Sequence | Background | Objectives | Materials | Activity | Extensions | Evaluations

TOPIC-TITLE Marine & Aquatic Habitats Activities - Creatures in the Coral AUTHOR Diane E. Pothast GRADE SUITABILITY Upper Elementary Middle School SCOPE Environmental Science Life Science

Sequence Teach the unit on coral reefs as a portion of an ocean habitats theme. Teach the unit after establishing a background on oceanic characteristics. Each portion of the ocean habitat theme will continue to strengthen previously discussed concepts. < < go top

Background Summary Coral reefs are unique habitats because they are constructed entirely by biological activity. Coral reefs are highly productive environments with great diversity. Because of limited space and food, competition in a coral reef is usually intense. Many species have developed symbiotic or commensal relationships with other residents of the coral reef to ensure continued survival. Coral reefs are found in warm, shallow, clear marine waters. Reefs extend to depths of 70 meters in the Caribbean and 150 meters in the Pacific. Depth is limited as the zooxanthellae, living in the stomach lining of the coral polyp, require light. Zooxanthellae are dinoflagellates that coexist in a symbiotic relationship with the coral polyps. The zooxanthellae use the carbon dioxide and nitrogen, produced by the coral polyp as metabolic wastes, for photosynthesis and in exchange, provide the polyp with oxygen and nutrients needed for the coral skeleton. < < go top Objectives Students will be able to do the following: Name and describe unique adaptations of organisms that live in the coral reef habitat. Construct a wheel demonstrating the relationships between certain coral reef inhabitants. Read various books pertaining to coral reefs and ocean life. < < go top Materials Construction paper Paper plates Scissors Brass fasteners Pencils Tape Glue Pictures of coral reefs and inhabitant creatures Ruler Dried samples of coral (if available) Markers Various books on oceans/coral reefs < < go top Activity Introduce coral reefs as habitats by showing pictures and samples of various reefs and their inhabitants to students. In order to build interest and provide background information on a coral reef that is threatened by poisonous waste, read and discuss The Sign of the Seahorse. Students may want to role-play their favorite scenes. Introduce the characteristics of coral reefs, creatures, and adaptations that ensure survival. Introduce the concept of "symbiosis," in which some living organisms in the coral reef depend on other living organisms in a very close relationship (food, protection, or shelter). Discuss ways people assist each other and relate that to how creatures of the reef help each other. Discuss the characteristics of coral reefs, including symbiotic organsisms living within or on the reef, and their adaptations that enable them to survive. Divide students into cooperative learning groups and distribute task cards. Distribute art supplies and have the students begin constructing a wheel by creating two circles. Circles must be of unequal size, one large and the other small. On the outside of the small wheel have the students draw, cut, or write the names of the following animals: Clown fish Zooxanthellae Coral polyp Shrimp fish Clam Utilizing resource books and the textbook, have students determine the symbiotic and predatory relationships of these organisms. Have students place their names on the larger wheel, with the predator/symbiotic pair placed together. Write the name of the symbiotic organism in red and the predator in blue. Place a brass fastener in the center of both wheels. Students can now rotate wheels to match the organism's symbiotic or predatory relationship. < < go top Possible Extension Visit an aquarium and research a specific species of coral inhabitant. Make a word search using words related to the coral reef habitat. Write a poem or storybook about coral reef inhabitants, including illustrations. * Answer key (if needed).   RELATIONSHIPS   SYMBIOTIC PREDATORY 1. Clown fish Anemone Barracuda 2. Zooxanthellae Coral polyp Sea stars 3. Coral polyp Zooxanthellae Nurse shark 4. Shrimp fish Sea urchin   5. Clam Algae   < < go top Teacher Evaluation Group: Students can demonstrate and verbally explain the relationships in the wheel. A group report could be presented to the class. Self: Students can complete the following information: I learned _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ I made a wheel that showed the relationship between _________________________________________________________ I read __________________________________________________ I wrote _________________________________________________ The best thing about studying coral reef habitats was _________________________________________________________ Something I still want to learn in this habitats unit is _________________________________________________________ < < go top