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Lesson 2: Coral Reefs:

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bS3jvXSnck&list=PLX4XdbwOThX-7FdPDFj-THcE8UvDR6iOf&index=3

*These videos are recordings of lessons Reef Relief hosted on Facebook Live during the COVID19 shutdown.

Key Points:

  • What is Coral?
  • Symbiotic Relationships
  • What type of reefs are there?
  • Coral Spawning
  • Benefits of Coral Reefs
  • How are our corals doing?
  • Threats to coral reefs
  • What can we do?

Video Activities:

-Symbiotic Relationships (WORKSHEET 1): Worksheet 1- Symbiotic Relationships

-Coral Spawning Activity (WORKSHEET 2) : 

Worksheet 2 (PRINT OUT FOR ALL STUDENTS)

Worksheet 2A for younger (PRINT OUT FOR STUDENTS PREK-3RD)

Worksheet 2B for older (PRINT OUR FOR STUDENTS 4TH GRADE THROUGH 8)

Coral Species Identification (WORKSHEET 3): Worksheet 3

DIY Coral Polyp (WORKSHEET 4): Worksheet 4- Make your own coral polyp

Follow Up:

Bubble Reef (WORKSHEET 5):  Worksheet 5

Accessible videos:

Coral song (Elementary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cusz66JZXkA

Coral Bleaching (Elementary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEdoizgeNJk&t=35s

Coral Bleaching(middle school)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyEw_Rl8mqM&t=25s

All About Coral Reefs (elementary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BKd5e15Jc

Coral Reef decline, nutrients (middle school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czE13GPIZ7U

PBS News Coral Reefs (middle school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1AyIs1xNCk

Corals in Crisis: Coral Disease (middle school) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-WIs4J2oW8

Suggested Movie:

Netflix Chasing Coral

Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6fHA9R2cKI

Complimentary resources:

https://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/TARAPACIFIC-FICHESPRIMAIRE-A4-UK-V3.pdf

https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/corals-and-coral-reefs

https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life-education-resources/coral-reef-ecosystems

https://oceana.org/marine-life/marine-science-and-ecosystems/coral-reef

Video polling questions:

These questions will be asked throughout Lesson 2, some are review and some are new!

  • What is an abiotic factor?
  • What is a biotic factor?
  • What organism goes through photosynthesis?
  • What does an omnivore eat?
  • What’s an example of an apex predator?
  • Is coral a plant, rock, animal?
  • Corals are Cnidarians, what other animals do you think could be related to coral?
  • Do you think it’s good or bad that they are all connected?
  • What type of relationship do you think coral and zooxanthellae have?
  • Where would a new coral grow best?
  • What type of reef does the Florida Keys have?
  • Do you think corals are important?