Ages 0-2

Preparation

For this activity you will need to:

Print and cut out the Colours of the Reef - Flashcards. Glue the provocations to the back of each corresponding image.
Collect a range of materials related to the sea, such as shells, sand, seaweed, sponges, water, driftwood, etc.

If you are inside or are with very young children who may put objects in their mouths, you could place smaller items (including sand) in clear plastic containers. Children can view the items and shake them!

Step 1.

Begin by displaying the Colours of the Reef - Flashcards and inviting children to talk about what they see in the images. Use the provocations on the flashcards to guide the discussion.

Step 2.

You can now display the materials from the sea that you collected and engage children in a discussion about them:

I wonder what this is?
I wonder if this comes from the sea?
I wonder if this is a plant or an animal?
I wonder what this feels like?
I wonder what this smells like?
I wonder what this sounds like if I shake or scrunch it?
I wonder if this looks or feels different when added to water?

You can also pair the objects up with one of the flashcards. For example: linking sand with images containing sand.

Step 3.

Invite children to play with the materials for a while. You could consider using the materials in art play and make a coral reef montage using the work created by children.

Take it further

Provocations

I wonder what a coral reef is?
I wonder where we can find a coral reef?
I wonder what colours we can see?
I wonder why coral reefs are so colourful?
I wonder who lives in coral reefs?

Possible lines of development

Water safety.
Add water to your sea objects - how different do they look?
Do your sea objects sink or float?
Other animals of the sea - use this website: Ocean Animal Encyclopedia.
Make a sand castle or beach in your sandpit.
Read stories about coral reef and/or other marine animals (e.g. 'Imagine' - Alison Lester, 'Magic Beach’ - Alison Lester, 'The Rainbow Fish' - Marcus Pfister, 'A Swim Through The Sea' - Kristin Joy Pratt).

Teacher preparation - Ages 3 - 5

Preparation

For this activity you will need to:

Print and cut out the Colours of the Reef - Flashcards. Glue the provocations to the back of each corresponding image.
Collect a range of materials relating to the sea, such as shells, sand, seaweed, sponges, water, driftwood, etc.
Optional: Print the Coral Reef Drawings. Alternatively, children can create their own or create coral reef features and animals using materials such as natural or recyclable objects.

If you are inside or are with very young children who may put objects in their mouths, you could place smaller items (including sand) in clear plastic containers. Children can view the items and shake them!

Step 1.

Begin by displaying the Colours of the Reef - Flashcards and inviting children to talk about what see in the images. Use the provocations on the flashcards to guide the discussion.

Use the flashcards to talk about what a coral reef is and what it can look like. In particular, focus attention on the following:

The different types of animals on the reef and what they look like
The different types of corals on the reef and what they look like

Step 2.

Now explain to children that they are going to make their own coral reef! Tip: Your coral reef could be as large as the wall, or fit into a box (like a Sea Diorama). Alternatively, you could make your coral reef outside.

Option 1.

Invite children to colour in and cut out the Coral Reef Drawings. Alternatively, children could design and draw or paint their own corals and animals. Encourage children to use a range of craft materials when decorating their coral reef images, including incorporating different textures and patterns in their designs.

Option 2.

Invite children to make their coral reef out of:

Materials destined for recycling, such as cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes, bottles and lids, tubs, and other containers. Children could paint or decorate these recyclable materials.
Natural objects such as sticks, leaves, bark, grass, stones, nuts and seeds. Children could paint or decorate these natural materials.
With the help of your children, assemble your coral reef. Work together to decide where animals and corals should be placed.

Once complete, invite children to interact with the reef by:

Creating stories or songs around the animals that visit the reef.
Counting the number of plants, animals and corals on your reef.
Using features of your reef (including plants and animals) in phonics activities, such as labelling objects and animals on your reef for children to read/identify.

Take it further

Consider incorporating a range of waste materials (e.g. newspaper, plastic bag, fishing line) into the coral reef and invite children to think about where these materials might come from (i.e. our kitchens or fishing boats) and discuss the places where these should go instead (e.g. the rubbish or recycling bin). Explain to children that most of the rubbish that ends up in our oceans comes from the land, and that most bits of rubbish lying around on land in parks or on the street (litter) will end up in the ocean. By picking up litter (safely!) and placing it in the bin you will be stopping rubbish from polluting our coral reefs and oceans.

Provocations

I wonder what a coral reef is?
I wonder where we could find a coral reef?
I wonder why this animal is important to the reef?
I wonder how many animals live on a reef?
I wonder what kinds of animals live on a reef?
I wonder what plants live on a reef?
I wonder what coral is? I wonder what it is made from?
I wonder why the reef is important to me?

Possible lines of development

View the following videos: National Geographic - Great Barrier Reef, New conservation project reveals amazing turtle's eye-view of the Great Barrier Reef.
Snorkelling and scuba diving
Exploring the deepest parts of the ocean - I wonder what lives down there?
Other animals of the sea - use this website: Ocean Animal Encyclopedia.
Read stories about the coral reef and/or other marine animals (e.g. 'Imagine' - Alison Lester, 'Magic Beach’ - Alison Lester, 'The Rainbow Fish' - Marcus Pfister, 'A Swim Through The Sea' - Kristin Joy Pratt).

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning, listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenges and persisting when difficulty arises
Well being	Being involved

Embedding into daily practice

Clean up your centre yard and the area around your centre, including your street or local park. Keeping waste out of our environment is the best way to keep waste out of our oceans.
Encourage your centre to purchase sustainable seafood. Use the Sustainable Seafood Guide to help you.
Take action to change climate change by using less energy in your centre. Switch off lights and appliances when not in use, use cold water instead of hot where possible, dress for the weather and turn the heater down, and encourage your centre to install solar panels.
Provide children with the opportunity to connect with the environment using some of the other Blue Early Learning activities from Cool.org, such as: Our Oceans, Fish, Turtles and Sharks, and From the River to the Ocean.

Some other things you can do to help our coral reefs

Take action against climate change - Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today include: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and dress for the weather instead of using a fan or heater.
Make sustainable seafood choices - When shopping or dining out, choose seafood from sustainable sources. Use the Sustainable Seafood Guide to help you. Also check the label on your pet’s food.
Use less plastic - Carry a reusable water bottle, store food in non-disposable containers, bring your own reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.
Help take care of the beach - Leave coral and wildlife on the beach or in the sea, and participate in local beach cleanups (e.g. Take 3).
Don't purchase items that exploit marine life - Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewellery, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from Hawksbill turtles), and shark products.
Support the establishment of marine sanctuaries - Marine sanctuaries are places where minimal human involvement is allowed, giving the marine life that use those areas the chance to recover and gain strength

Blue - Our Coral Reefs

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