Young scholars investigate Australia's Great Barrier Reef and create oil paintings of it. After their research, they apply various painting techniques to depict air bubbles, sun's radiation, and color blending. For older students, the...

Young scholars explore coral reef ecosystems.  In this ecosystems science lesson, students research coral reef ecosystems to determine the major functions the participating organisms must perform.  Young scholars construct a...

Students examine the animals that live in a coral reef and how they adapt to their environment.  In this coral lesson students write a short book on how animals inhabit the coral reefs. 

High schoolers access data to characterize coral reefs. In this scientific research lesson, students access data and explain the need for such data when monitoring coral reefs. They will identify and explain three major threats to coral...

Students examine the coral reef ecosystem and learn how the living and non-living parts interact.  In this coral reef lesson students view video on coral reefs then create a fictional ecosystem.

Students build a coral reef, then discover organisms that make up the ecosystem.

Students research an inhabitant of a Caribbean coral reef using a list of common organisms that live on or near it. Students then write a description of their organism and draw a picture or a 3-D model of it. Eventually they all work...

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...

Students research life forms of both tropical coral reefs and deep-sea coral reefs to discover the biodiversity of the ecosystems. They compare and contrast the diversity and adaptations of the two eco-systems, and draw a picture showing...

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...

Students familiarize themselves with the interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem, and to use this knowledge to evaluate how the removal or decimation of one species can have far reaching effects.

Students explore coral life cycles. In this coral ecosystems instructional activity, students view videos explaining the life cycle of coral, including examples of sexual and asexual reproduction. Students read a related article...

Students build a Bermuda coral reef to gain a better understanding of this ecosystem.

Students identify the major threats to coral reefs and the ways that they benefit from humans.  In this coral reef conservation lesson plan students create a public education program on coral reefs. 

Fifth graders examine plants and animals in two ecosystems and compare them. In this ecosystem survival lesson plan, 5th graders compare and contrast a coral reef and kelp forest ecosystem. Students investigate the abiotic and...

Learners study life forms in coral reefs. In this ocean life lesson, students study life in coral reefs as they create a coral reef sculpture.

Pupils learn about and make models of coral reefs. In this reef ecosystem instructional activity, the class locates a number of coral reefs on a map. They learn how a coral reef is a balanced ecosystem that depends upon all of it's plant...

Students research and study the life and reproductive strategies of reef building corals. They examine how coral reefs can produce high levels of biological material when they are surviving in areas of low nutrition.

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.

Students explore the hazards of ecosystems and utilize their writing skills to create a studenT book. Threats to the ecosystem of the coral reef are discussed and used as a model for the research of the group.

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.

Students, in groups, create a slide show about the ecosystem and answer critical thinking questions based on their research.

Ninth graders record information on aquatic ecosystems and create a labeled diagram of an ecosystem of their choice. They can choose from an ocean zone, estuary, river, lakes, or beaches. The student has to explain their biome of choice.

Students study the biology and morphology of Lophelia corals.  In this investigative lesson students explain how the coral contributes to communities, and create a poster.