CORAL CAM LESSON PLANS
CREATED BY THE
TEACHER ADVISORY GROUP

Coral Cam Web Site

WHAT'S OUT THERE? - A CORAL CAMERA ACTIVITY   Amy Pearson
 

PURPOSE:  For students to view live action on the Bermuda Coral Reef,organize and learn about what they are observing. 

AGE GROUP: Ages 8 and up, with adjustments made for age level. 

CONCEPTS COVERED:  Biodiversity, coral reef ecosystem, food web, food chain, taxonomy 

RESOURCES NEEDED: General Biology text book, this web site, sections of fishes, invertebrates and other organisms found on the Bermuda reef. 

PROCEDURE: Students may work individually or in groups no larger than 3. Data charts may be done by hand or produced using a spread sheet application! 

1. CAMERA VIEWING:
View reef with coral camera.  Watch for about 5 minutes.  Computer should remain on for entire class period.  If each group/student has own computer they should be permitted to reference other parts of the web site to identify organisms. 

2. IDENTIFICATION ACTIVTIY:
List organisms on screen.  This should reveal a great biodiversity of life forms. 

3. CLASSIFICATION ACTIVITY:
Classify organism based on what taxonomic group they fall into. Construct a data chart and use class resources (biology textbook) to assist you.
example:
Organism     Kingdom        Phylum           Class
Brain coral  Animalia       Cnidaria         Anthozoa 

4. TROPHIC RELATIONSHIP ACTIVITY:
Construct a data chart that shows what each organism eats.  If possible, determine what eats that organism.  This will enable students to produce food webs and food chains.
example:
Organism        What it eats?    What eats it?
Brain coral      zooplankton       Parrot fish 

5. STRUCTURAL ADAPTATIONS:
Adding on to the above data chart, list any structural adaptations that help this organism eat or function in its niche. 

6. ESSAY: Write a few sentences explaining the role of biodiversity in a coral reef ecosystem.  Include an answer to : What are the implications of loss of some members of this ecosystem such as some corals or some fishes?

© BBSR and TCOE Coral Web Site Team 1999      http://www.coexploration.org/bbsr/coral
Funded by a grant from the Goldman Foundation