Lesson ①

Introduction

Materials

Teacher

• Video/Photo/Information on your local underwater ecosystem
• National Geographic Coral Reef Video:

Video Source: https://youtu.be/wbNeIn3vVKM

Student

• Science notebook
• Venn Diagram OR Double Bubble Map (Choose one from Appendix 1)

Engage

Show students the Coral Reef Video from the materials section. Have a brief discussion on their initial ideas about the coral reef.

Discussion questions:

• Is it important? 
• What types of animals live there?
• How do people know about these animals? 

Gather some information of what areas your students have prior knowledge. Then either show a picture/video/or have a discussion of your local underwater ecosystem.

Discussion questions:

• What is it like? 
• How is it similar to or different from the Coral Reef ecosystem depicted in the video?

Explore 

Have students develop a Venn Diagram or Double Bubble Map to compare and contrast their local ecosystem and the coral reef. 

Explain 

Have students discuss their comparisons.

• How are they alike?
• How are they different?
• Are they both important? Why or Why not?

Elaborate

Pose these questions to students:

• Do the two different underwater ecosystems relate at all? 
• What are pieces of both that are the same or similar?

Evaluate

Use the discussion and comparison students made as an assessment tool.