Teacher sheet · Ages 6–7 · about 45–50 minutes
The busy coral reef
Lesson page: echoesof.science/school/coral-reefs/ages-6-7/ · Pupil worksheet: echoesof.science/school/coral-reefs/ages-6-7/print/
Learning aims
- Corals are animals made of tiny polyps.
- Polyps build stony skeletons that pile up into reefs.
- Algae inside corals make food from sunlight and give corals their colour.
- Warm water can make corals bleach; reefs are home to many animals and protect coasts.
Lesson plan
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5 min | Starter: show a picture of a reef. Rock, plant or animal? Vote. |
| 10 min | Read the text together; act out a polyp catching food with tentacle fingers. |
| 15 min | Shell and vinegar experiment; look again the next day. |
| 5 min | True or false game. |
| 5 min | Quiz. |
| 5 min | Worksheet drawing. |
Materials for the experiment
- Two clear cups or jars
- White vinegar
- Water
- Two clean seashells (clam or mussel shells)
- Labels and a pen
Safety: An adult pours the vinegar. Keep vinegar away from eyes; if it splashes, rinse with water. Do not drink anything. Wash hands afterwards.
Common misconceptions
| Pupils may think… | Actually… |
|---|---|
| Corals are plants or rocks. | Corals are animals; they build a stony skeleton and have algae living inside them. |
| A white coral is dead. | A bleached coral has lost its algae but is still alive; it can recover if the stress is mild. |
| A reef is made by one big coral. | A reef is built by millions of tiny polyps over a very long time. |
Worksheet answers
- A drawing of a reef with corals, fish and a lobster.
- Yes.
- White.
Quiz answers
- Is a coral a plant, an animal or a rock? An animal. Corals are animals because they cannot make their own food.[1]
- What is a tiny coral animal called? A polyp. Millions of polyps build a reef together.[1]
- Who lives inside the coral and makes food from sunlight? Tiny algae. The algae share their food with the coral.[2]
- What happens to coral when the sea gets too warm? It turns white. This is called bleaching.[3]
- How do reefs help people on the beach? They slow down big waves. Reefs act like a wall against waves and storms.[4]
Going further
Make a class 'reef' on the wall: each pupil adds a paper polyp or a reef animal. Discuss: what would happen to the fish if the corals died?
Sources used in this lesson
- [1] Is coral an animal or a plant? (NOAA National Ocean Service): reliability High
- [2] Corals tutorial: zooxanthellae… what's that? (NOAA National Ocean Service (education tutorial)): reliability High
- [3] What is coral bleaching? (NOAA National Ocean Service): reliability High
- [4] Shallow coral reef habitat (NOAA Fisheries): reliability High
- [6] What are coral reefs made of? (NOAA National Ocean Service): reliability High
- [7] Disappearing shells (lesson plan) (NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries): reliability High
Full list with links and a note on each source's reliability: echoesof.science/school/coral-reefs/sources/
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