Fact Friday

Tube sponge

Most of the time, we think of sponges as the rectangular cleaning tool next to our sink, but did you know that sea sponges are actually animals? Most sponges are sessile, meaning that they can’t move. In order to eat, they must filter feed. Sponges have specialized cells that push water through their small pores to filter out plankton and other tiny organisms.

Photo Credit: Badi Samaniego

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Welcome to our Coral Reef Ecology Curriculum!

The purpose of these innovative coral reef education materials is to engage and inspire students to learn about coral reefs and to become stewards of this vital ecosystem.

Why? The Foundation strives to increase ocean literacy by creating awareness about coral reefs. They harbor nearly 25% of all marine species. Reefs also provide a food supply and livelihood for millions of people around the world.

  • Students

    Includes quizzes, graphics, photos, videos, and interactives that help students retain information and get excited about learning. Get started now!

  • Teachers

    Integrate 21st century learning into your classes, while students learn about coral reefs and how humans are connected to this unique ecosystem. Get started now!

  • Guest

    Not a student or a teacher? Get access to quizzes, graphics, photos, videos, and interactives without a class code from a teacher. Get started now!

Our Course

This award-winning coral reef ecology curriculum has been developed in accordance with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the Ocean Literacy Principles (OLP), and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).  It is aimed towards high school students, but can be adapted for other age groups.

Explore eleven custom designed units on topics that can be integrated into a variety of courses such as art, biology, chemistry, environmental and marine science, and physics, while adhering to course standards. We are continuing to develop the curriculum and will add new units (a total of 23) and lesson plans as they are completed.  Future content includes the following topics:

Reef Formation                                      Evolutionary History                                        Biodiversity of Coral Reefs
Reef Organisms                                     Reef Organism Behaviors                               Food Web Dynamics
Connectivity of Ecosystems                   Threats                                                            Benefits
The Foundation’s Research                   Resilience                                                       Management and Conservation

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