, students identify the benefits of coral reefs and the 3 major treats to coral reefs. High schoolers research how to lessen the threats and discuss the actions that...
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Filter Feeding in Reef Sponges
Learners investigate the role of sponges in our oceans. In this biology lesson, students create a diagram visualizing how sponges bring food into their bodies through a filtering process. Learners discuss the connections...
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Build a Polyp
Young scholars research coral polyps. In this coral polyps lesson, students discover the anatomy of a coral polyp and how they feed. Young scholars create an edible coral polyp model.
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A Reef of Your Own
Students research and study the life and reproductive strategies of reef building corals. They examine how coral reefs can produce high levels of biological material when they are surviving in areas of low nutrition.
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Predators Among Us
Students study environmental science. In this ecosystems lesson, students discover how humans have an impact on life in the coral reef. They watch video clips and work on small group activities. This lesson includes links to the videos...
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Coral Reef Bleaching
Students explore the structural biology of corals. Working individually, students identify how corals become bleached and which conditions produce more and less coral bleaching. Students explore how this effects the environment and...
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Sexy Coral Reef and I Want My Own Space
Fifth graders explore how coral polyps increase the chances of egg and sperm meeting after being released into the vast ocean waters.
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Making an Edible Coral Polyp
Students study anatomy. In this coral reef lesson plan, students recreate the anatomy of a coral polyp using edible materials. They work in pairs following step-by-step instructions given by the teacher. This lesson plan includes a list...