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Coral reefs
Coral reefs cover less than 1 percent of the ocean but are home to nearly a quarter of all ocean species. Meet the tiny animals that build them, the algae that feed them from the inside, and find out why warm water turns corals white. Test what acid does to shells and calculate how long it takes a reef to grow. Three ages, each with a text, an experiment, a game, a quiz, a printable worksheet and a teacher sheet.
Ages 6–7The busy coral reefCorals look like rocks or plants, but they are animals! Find out how tiny corals build huge reefs, who lives there, and what vinegar does to a shell.Ages 10–11Coral reefs: partners, builders and bleachingHow do tiny polyps and even tinier algae build the largest living structures on Earth? Learn the three kinds of reef, why warm water causes bleaching, and run a fair test on shells and acids.Ages 15–16Coral reefs: growth, bleaching and ocean chemistryCalculate how long reefs take to grow, use the pH scale to see what 'about 30% more acidic' means, and measure how fast acids dissolve calcium carbonate.