Teacher Resource

Coral

1. In pairs, discuss the main points raised in the Coral Spawning story.2. What is coral spawning?3. Where in Australia is coral spawning happening at the moment?4. The Great Barrier Reef is the only living organism that’s visible from

space. True or false?5. What are the tiny bumps inside coral called?6. Give some reasons why the amount of coral cover on the Great

Barrier Reef has dropped over the past 30 years.7. What gives coral its amazing colours?

a. Polyps b. Pollutionc. Algae

8. What happens to coral when sea temperatures rise?9. What are scientists hoping to understand from their research into coral

spawning?10. What did you learn watching the BTN story?

Class Discussion After watching the BTN Coral story, respond to the following questions:

As a class discuss the BTN Coral story. Record the main points of the discussion on a mind map with CORAL at the centre. Use the following questions to guide the discussion:

What do you know about coral? What words would you use to describe coral? What are some threats to coral? Why is coral important for the Great Barrier Reef?

As a class brainstorm a list of words that relate to the Coral story. Students will use these words to make their own sentences about the topic.

Positive, negative or interesting?

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Episode 3321st November 2017

Students will investigate the structural features of corals.Students will learn about the threats to the Great Barrier Reef.

Science – Year 4Living things have life cycles

Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive

Science – Year 5Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment

Science – Year 6The growth and survival of living things are affected by physical conditions of their environment

Science – Year 7Interactions between organisms, including the effects of human activities can be represented by food chains and food webs

Students will practice their note-taking skills while watching the BTN Coral story. After watching the story, ask students to reflect and organise the information into three categories.

What information in this story was...? Positive Negative or Interesting

Students may want to watch the story again or download a copy of the BTN Coral transcript to assist them with this activity.

Key factsStudents will use the BTN story transcript to make a fact sheet about coral. Students will swap or compare their facts with their classmates. Students will use the internet to find more facts about coral until they have built up a detailed fact file (using this template to record their findings).

Be a reporter for a dayThe Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world covering almost 350,000 square kilometres. It's made up of more than 2,900 smaller coral reefs, and is home to many tropical sea plants and animals. It's so

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beautiful and so unique that in 1981 it received World Heritage status. But all this could change, unless we step in and help.

In this activity, students will imagine that corals on the Great Barrier Reef have tragically become extinct and will write a news article telling people why they have become extinct.

Things to think about when writing your report: How did the corals become extinct? What were its main threats? What is the value of the Great Barrier Reef to humans? What could Australians have done to save the Great Barrier Reef?

Structure Who is your target audience? Use age appropriate language and themes. Write a headline that is short and to the point. Use words and pictures in your report.

Students will create a quiz about corals using Kahoot!. Quizzes can be created to recap learning or test personal knowledge. There is also the option to connect with classrooms around the world and play kahoot in real time.

BTN – Coral Bleachinghttp://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4430560.htm

BTN – Reef Warninghttp://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3603113.htm

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority – Coralshttp://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-the-reef/corals

Aims – About Coralshttp://coral.aims.gov.au/

ABC – Coral reefs in the 21st centuryhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/future-forum/2012-07-20/background-coral-reefs-in-the-21st-century/4144396

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