Changing Planet: Fading Corals

Provided by: CLEAN |Published on: March 20, 2021

Videos Grades 6-8, 9-12

Synopsis

In this video, students will learn that carbon dioxide emissions have caused ocean waters to warm and become more acidic, damaging corals in reefs around the world.
As corals disappear, ocean biodiversity decreases, and coastal regions become more susceptible to erosion and storm surge.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: NBC News Learn/Windows to the Universe

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

The video explains the structure and function of coral reefs with strong visuals, animations, interviews, and narration.
The pedagogy section provides suggestions for activities to pair with the video.

Additional Prerequisites

The video presents an overview of the symbiotic relationship between coral and zooxanthellae, but teachers may want to elaborate on how zooxanthellae are related to coral bleaching.

Differentiation

Students could research the types of organisms that live in coral reefs and make a slideshow to show how coral bleaching affects the other organisms that live in coral ecosystems.
Social studies classes could discuss the impact that coral reef destruction has on coastal erosion, storm surge protection, tourism, and the fishing industry.
Other resources on this topic include this interactive video on the factors that contribute to coral bleaching, this lesson on the importance of coral ecosystems, and this activity on resistance to coral bleaching.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

CLEAN

The CLEAN Network is a professionally diverse community of over 630 members committed to improving climate and energy literacy locally, regionally, nationally, and globally in order to enable responsible decisions and actions. The CLEAN Network has been a dynamic group since 2008 and is now led by the CLEAN Leadership Board established in 2016.