In this multi-day lesson, students will learn about corals, see why they fluoresce, learn about ocean acidification, and how people can make choices to improve coral health.
The lesson includes an animated story for students to read, a hands-on model of coral that students make with clay, and a list of actions students can take.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The lesson introduces biodiversity, a vital concept in understanding climate impacts, by having students count fish around healthy and unhealthy coral.
By making their pet corals, students will get to flex their creativity and keep a reminder to help them continue to make green choices.
Additional Prerequisites
The worksheet link in the presenter's notes will not work. Teachers will need to use the link under Materials.
The video for coral inspiration on the slides does not work. Instead, teachers can search online for other healthy coral images.
The Acids at Home activity link is broken.
Teachers will need clay and fluorescent paint for one of the activities and can print out pictures of the story characters.
The background information references California, but these lessons are universal.
Differentiation
Depending on students' reading experience, some of the terms in the second story may be unfamiliar to them. Teachers can pre-teach these terms or read the story out loud to the class.
Some students with sensory processing differences may not want to work with clay. These students can have the option to draw their pet coral or create it with a different medium.
After hearing about the plastic pollution in the ocean, students can make posters to show others how to make green choices.
Scientist Notes
The lesson lets students learn about coral reefs, their role in the ocean, and ways other living organisms interact with them in the ocean ecosystem. The lesson is well sourced and is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
CCC.Systems and System Models: A system is an organized group of related objects or components; models can be used for understanding and predicting the behavior of systems.
K-2-CCC-Systems and System Models.2. Systems in the natural and designed world have parts that work together.
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
K-ESS3-3 Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
1-LS1-1 Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.7 Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
Reading: Literature (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.2 Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.
National Core Arts Standards
Visual Arts: Standard 1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr1.2.1a Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.
