What factors are contributing to global climate change?

Phenomenon

Coral Bleaching

*this module will take approximately 2 hours

Overview

The purpose of Module 1 is for students to begin forming their ‘wonderings’ around Climate Change and become cognizant of the lasting effects of it. 

Explore (10 min) 

Think Wall – What is coral bleaching?

• Have students brainstorm for 5 minutes about all the possibilities of what coral bleaching is and any information related to coral bleaching. The students will have time to “brain dump” in their journal then they will be asked to write their ideas on a post-it and stick each idea onto a Think Wall. 
  • Note: A Think Wall is a space in the classroom that is allocated for students to brain dump visually and publicly. There is no ‘wrong’ answer that could be stuck on the wall, this is just a physical place to capture your students’ ideas. 

Explore (25 min) 

Introducing Symbiosis 

• Have students watch the video two times. The first time students will simply watch and absorb the information. The second time students will take notes. 
• Students will then think-pair-share to identify as many symbiotic relationships they can think of. The students will verbally share their favorite or most unique pairing. 
• Coral bleaching video
• Symbiosis background information

Explain (35 min)

Symbiosis Drawing

Students will create a drawing with a short explanation of symbiosis. Students may draw anything that survives through symbiosis. 

• Share the Coral Bleaching Infographic to help students understand how symbiosis connects to coral bleaching and warming ocean temperatures.