Coral Reef in a Box

• This lesson plan and activity teaches students about coral reefs and how they are being damaged by climate change. 
• Students will make a coral reef diorama in a shoebox. 
• The resource includes links to a number of easy-to-understand articles on ocean acidification and coral bleaching. 

Positives

• The student handout contains a variety of colorful marine life images for students to cut out and glue into their coral reef.
• Students will learn how humans are destroying coral reefs when they release greenhouse gases into the air.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• The student handout does not include any photographs of coral, so teachers may wish to have a few images of coral reefs ready to show the students.
  

Differentiation

• Older students could make a dual diorama with one half of the box representing a healthy coral reef and one half of the box representing a bleached coral reef. Students could write a few sentences to describe the two scenes.
• Art classes could modify this activity to make it a sculpting project. Each student could sculpt a piece of coral and then the corals could be collectively arranged into a reef. The coral reef and a brief description of the dangers they face due to climate change could be displayed in the school.
• Other resources on this topic include this engaging video on coral bleaching, this interactive storybook about biodiversity in Australia, and this video on ocean acidification.