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Reef Rescue

Secondary, Middle

Description

In this lesson, students will watch a documentary called Reef Rescue that follows incredible scientists as they race to save corals from disappearing. The lesson also comes with a guide to accompany the viewing of the documentary. This guide splits the documentary up into “chapters.” You can stop the documentary after each chapter and use the discussion questions and activities to deepen your students’ understanding of coral reefs and the issues presented. After the viewing of the documentary, students will use an online interactive tool to explore themes presented. They will work in groups to interpret images relating to coral reefs and create a photo essay telling the story of coral. Next, students will complete a project that dives deep into a topic that interests them and present their research to their peers. 

In this lesson, students will: 

  • Understand the role of coral in oceans.
  • Identify the causes of coral bleaching.
  • Explore the importance of coral reefs and species that rely on them. 
  • Appreciate the diversity of coral reefs.
  • Develop a story of coral through images. 
  • Make use of an online interactive tool to further their understanding of themes presented in Reef Rescue. 
  • Develop and present a project that more deeply explores a topic raised in Reef Rescue
*Reef Rescue can be screened on CBC Gem until January 2025. After that date, please contact info@ cangeoeducation.ca for access.

 

General Assessment

What skills does this resource explicitly teach?

This resource teaches students how to make use of an online interactive tool.

Strengths

  • This resource provides all lesson plans for teachers
  • Additional background information and useful links are included in this resource
  • Student handouts are included in this resource
  • The lesson has students doing a multitude of different activities in different formats which lends itself well to different learning styles.
  • Assessment ideas are provided in this resource.
  • Ideas on how to differentiate the lesson are provided.
  • Connections to the Canadian Geography Framework are listed.
  • An extension opportunity is provided.

Weaknesses

  • Assessment rubrics or checklists are not provided.
  • Action opportunities are not included in this resource. 

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This resource would be excellent to use when discussing population dynamics and biodiversity. It would also be a great introduction to the importance of coral reefs and how humans are having an impact on marine biomes. 

Relevant Curriculum Units

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        • Environmental Science 11: Changing ecosystems are maintained by natural processes.
        • Environmental Science 11: Complex roles and relationships contribute to diversity of ecosystems
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        • Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
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        • Environmental Science 12: Human actions affect the quality of water and its ability to sustain life.
        • Environmental Science 12: Human activities cause changes in the global climate system
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        • Specialized Science 12: Climate change impacts biodiversity and ecosystem health

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (3)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Biodiversity
  • Habitat Loss

Land Use & Natural Resources (1)

  • Fisheries

Water (1)

  • Marine Environments

Sustainability Education Principles

Principle Rating Explanation
Consideration of Alternative Perspectives Very Good

During the viewing of the documentary, students will look at all facets of the issue. They will then get a chance to express their opinions and positions through the extensive discussion questions provided. 

Consideration of Alternative Perspectives:
  • Satisfactory: absence of bias towards any one point of view
  • Good: students consider different points of view regarding issues, problems discussed
  • Very good: based on the consideration of different views, students form opinions and  take an informed position
Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions Good

Throughout this resource, students will explore the importance of coral reefs to our society and the environment.

Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions:

Effectively addresses the environmental, economic and social dimensions of the issue(s) being explored.

  • Satisfactory: resource supports the examination of  these dimensions
  • Good:  resource explicitly examines the interplay of these dimensions
  • Very Good:  a systems-thinking approach is encouraged to examine these three dimensions
Respects Complexity Very Good

The lesson does an excellent job of illustrating the complexity of the coral reef crisis and the challenges we face in averting catastrophe.

Respects Complexity:

The complexity of the problems/issues being discussed is respected.

Acting on Learning Satisfactory

As an optional extension activity, students are asked to raise awareness about coral bleaching and ways that Canadians can help by implementing an awareness campaign in their school or community. 

Acting on Learning:

Learning moves from understanding  issues  to working towards positive change — in personal lifestyle, in school, in the community,  or for the planet

  • Satisfactory: action opportunities are included as extensions 
  • Good: action opportunities are core components of the resource
  • Very Good: action opportunities for students are well supported and intended to result in observable, positive change
Values Education Very Good

This resource gives the opportunity to students to fully express their values and beliefs and is mostly achieved through discussion questions.

Values Education:

Students are explicitly provided with opportunities to identify, clarify and express their own beliefs/values.

Empathy & Respect for Humans Poor/Not considered
Empathy & Respect for Humans: Empathy and respect are fostered for diverse groups of humans (including different genders, ethnic groups, sexual preferences, etc.).
Personal Affinity with Earth Good

In this resource, students will understand the role of coral in oceans, identify the causes of coral bleaching and explore the importance of coral reefs and the species that rely on them.

