Kid's School Projects on Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are made up of three primary zones, including the back reef, which is closest to the shore, the reef crest and the reef face. These biomes are the most diverse of all on earth. The variety of fish species is beautiful and vivid as well as some of the most colorful on the planet. The plants provide food and shelter for the animals and are part of the balancing act that makes up the coral reefs. Students can learn about the reefs' massive number of plants and animals as well as how they are interrelated.
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Nemo's World
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Adding a movie to a lesson is a fun way to make it memorable. "Finding Nemo" by Disney Pixar is an excellent choice when studying coral reefs. After watching the movie, discuss the types of fish that lived on the reef. Be certain to point out that some of the fish lived deeper in the ocean or came from pet stores and were not native to the reef. Have the children research the creatures from the coral reef and write reports on each. Reports should include a picture of the movie version of the creature, a real picture of it, what it eats, where it lives, enemies it has and any other pertinent information.
Paper Plate Coral Reef
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Using two paper plates, construction paper, thread or yarn, tape and markers, students can create a coral reef window view. After learning about the types of plants and animals in a coral reef, have your students make a window to the reef using the resources on Enchanted Learning (see References). Turn your classroom into a submarine and display the "windows" throughout the room. Close the blinds and go on a tour of the coral reefs with the class.
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The Colors of the Reef
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Coral reefs are quite colorful, making them "earth's most vivid landscapes," according to National Geographic. Soft corals grow in reds, pinks and yellows. Orange and violet fairy basslets use their color to hide from enemies and to recognize mates. Striped sweetlips use their horizontal bands of black, white and yellow to blend into the watery distance, camouflaging them in the natural light of the coral reefs. After learning about the creatures of the coral reef, encourage students to paint pictures that illustrate the ability of most animals to camouflage themselves as protection against predators.
The Interdependency of the Reef
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The plants and the animals in the coral reef all depend on each other for food, protection, shelter and life. The ocean reef creates a delicate balance that can tip if interfered with by humans or unexpected environmental conditions. Earthwatch Institute (see References) provides a useful lesson plan that helps elementary students visualize the ties that connect underwater life in the reef. Students are assigned roles as different plant life, animals, the sun and people. As you read a description of how the creatures connect, the students toss a ball of yarn to each other to create a web that represents their interdependency.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
