# data[].attributes.body
This showed different lesson plan ideas that could be used in different grades. It gave a lot of great ideas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is a Coral Reef? Elementary School | Smithsonian Ocean

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students will create a class mural depicting coral reefs and act out life on a coral reef through a short skit. This artistic approach to studying the coral reef habitat will engage many types of learners.

# data[].attributes.body
This organization provides so many cool resources. They have presentations, they can visit schools, have activity packs that can be purchased and internships. If I could I would like to bring a speaker in because they are an experienced person my students can look up to. It would be really fun to go somewhere but that would be if I lived by the beach.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coral Restoration Foundation | Educational Activities

# data[].attributes.body
This is one of the biggest organizations trying to save coral reefs. I will introduce it after the main lesson so they can discuss with their partners what they found intriguing about their organization. This will allow students to see how others are also helping and that they can help too.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We help diverse local communities protect coral reefs and chart their own sustainable futures. Our science-based conservation strategies ensure healthy reefs continue to support thriving human and wildlife communities.

20

tons of sediment kept off
Maui's coral reefs in 2020

130

tourism operators trained in México,
Belize, and Honduras in 2020

95%

reduction in bacteria in coastal waters along West End in Roatán, Honduras

Educate. Engage. Ensure.

Our local work on the ground-and in the water-focuses on:

Educating local communities

Local tourism and fishing businesses, concerned residents, and local governments all care about the health of their reefs. We share the results of our rigorous scientific monitoring and research with local communities so they can make informed decisions, and we support them in protecting their local resources.

Engaging with partners

We build alliances that lead to evidence-based policies and effective, scalable reef management. Multi-stakeholder partnerships with governments, agencies, research institutions, corporations, NGOs, and community members are key to ensuring that communities and reefs mutually thrive.

Ensuring reefs have what they need to survive

Reefs need time to adapt to climate change, and reducing major stressors gives them the critical time they need. Clean water, healthy fisheries, and well-managed marine protected areas ensure that local reefs can rebound and continue to thrive.

Investing in local communities

Ana Bessy Valdez Martinez is one of three community scientists that we employ in Honduras to gain a better understanding of what is happening to local fisheries. Through the relationships she's built, she's created a network of local fishers who participate in science and support rules and regulations.

Local Stories

We work on three priority initiatives to save reefs locally:

Support CORAL

Our work to ensure healthy reefs and resilient communities couldn't happen without your support.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We help diverse local communities protect coral reefs and chart their own sustainable futures. Our science-based conservation strategies ensure healthy reefs continue to support thriving human and wildlife communities. 20 tons of sediment kept off Maui's coral reefs in 2020 130 tourism operators trained in México, Belize, and Honduras in 2020 95% reduction in bacteria...

# data[].attributes.body
Students get to understand how their impacts and others in the world impact coral reefs no matter where you live. I thought this lesson was important because I want them to be able to make real life connections to be able to understand their impact even more. Human impact is such a big thing on why coral reefs are dying that it has to be mentioned.

# data[].attributes.body
The source focuses on what are coral reefs and the different parts to them. Students get to do skits and learn in a fun way. I picked this lesson because it has all the qualities of a good introduction lesson plan. I feel as in I can build from this.

# data[].attributes.body
This video explains what corals are, how coral reefs are formed, how it takes them to be formed and how diverse their ecosystems are. This seems as an essential source so the student knows what we are actually learning about.

# data[].attributes.body
This simulation allows the student to play around with the water temperature and pollution to see how it would affect coral reefs and its inhabitants. I believe it's useful because it allows the student to get to see how their actions affect the ocean, specifically the coral reef.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Click the + or - buttons to adjust the water temperature and pollution levels.

Click on the green "Start Storm" button to create a storm that will go by.

See what happens to the coral reef depending on the various conditions you choose!

Coral bleaching? What's that?!

A reef is a big group of rocks on the ocean floor, but did you know that a coral reef is actually alive and covered with very small animals called corals? These animals glue their tiny skeletons to rocks, so they end up staying in the same place their entire lives!

Coral reefs are very sensitive to light and temperature. If the water they live in gets too hot, they might not survive. They also don't like it when the ocean has too much pollution. Sometimes, storms can even upset coral depending on how often they happen and how severe they are. If coral reefs are under too much stress, like in these conditions, they can eject the algae living on them and turn completely white. This is known as coral bleaching. This does not necessarily mean the coral is dead - corals can survive bleaching! They do become more vulnerable to death however, especially if the stress continues for a long period of time.

NASA recently developed some very sensitive instruments to study coral reefs from an airplane flying above the ocean. The COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) uses an instrument called the Portable Remote Imaging Spectrometer (PRISM) to see the condition of reefs. Scientists will now be able to monitor these reefs and their health. They will be able to measure the amounts of coral, algae, and sand on the ocean floor!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn what factors lead to coral bleaching.

# data[].attributes.body
In this book students learn about coral reefs ecosystems, the life that thrives there, its climate, its food web, any threats to it, and conservation efforts. This is going to be useful for the students because it shows a lot of illustrations that go with the words.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under. Get Started

# data[].attributes.body
This source is a documentary I watched which follows a man around the world to see the coral reefs and experts explain to him how and why coral reefs are in danger. I think this source is important because I can see and learn about different coral and how scientists are trying to figure out why it is dying so fast.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Chasing Coral - A new Netflix Original documentary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world.

# data[].attributes.headline
Scientists are trying to save coral reefs. Here's what's working. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Scientists are trying to save coral reefs. Here's what's working. 

# data[].attributes.body
The article talks about the things coral reefs do for the planet, how to tell if a coral reef is alive, stressed out or dead. It also talks about how animals are dependent on coral reefs, methods and how they are trying to help/how we can help and how damaging it would be if we lose it all. I think it's useful for my planning because it hits a lot of points I want to share with students along with resources I can provide them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The world’s coral reefs are dying—here’s how scientists plan to save them

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Without these interventions, scientists say the Earth’s coral reefs as we know them could disappear before the next century.