Students 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.

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...

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. 

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. 

Learners 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.

Students examine the relationship between corals and zooxanthellae, identify stresses to corals, and explain coral bleaching.  In this sea life lesson plan students predict the effects of increased temperatures on coral reefs. 

Students discuss what they know about coral reefs and are introduced to the importance of preserving coral reefs. In this coral reef lesson, students make connections between coral ecology in the classroom and in the real environment...

Students examine deep-sea coral. In this coral lesson, students identify the structure and function of a coral polyp. Students then create a model of a coral polyp.

Students research coral polyps. In this coral polyps lesson, students discover the anatomy of a coral polyp and how they feed. Students create an edible coral polyp model.

Students complete four activities to investigate how reef ecology can change. They perform experiments to show how sewage discharge can affect a marine ecosystem, look at substances that don't dissolve in water, examine wave action...

Young scholars examine life under the sea to discover coral gardens and microhabitats. They demonstrate learning by creating an edible marine ecosystem with a sheet cake, icing, and different candies.

High schoolers study microsatellite markers and explain how they might be used to identify populations. They use data to make inferences about the populations of deep-sea corals.

Using actual data from a deep-sea video survey, high school marine biologists consider the biodiversity, compare species richness between two communities, and learn to calculate the diversity index. The lesson plan is all-inclusive,...

Students examine current flow and describe ways in which it may effect food of reef building corals.  In this coral lesson students identify two environmental factors that may affect the morphology.

Students observe and discuss the advantages of camouflage, then try their hands at designing a well-camouflaged fish.

Seamounts are large, extinct volcanoes that rise up from the bottom of the ocean floor. They are a relatively new landform in the scientific community, and this lesson plan invites students to learn about the amazing diversity of life...

Young scholars observe the advantages of camouflage. They design a well camouflaged fish of their own.

Students explore biology by conducting a nature experiment. In this pond examination instructional activity, students utilize recycled materials, play-doh and water to recreate a pond and its inhabitants. Students identify the different...

Students explore adaptation by completing worksheets. In this fish anatomy lesson, students identify the different survival strategies fish utilize to live in the ocean and the adaptation their bodies have gone through over millions of...