Lesson Plan 3– Exploring the Reefs

Lesson Objective:
After reading the story, Coral Reefs by Kristin Baird Rattini, and reviewing the other resources
provided, students will identify three features of coral reefs and how they contribute to other
animals in the ocean.

Procedures:
 Introduce students to coral reefs by taking them on a virtual field trip from
360virtualtour “Underwater Coral Reefs in 360”.
 The students and teacher will explore coral reefs on the smart board
 Next, students will discuss the colors, what they think the reefs feel like, are they
animals or plants?
 Read Coral Reefs by Kristin Baird Rattini
 Circle back to the earlier discussion about coral reefs and discuss how the students
thoughts and ideas may have changed since reading.
 Watch the Great Barrier Reef video from YouTube
 Students will complete a painting of a coral reef scene including texture, animals that
live in the reefs, based off of what they learned.
Lesson Objective Exceeds Meets Approaching Does Not Meet
Expectations Expectations Expectations Expectations
After reading the story, The student is The student is The student is The student is not
Coral Reefs by Kristin able to able to identify able to able to identify at
Baird Rattini, and identify more three features of identify at least one feature
reviewing the other than three coral reefs and least 1 feature of coral reefs or
resources provided, features of ways that coral of coral reefs one way that coral
students will identify coral reefs reefs contribute and one way reefs contribute to
three features of coral and ways that to other animals that coral other animals in
reefs and how they coral reefs in the ocean. reefs the ocean.
contribute to other contribute to contribute to
animals in the ocean. other animals other animals
in the ocean. in the ocean.