Marine Life and Ecosystems by Jennifer Louise Carter
Focus
Grade Level
Focus Question
Marine Life and Ecosystems
5th Grade-Science
What is a coral reef ecosystem, and how does it interact
with our Wrightsville Beach ecosystem.
Learning Objectives:
NC State Objective and Goal Being Addressed:
Objective 1.01
Describe and compare several common
ecosystems (communities of organisms and
their interaction with the environment).
Objective 1.03
Explain why an ecosystem can support a
variety of organisms.
Objective 1.05
Determine the interaction of organisms
within an ecosystem.
Learner Objective(s): At the completion of this lesson, students
will describe the ecosystem of the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary and understand it’s interaction with the environment of
Wrightsville Beach.
Materials
Audio/Visual Materials
Teaching Time
Seat Arrangement
Maximum Number of Students
Key Words
Background Information (Prior
Knowledge)
Internet access for video
Colored Pencils/Paper
Blue Paper to cover white board
Coloring Pictures of Coral Reef and Animals
described from reef
 Notes premade for fill in the blanks for
background information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG3L98NFyro
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90 minute class period
Groups of 4 students
32
8 groups of 4
Ecosystems
Coral Reef
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
The Greater Caribbean Region
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How to make a K-W-L chart
Marine Life and Ecosystems by Jennifer Louise Carter
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Opening Activity
Learning Procedure ( Activity)
Connections to Other Subjects
Closing Activity and Assignment
The environment of Wrightsville Beach
The functions of organisms within the
population of an ecosystem. Ex. Producers,
Consumers, Decomposers
Ways that humans affect ecosystems. Ex.
Habitat reduction due to development,
pollutants, increased nutrients
Announce to students that we will be learning
about Marine Life and Ecosystems.
 Turn off classroom lights to set the mood.
 Watch clip from “Finding Nemo” so students can
visualize what we will be learn about and draw
their attentions to Marine Life.
 Have the students fill out a K-W-L chart about
what they know about coral reefs, and what they
want to learn about them.
 Discuss what students already know and what
they want to learn about coral reefs.
 Pass out notes.
 Go over notes with students on: ecosystems, coral
reefs, animals, location, and Aquarius. The notes
will be in mini pamphlets. Using the information
and pictures attached in separate file.
 Fun activity: Pass out coloring sheets to
student’s, let them color them in while discussing
the animals they are coloring from the
ecosystems. When everyone is done coloring and
cutting allow them to stand and describe their
animal and why they are important to the coral
reef. Then allow students to tape their animals to
the blue paper on the white board. Thus, creating
a classroom ecosystem.
English/Language Arts, Geography/History, Global
Awareness
 Inform student’s that UNCW owns Aquarius, and
that the Ocean is one huge ecosystem
interconnected to our own actions at Wrightsville
Beach. 1-2 minutes.
 Leading question: How does this information
interconnect?
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Marine Life and Ecosystems by Jennifer Louise Carter
Closing assignment: students will describe what
they have learned in their K-W-L chart. This
should take approximately 5-7 minutes.
 Assign homework referred to below is
assessment.
Student’s notes and K-W-L chart offer opportunities
for assessment.
Homework to be assessed: After teaching students
about such a valuable ecosystem and the threats of
extinction of many of the animals that work together to
make a coral reef self-sustaining. Ask them to go home
and write a paragraph on things they can do in their
community (our beach) to help protect our oceans.
For more information on ecosystems:
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwepecosystems.htm
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Assessment
Other Links and Resources
For more information on Coral Reefs:
http://www.coral-reef-info.com/
For more information on UNCW’s Aquarius:
http://aquarius.uncw.edu/