Lesson #5: Symbiosis and Coral Anatomy

Students consider the effects of acid pollution on coral reefs. They brainstorm previous knowledge about coral reefs, examine a piece of coral and observe its reaction to acid and list ways we can prevent pollution from reaching the reefs.

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

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...

Coral Reefs are the focus of a life science lesson plan. Upper graders look at how coral reefs are formed, how the animals and plants reproduce, and the variety of ways that humans benefit from coral reefs around the world. Groups of...

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

Students use egg cartons to construct models of coral colonies showing many aspects of the coral's natural history - including the structure of coral polyps and the coral colony's colonial life style.

Students explore how coral polyps feed. In this science lesson plan, students participate in an interactive game to demonstrate how polyps within a coral colony feed. Students become coral polyps and demonstrate how they feed in this...

The classic carnation color-change activity for demonstrating water transport up a plant stem is played out in this video. Add the clip to a PowerPoint presentation or show it when teaching plant structure to young botanists. If you have...

Students, with dive partners, explore coral reefs through scuba diving. They also explore radial symmetry and bilateral symmetry.

Young scholars label the continents, oceans, and seas on a provided world map and use it to determine where they would expect most of the world's coral reefs to be found based on provided information the teacher has read to them.