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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Coral Reefs in Hot Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Global warming is leaving coral reefs in hot water. What does that mean for their survival? Find out as scholars use authentic satellite data to explore the issue. Learners look for global trends in the data and research the effects the...
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PPT
Biology Junction

Cnidarians and Ctenophorans

For Students 9th - 12th
Cnidaria is a broad phylum of 11,000 different species from jellyfish to coral. Most Cnidarians are marine species with a few freshwater examples. A lesson presentation explains the important characteristics of different species of...
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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...
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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

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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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

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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Climate Lesson Plans

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students 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. Students create a proposal that show the effects...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Reef!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore coral reef ecosystems.  In this ecosystems science lesson, students research coral reef ecosystems to determine the major functions the participating organisms must perform.  Students construct a miniature...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keeping Watch on Coral Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the dangers Coral Reefs face by investigating satellite images.  In this environmental protection lesson, students utilize the Internet to discover the types of satellites and sensors used to provide...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saved by a Shark

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the marine ecosystem and the importance of sharks. In this shark lesson, students look at photos of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and discuss the animals that live there. They discuss which animals...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Impact on the Life Cycle of Corals

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study the life cycle of a coral reef. They then participate in a simulated village meeting in which they roleplay various characters who must review proposed legislation dealing with reef management.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gardens Under the Sea: Coral Reefs

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars, with dive partners, explore coral reefs through scuba diving. They also explore radial symmetry and bilateral symmetry.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reefs, Polyps and Heads

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore coral communities. They explore a coral polyp and build a coral head.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reef Conservation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars conduct discussions on current threats to coral reefs around the world and write letters to conservation organizations urging support for coral reef protection.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seals, Corals, and Dollars...

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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...
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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

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

What Is It?!

For Teachers 4th
Working individually or in groups, 4th graders are presented with unusual or at least unfamiliar objects and are asked to speculate on what they are and/or how they are used. The intention is to get students to make careful observations...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reef Restaurant

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners explore coral reefs by re-enacting different reef organisms.