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Coral Reefs and Global Warming

Photo of bleached coral.

Topic

  • Environmental Science
  • Climate Change
  • Earth Science
  • Hydrosphere
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Data Analysis

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Lessons

Level

High School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
56 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This activity allows students to use authentic scientific data to make claims about the threat of coral bleaching for reefs around the world.

In this computer-based activity, students download, graph, and analyze authentic satellite temperature data for coral reef sites around the world. After observing global trends in the data, students evaluate the threat to coral reefs from heat stress, which has been occurring with increased intensity and frequency in recent years. The activity requires that students have access to computers with spreadsheet software. If computers are unavailable or students are unfamiliar with using spreadsheet software, students can be provided with handouts of prepared graphs for analysis and evaluation.

Cards, graphs, and maps for the activity are provided in the “Other Materials” ZIP file. 

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.  

Student Learning Targets

  • Make evidence-based claims about the threat of rising ocean temperatures to coral reefs.
  • Identify global patterns by comparing data from three world maps.
  • Graph data using spreadsheet software and estimate the area under a curve.
     

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

algae, biodiversity, degree heating week (DHW), marine biology, maximum monthly mean (MMM), oceanography, polyp, sea surface temperature (SST), symbiosis

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 04.22.15
Date Updated 09.07.21

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6; SEP2, SEP4

AP Biology (2019)

ENE-3.D, ENE-1.M, SYI-2.B, SYI-2.C; SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

4.4, C.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 9.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.A, ERT-1.C, ERT-1.D, STB-4, SP1, SP2, SP4, SP5, SP7

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.4, 7.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.3, ELA.RST.9–12.7, ELA.RST.9–12.9
Math.N-Q.1, Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-ID.6; MP2, MP4, MP5

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP2, DP3, DP4

Materials

Resource Google Folder (link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 489 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 1 MB
Other Materials (ZIP) 33 MB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 440 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 1 MB
Full Activity - Español (ZIP) 11 MB

Additional Materials

  • access to a spreadsheet program (Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice, etc.)

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Coral Bleaching

Related Science News

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How a small stretch of ocean stirred a conservation movement

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator standing in front of an image of coral polyps. Play Video Next Slide Next Slide
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1-Minute Tips

Coral Bleaching

Scott Sowell describes how he uses the coral bleaching animation and activity to teach his ecology students about the effects of global warming, while also integrating math and graphing skills into his lesson.
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