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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Coral Reefs

For Teachers 4th
Study explore coral reefs. For this coral reef lesson, 4th graders examine the physical structure of coral reefs. Students consider why coral reefs need to be protected and ways to protect them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do Fish Clean the Ocean?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students analyze a reading selection. In this ocean lesson, students read a story about the ocean, ocean animals and coral reefs. Students have the option to complete internet research on coral reefs. Students write in their journals...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Coral Reef: Water Cycle Center

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this coral reef water cycle worksheet, students read 4 sections of a table the include sentences about the water cycle. They cut out the sentences and paste them on a poster that sequences the steps of the water cycle. They draw a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Coral Reef Designs

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this coral reef design activity, student use pattern blocks, tangrams, or pentominos to make a design that looks like the animals and plants that live in a Coral Reef. They trace the shapes on your paper, color it, and label each design.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Oceans Puzzle

For Students 4th - 6th
In this oceans word search puzzle, students identify terms related to the ocean. Examples include words such as swells, tide, and island. A list of 18 words is provided to assist students in their search.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Creature Classification

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students develop a Taxonomic Key for marine invertebrates from pictures they are given after practicing together with common objects, such as shoes. They then compare their key to a provided Ocean Invertebrates Taxonomic Key.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conservation and Environmental Protection

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students brainstorm a list of environments and animals from around the world that need protection. They then design and create a slogan about an animal or environment and an environmental protection poster.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underwater Research

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students make transect and quadrat surveys using a provided worksheet in order to understand the techniques used to study coral reefs. Each type of survey is used to identify the species, diversity, and number of corals.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Corals and Coral Reefs

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students label the continents, oceans, and seas on a provided world map and use it to determine where they would expect most of the world's coral reefs to be found based on provided information the teacher has read to them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Classification

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Young scholars list characteristics and features of animals found in their community. They then group the animals according to how they are similar and different and create names for each group. They then create a chart of their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Are Animals Too

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create posters that show how a shark is a major predator in kelp forests and coral reefs after studying the food webs for these ecosystems. They determine that fish are important animals in the ocean's web of life.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dinnertime On The Reef

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the main parts of a coral reef. They describe a coral reef food chain.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on the Edge: Exploring Deep Ocean Habitats Cool Corals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research the basic morphology of Lophelia corals and polyps to determine the significance of these organisms. They detail the reasons that biological communities are focusing on the Lophelia corals as major conservation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson #5: Symbiosis and Coral Anatomy

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the basic structure of corals and the concept of symbiosis. They watch a Powerpoint Presentation, develop an original pair of organisms living symbiotically, and create an edible model of a coral polyp.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson #6: Sea Surface Temperature and Coral Bleaching

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the concept of coral bleaching and sea surface temperature. They view a teacher demonstration, interpret sea surface temperature data, explore a website, and complete worksheets.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Coral

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Reef

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Students build a coral reef, then discover organisms that make up the ecosystem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Into the Sea

For Teachers 5th - 6th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pipeline to the Coral Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the relationship of density to stratification. For 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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reefs Endangered

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars 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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Biology Lesson on Understanding the Dynamics of the Reef Ecosystem

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students compare data from a healty and unhealthy reef ecosystem. In this marine biology lesson, students identify which sample is stressed. They formulate a hypothesis on why the reef is stressed and support their hypothesis with proven...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make an Edible Coral Reef

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students create an edible coral reef out of food and candy. In this Science lesson, students explore what a coral reef is and the coral reef's importance to the ecosystem.  Additionally, students discover the different parts of a coral...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Life in the Coral Reef

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study life forms in coral reefs. In this ocean life lesson plan, students study life in coral reefs as they create a coral reef sculpture.
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Printables
Curated OER

Coral Reef: Did You Know?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
In this science worksheet, students research facts about coral reefs and write them on the cards. The cards may be used for display or reports.