Virtual Field Trip to the Coral Reefs of Palau
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Take a classroom field trip to the coral reefs of Palau in the Pacific Ocean with your students on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. ET. It’s a virtual trip for grade 3-8 classrooms to understand the diverse ecosystem of Palau’s Coral Reefs and the symbiotic relationships between its many organisms, plus what endangers it and how people can help protect it.
The goal is to build students’ knowledge of and emotional connection to environmental issues that are at the heart of The Nature Conservancy’s mission.
Join expert scientist, Marine Biologist Stephanie Wear, to learn about one of the “seven underwater wonders of the world.”
Register here for his free adventure!
Virtual Field Trip to the Coral Reefs of Palau
The Coral Reefs of Palau are a remote network of islands deep in the Pacific Ocean. You’ll see:
- sharks snatching up smaller prey
- decorator crabs applying bits of shell, algae, and sponge to their own backs for camouflage
- massive 2,000-pound sea cows grazing
- and more!
See how amazing this interconnected ecosystem built on symbiosis and mutualism is. It’s a place where diverse organisms protect, clean, nourish, and even camouflage one another. In this underwater city, the coral supports its many “workers” and they, in turn, keep the coral healthy.
Called “the medicine chests of the sea,” Coral Reefs provide ingredients that are leading to new lifesaving medications. They are also an astonishingly rich source of food for many species, including humans, and provide a perfect buffer to protect shorelines from erosion.
Coral Reef Key Concepts, Terms, & Resources
In the Coral Reefs, everything is interconnected—and this includes people. The Coral Reefs function like an undersea city, with every organism having an important role.
Symbiosis
Mutualism
Coral Reefs
Palau
Complex communities
Biological interactions
Predation
Competition
Food webs
Protection and conservation
*The content of this virtual field trip is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and the National Geography Standards.
The Need is Mutual Lesson Plan
NOAA – Coral Ecosystems Education Collection
NOAA – Ocean Acidification Education Collection
Example of a Virtual Field Trip
See what to expect on a virtual field trip with this example of a trip to America’s Wild Biomes.
This post is sponsored through a partnership with WeAreTeachers and NatureWorksEverywhere.org.