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Lesson Plan
National Geographic

Coral Reef Fish Survey Simulation

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
With a discussion and a brief film, introduce populations. Using paper fish models, your class participates in a simulation in which they survey numbers of fish. As a class, they tally up the different types. The challenge with this...
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Lesson Plan
National Geographic

Coral Reefs: Ecosystems Full of Life

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Coral reefs contain some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Introduce reef residents to youngsters with a three-minute video. While the content is educational, it is not particularly engaging or clear. You may choose to skip the...
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PPT
Curated OER

Coasts and Reefs: Shallow Marine Processes

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
A more thorough presentation on coastal systems would be difficult to find! Detailed diagrams illuminate the offshore, shoreface, foreshore, and backshore zones of  beach. The sources and movement of sediments along the coastline are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fragile Reefs

For Teachers 4th - 12th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Fading Corals

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Show the six-minute video, "Changing Planet: Fading Corals," and then demonstrate how calcium carbonate forms a precipitate in the presence of carbon dioxide. Separate your scientists into small groups to gather information about coral...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Reef!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Using a miniature coral reef aquarium kit, young ecologists model this unique ecosystem. They research various coral reef organisms and their niches, and they culminate the project by working together to write a report. Use this activity...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Snapshots

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Using photographs and a coral reef identification key, junior marine biologists compare changes in coral cover for a No-Take Area and the surrounding unprotected area. The data that is collected is then analyzed for richness,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Diverse is That?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Compare various types of biological diversity in a coral reef and calculate a numeric indicator that describes the diversity found in coral communities. Your class can work in groups to look at the abundance and distribution data of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Save a Reef!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Design a public information campaign to improve understanding of the coral reef crisis. Read about and discuss the biology and threats to the coral reef. The class creates a public information program about the problems facing the coral...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dead Zones: Why Are the Waters Dying?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Young scholars 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...
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Lesson Plan
US Environmental Protection Agency

Corals and Chemistry

For Teachers 4th - 6th
After demonstrating the use of cabbage juice as a pH indicator, have your class experiment with their own breath, exhaling into the indicator, to show that carbon dioxide is acidic. As learners work, they also watch a video about coral...
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PPT
Curated OER

Geographic Landforms

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Each slide is a simple notebook page with one landform in blue and its definition in red. There are 26 vocabulary terms in all, some you may want to use, and others easily hidden. It is recommended that you add photos or other graphic...
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PPT
Curated OER

The Work of Waves and Wind

For Teachers 7th - 12th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tropical Island

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Learners research information about a specific tropical island and locate it on a world map. They study details about coral reefs and other animal and plant life on the island and determine how ocean currents affect the island's climate.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Scenes and Coral Reefs

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students explore plants and animals that live at various ocean levels, including beaches and coral reefs. They demonstrate their comprehension of ocean layers and life with chalk drawings. Students draw details of plant and animal life,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Reef!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here is an ambitious, but highly valuable undertaking: set up a miniature coral reef in your classroom. Young marine scientists research coral reef ecosystems and ensure all vital factors are included in their functioning model. The...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Gardens

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Marine biology beginners read about the 2005 Florida Coast Deep Corals expedition, research phylum Cnidaria, and then report on a specific coral deep-sea coral group. There is an abundance of background information and internet resources...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treasures in Jeopardy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In small groups, middle schoolers research deep-sea coral reefs and design a poster to educate the public about their importance. They compare them to shallow-water reefs and consider the impact of bottom-trawl fishing. Many internet...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ocean

For Teachers 3rd
Plant and animal life of the ocean is the focus of this science lesson. Young scientists sort a variety of seashells and explore why many sea animals have shells. They examine the shells, write journal entries highlighting the...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Rainforests of the Sea

For Students 6th - 9th
In this ecology worksheet, students read and study about coral reefs using online resources to complete 8 short answer questions. They watch a video related to the topic.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Climate Lesson Plans

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept of global climate. For this global climate lesson, students research and investigate global warming and its effects on the world over the course of 9 lessons. Middle schoolers create a proposal that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Filter-Feeding in Reef Sponges

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students make observations and describe the filter-feeding in sponges as it relates to the ecological role of sponges on coral reefs. In this filter-feeding in reef sponges lesson plan, students are introduced to the feeding methods of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Ocean Grazers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore biology by creating a poster with classmates. In this oceanography activity, students identify the importance of coral reefs to the ocean's ecology and examine a food web of ocean animals. Students define a list of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant and Animal Cells

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate parts of a cell. In this plant cell lesson, students determine the difference between plant and animal cells. Students discover that coral is an animal based on cell characteristics. Students create puppets to...