Lesson summary
This activity is designed to engage children with the beauty of coral reefs and the role coral reefs play in supporting life in our ocean. Both younger and older children are invited to respond to a series of flashcards. Older children are then invited to create their own coral reef in their room. This activity is designed to help connect children to the wonders of the natural world through sensory and play-based learning.
Activity intention:
- This activity is designed to help connect children to the wonders of the natural world through sensory and play-based learning.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Learning Outcome 2:
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- 2.3 Children become aware of fairness
Learning Outcome 4:
- Children are confident and involved learners
- 4.1 Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity.
- 4.2 Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating.
- 4.3 Children transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another.
- 4.4 Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, place, technologies and natural and processed materials.
Resources required
Equipment needed:
- Ages 0 – 2: 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.
- Ages 3 – 5: 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. Tip: 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.
- Optional: Coral Reef Drawings.
Additional info
Blue is a feature documentary film charting the drastic decline in the health of our oceans. With more than half of all marine life lost and the expansion of the industrialization of the seas, the film sets out the challenges we are facing and the opportunities for positive change. Blue changes the way we think about our liquid world and inspires the audience to action. Find out how to screen or download the film here. Along with the film is an ambitious global campaign to create advocacy and behaviour change through the #oceanguardian movement. To become an ocean guardian, see the website.
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