Personal Affinity with Earth:

Encourages a personal affinity with -the natural world.  

  • Satisfactory: connection is made to the natural world
  • Good: fosters appreciation/concern for the natural world
  • Very Good: fosters stewardship though practical and respectful experiences out-of-doors 
Locally-Focused Learning Satisfactory

Students will look at how losing the Great Barrier Reef would impact Canadians. 

Locally-Focused Learning:

Includes learning experiences that take advantage of issues/elements within the local community. 

  • Satisfactory: learning is made relevant to the lives of the learners
  • Good: learning is made relevant and has a local focus
  • Very Good: learning is made relevant, local and takes place ‘outside’ , in the community 
Past, Present & Future Good
Past, Present & Future: Promotes an understanding of the past, a sense of the present, and a positive vision for the future.

Pedagogical Approaches

Principle Rating Explanation
Open-Ended Instruction Very Good

The multitude of discussion opportunities in this resource offer students a chance to fully share their opinions on the topic. 

Open-Ended Instruction :

Lessons are structured so that multiple/complex answers are possible; students are not steered toward one 'right' answer.

Integrated Learning Satisfactory

Students will work mostly on Geography and Science outcomes in this resource. 

Integrated Learning:

Learning brings together content and skills  from more than one  subject area

  • Satisfactory: content from a number of different  subject areas is readily identifiable
  • Good:  resource is appropriate for use in more than one subject area
  • Very Good:  the lines between subjects are blurred 
Inquiry Learning Satisfactory
Inquiry Learning:

Learning is directed by questions, problems, or challenges that students work to address.   

  • Satisfactory: Students are provided with questions/problems to solve and some direction on how to arrive at solutions.
  • Good: students, assisted by the teacher clarify the question(s) to ask and the process to follow to arrive at solutions.  Sometimes referred to as Guided Inquiry
  • Very Good:  students generate the questions and assume much of the responsibility for how to solve them.  . Sometimes referred to as self-directed learning.

 

Differentiated Instruction Good

The range of activities addresses well the needs of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners. Modification suggestions for the research project are also listed.

Differentiated Instruction:

Activities address a range of student learning styles, abilities and readiness.

  • Satisfactory:  includes a variety of instructional approaches
  • Good: addresses  the needs of visual, auditory &  kinesthetic learners
  • Very Good: also includes strategies for learners with difficulties
Experiential Learning Satisfactory

Students will simulate the population of zebra mussels in Lake Erie in 5 years. However, all learning will happen in the classroom. 

Experiential Learning:

Authentic learning experiences are provided

  • Satisfactory: learning takes place through ‘hands-on’ experience or simulation
  • Good: learning involves direct experience in a ‘real world context’
  • Very good: learning involves ‘real world experiences’ taking place’ beyond the school walls.
Cooperative Learning Satisfactory

Students will work in groups and have group discussions in this lesson. 

Cooperative Learning:

Group and cooperative learning strategies are a priority.

  • Satisfactory:  students work in groups
  • Good: cooperative learning skills are explicitly taught and practiced
  • Very Good: cooperative learning skills are explicitly taught, practiced and assessed
Assessment & Evaluation Satisfactory

Assessment ideas are provided in this resource, however rubrics and checklists are not provided. 

Assessment & Evaluation: Tools are provided that help students and teachers to capture formative and summative information about students' learning and performance. These tools may include reflection questions, checklists, rubrics, etc.
Peer Teaching Satisfactory

Students will present their research project to their peers. As an optional extension activity, students could raise awareness about coral bleaching and ways that Canadians can help by running an awareness campaign in their school or community

Peer Teaching:

Provides opportunities for students to actively present their knowledge and skills to peers and/or act as teachers and mentors.

  • Satisfactory: incidental teaching that arises from cooperative learning, presentations, etc.
  • Good or Very Good: an opportunity is intentionally created to empower students to teach other students/community members. The audience is somehow reliant on the students' teaching (students are not simply ‘presenting')
Case Studies Very Good

Students will be watching a documentary on the topic based on real events and real situations. 

Case Studies:

Relevant case studies are included.  Case studies are thorough descriptions of real events from real situations that students use to explore  concepts in an authentic context.

Locus of Control Very Good

Students will get a chance to dive deeper into one of the facets of coral reefs that they feel passionate about. They also will get to decide how they will present their information to their peers. 

Locus of Control: Meaningful opportunities are provided for students to choose elements of program content, the medium in which they wish to work, and/or to go deeper into a chosen issue.

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