Grade(s) 4-5
The Great Barrier Reef is a large coral reef with an abundance of
living creatures. It is located on the eastern coastline of Australia.
Coral reefs are important because they provide an environment for a
variety of ocean species. The Great Barrier Reef provides a large
barrier between the ocean and the shore. It protects the coast from
waves and strong ocean currents by creating a barrier and slowing the
pace of the water hitting the shore.  News Flash!
Mr. and Mrs. Nemo have been caught using dynamite to go fishing in the Great Barrier Reef! They have been throwing dynamite into the water and poisoning the fish, making it easier for them to be caught. This is devastating the coral and killing species of fish and destroying the environment provided by the reef.  Your Challenge You are an Australian scuba diver who has
spent the majority of your dive sites at the Great Barrier Reef
enjoying the species of fish and coral. You feel very strongly about
preserving this reef and the species that exist in it.
 *Your first dive will be used to first identify 2 fish species that live in the reef. Draw each species and include two facts about each species. *Your second dive is to identify the purpose of coral and why it is important for your 2 fish species. Draw our species using the coral. *Your final dive will be to the dynamite site where you will take note of what you see. Write a journal response to what you saw at the dynamite site. Prompt Questions: What did you see? How did it make you feel? What can you do about it? *Your final task is to write a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Nemo telling them about your findings and why you agree or disagree with their fishing methods. Your
Journey
To find your species go to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/reef/reef1_flash.html -Click Dive Now! Then use your curser to scan over any of the animals in the deep sea or closer to the shore. To understand coral check out http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/ -Click ‘Importance of Coral Reefs’ on the left hand column -Click ‘Coral Reef Destruction and Conservation’ to read about the dynamite For more information,
try searching these words at
yahooligans.com …
‘Coral’
‘Coral Reef’ ‘Great Barrier Reef’ ‘Coral Reef Species’ |
 Created by: Stephanie Rio Contact: Srio@uvm.edu |