Virtual Lessons
Coral Reef Science
Through a guided game format, learners participate in a 50-minute, media-rich, interactive video lesson about coral reefs. This is followed by an open Q&A chat with our ocean expert.
- Recommended for Ages (Grades):
- 11-12 (6th), 12-13 (7th), 13-14 (8th)
- Can be Adapted for Ages (Grades):
- 08-09 (3rd), 09-10 (4th), 10-11 (5th)
- 14-15 (9th), 15-16 (10th), 16-17 (11th), 17-18 (12th)
- Format: Interactive Video Lesson
- π₯ It's easy to connect
- Duration: 50 mins
- Fee: $160
- $120 - πCILC Premium. You must book through CILC to get the additional discount.
- Mote Research Connection:
- Organisms featured in this lesson:
- Keywords: acidification, anatomy, apex predator, asexual reproduction, atoll, barrier reef, biodiversity, biogeography, budding, calcium carbonate, classification, carnivore, cleaning station, climate change, clone, cnidarian, community, conservation, consumer, endangered, extinction, fragmentation, fringing reef, gamete, habitat, herbivore, invasive species, lagoon, medusa, nematocysts, pH, photosynthesis, planula, polyp, primary producer, reef, salinity, spawn, symbiosis: mutualism, symbiosis: commensalism; symbiosis: parasitism, tropics, zooxanthellae
Objectives: Understand basic coral reef ecology. Compare symbiotic relationships of reef organisms. Identify coral anatomy and reproduction strategies. Recognize the value of coral reefs to humans. Identify threats to coral reefs like disease, climate change, and ocean acidification. Compare three stewardship actions.
Outline:
- Intro and prior knowledge
- Guided Reef Quest game
- Coral classification
- Coral anatomy
- Life cycles
- Reef formation
- Biogeography
- Biodiversity
- Reef relationships (symbiosis)
- Food webs
- Coral conservation
- Research and conservation
- Open questions and answers
Supplemental resources featuring Mote research
The following media can be used before or after your live virtual field trip with Mote to enhance the lesson.
Meet the Team
Researchers and staff working with coral reefs at Mote Marine Laboratory.
Coral Health and Disease, Program Manager and Science Director of the Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration
Standards
Subject Areas
Life SciencesOcean Literacy Principles
OLP #5 The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystemsOLP #6 The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnectedFlorida State Standards
SC.3.L.15.1, SC.3.L.17.1, SC.3.N.1.1, SC.3.N.1.4, SC.3.N.1.7, SC.4.L.16.3, SC.4.L.17.2, SC.4.L.17.4, SC.4.N.1.1, SC.4.N.1.8, SC.5.L.15.1, SC.5.L.17.1, SC.6.L.15.1, SC.7.L.15.1, SC.7.L.15.2, S.C.7.L..15.3, SC.7.L.17.1, SC.8.N.4.1, SC.8.N.4.2Next Generation Science Standards
5th Grade
5-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and DynamicsLS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (5-LS2-1)LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems (5-LS2-1)5-ESS3: Earth and Human ActivityESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems (5-ESS3-1)6th - 8th Grades
MS-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and DynamicsLS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (MS-LS2.1; MS-LS2.2)LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience (MS-LS2-4)LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans (secondary to MS-LS2-5)MS-LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and DiversityLS4.C: Adaptation (MS-LS4-6)MS-ESS3: Earth and Human ActivityESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems (MS- ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4)ESS3.D: Global Climate Change (MS-ESS3-5)9th - 12th Grades
HS-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and DynamicsLS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (HS-LS2-1, HS- LS2-2)LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience (HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7)LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans (HS-LS4-6, secondary to HS- LS2-7)ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions (secondary to HS-LS2-7)HS-LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and DiversityLS4.C: Adaptation (HS-LS4-5), (HS-LS4-6, HS-LS4-5)LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans (HS-LS4-6, HS-LS4-7)HS-ESS3: Earth and Human ActivityESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems (HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4)ESS3.D: Global Climate Change (HS-ESS3-5, HS-ESS3-6)ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions (secondary to HS-ESS3-2, secondary HS-ESS3-4)Common Core ELA/Literacy
5th Grade
RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. (5-LS2-1)6th - 8th Grades
WHST.6-8.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources. (MS-LS1-8)SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on othersβ ideas and expressing their own clearly. (MS-LS2-2)RST.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics. (MS-LS3-1),(MS-LS3-2)9th - 12th Grades
WHST.11-12.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation. (HS-LS1-3)RST.11-12.7 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem. (HS-LS2-6),(HS-LS2-7),(HS-LS2-8)Common Core Mathematics
5th Grade
MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (5-LS2-1)6th - 8th Grades
MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (MS-ESS3-2),(MS-ESS3-5)9th - 12th Grades
MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (HS-LS2-1),(HS-LS2-2),(HS-LS2-4),(HS-LS2-6),(HS-LS2-7)UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patternsGoal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impactsGoal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resourcesWeb Resources
Links and resources to enhance your virtual experience with us.