Bring your students on an underwater adventure into the coral reef ecosystem! Whether you're exploring the vast beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or diving into the rich, biodiverse waters of Indonesia, coral reefs are some of the most vibrant and important ecosystems on Earth.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the coral reefs. (Don't miss the tusk fish and octopuses!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Animal Babies, and Life.
- Free Printable: Use the Coral Reef Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
What shark can leap completely out of the water while chasing its dinner? If you guessed the blacktip shark, you're right!
Known for their speed, agility, and spectacular spinning jumps, blacktip sharks are among the ocean's most exciting predators. Explore the warm coastal waters they call home, discover how they sometimes work together to herd schools of fish, and learn why mangroves, coral reefs, and estuaries are so important to their survival. You'll also find out how people are helping keep these remarkable coastal sharks thriving.
Travel across the islands of Indonesia with this colorful one-page fact file for Grades 3–8. Students will explore Indonesia’s geography, history, culture, wildlife, and government while learning about thousands of islands, volcanoes and coral reefs, tropical rainforests, unique animals such as Komodo dragons and orangutans, and the traditions of Indonesia’s many cultures.
You can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
Dive beneath the waves and explore the colorful world of coral reefs and the amazing sea life they support. From bright tropical fish and graceful sea turtles to tiny coral polyps and color-changing cuttlefish, students will discover how reefs are home to some of the most diverse animal populations on Earth.
This Kahoot explores the rich ecosystems found in and around coral reefs, including the relationships between marine animals, food chains, and the special adaptations that help creatures survive underwater. Students will learn how reef animals find food, avoid predators, and depend on coral habitats for shelter and survival.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the wonders of life beneath the sea.
Dive into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with the Go Jetters. In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Discover fascinating facts about the reef habitat and biodiversity.
- Locate the Great Barrier Reef on a map.
- Color a coral reef with lots of bright colors.
Discover the wild side of the underwater world in this video playlist! Meet the ocean's most unusual characters — from glowing anglerfish and toothy piranhas to spiky lionfish and balloon-like pufferfish. These 10 short clips from BBC favorites like Deadly 60 and Blue Planet reveal the surprising ways these strange fish hunt, hide, and survive. Packed with fun facts and jaw-dropping moments, it’s perfect for curious kids and adults alike!
Teaching ecosystems helps students see how every living thing is connected. That's why we've created our Ecosystems Collection. We cover six ecosystems (grasslands, desert, coral reef, tropical rainforest, mountain, and polar). After watching videos on each ecosystem, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful reports filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) There's a brochure template for each of the six ecosystems. Inside, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
Dive into the dazzling world of coral reefs! From Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to the vibrant reefs of Indonesia, these underwater cities are alive with color, movement, and incredible creatures. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
In Why Acidic Seas Spell Trouble, geologist Iain Stewart explores how global warming is shaking up life in the ocean. In Palau, an ocean scientist shares the story of millions of golden jellyfish that vanished when the water’s temperature rose by a few degrees. Plus, learn how rising carbon dioxide is making the ocean more acidic, threatening coral reefs and the marine life that depends on them. The ocean is changing fast, and scientists are racing to understand what’s next for our planet's underwater world! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
Take your class on an exciting journey through Florida’s amazing wildlife and habitats! This playlist explores the warm springs where manatees gather in winter and shows how dolphins team up in Florida Bay to catch their food in clever ways. Along the way, your students will discover what makes Florida’s ecosystems so special and why they’re worth protecting. These clips are perfect for sparking curiosity, starting great classroom discussions, and inspiring kids to think like young scientists and conservationists.
Dive into the incredible world of sharks with this thrilling BBC Learning Hub playlist! From the sleek and powerful great white to the gentle giant whale shark and the uniquely shaped hammerhead, these videos showcase the beauty and mystery of the ocean's most iconic predators. Perfect for sparking curiosity and a little shark-inspired awe in your classroom! 🦈
Bring your students on an underwater adventure into the coral reef ecosystem! Whether you're exploring the vast beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or diving into the rich, biodiverse waters of Indonesia, coral reefs are some of the most vibrant and important ecosystems on Earth.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the coral reefs. (Don't miss the tusk fish and octopuses!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Animal Babies, and Life.
- Free Printable: Use the Coral Reef Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
What shark can leap completely out of the water while chasing its dinner? If you guessed the blacktip shark, you're right!
Known for their speed, agility, and spectacular spinning jumps, blacktip sharks are among the ocean's most exciting predators. Explore the warm coastal waters they call home, discover how they sometimes work together to herd schools of fish, and learn why mangroves, coral reefs, and estuaries are so important to their survival. You'll also find out how people are helping keep these remarkable coastal sharks thriving.
Travel across the islands of Indonesia with this colorful one-page fact file for Grades 3–8. Students will explore Indonesia’s geography, history, culture, wildlife, and government while learning about thousands of islands, volcanoes and coral reefs, tropical rainforests, unique animals such as Komodo dragons and orangutans, and the traditions of Indonesia’s many cultures.
You can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
Dive beneath the waves and explore the colorful world of coral reefs and the amazing sea life they support. From bright tropical fish and graceful sea turtles to tiny coral polyps and color-changing cuttlefish, students will discover how reefs are home to some of the most diverse animal populations on Earth.
This Kahoot explores the rich ecosystems found in and around coral reefs, including the relationships between marine animals, food chains, and the special adaptations that help creatures survive underwater. Students will learn how reef animals find food, avoid predators, and depend on coral habitats for shelter and survival.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the wonders of life beneath the sea.
Dive into the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with the Go Jetters. In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Discover fascinating facts about the reef habitat and biodiversity.
- Locate the Great Barrier Reef on a map.
- Color a coral reef with lots of bright colors.
Discover the wild side of the underwater world in this video playlist! Meet the ocean's most unusual characters — from glowing anglerfish and toothy piranhas to spiky lionfish and balloon-like pufferfish. These 10 short clips from BBC favorites like Deadly 60 and Blue Planet reveal the surprising ways these strange fish hunt, hide, and survive. Packed with fun facts and jaw-dropping moments, it’s perfect for curious kids and adults alike!
Teaching ecosystems helps students see how every living thing is connected. That's why we've created our Ecosystems Collection. We cover six ecosystems (grasslands, desert, coral reef, tropical rainforest, mountain, and polar). After watching videos on each ecosystem, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful reports filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) There's a brochure template for each of the six ecosystems. Inside, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
Dive into the dazzling world of coral reefs! From Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to the vibrant reefs of Indonesia, these underwater cities are alive with color, movement, and incredible creatures. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
In Why Acidic Seas Spell Trouble, geologist Iain Stewart explores how global warming is shaking up life in the ocean. In Palau, an ocean scientist shares the story of millions of golden jellyfish that vanished when the water’s temperature rose by a few degrees. Plus, learn how rising carbon dioxide is making the ocean more acidic, threatening coral reefs and the marine life that depends on them. The ocean is changing fast, and scientists are racing to understand what’s next for our planet's underwater world! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
Take your class on an exciting journey through Florida’s amazing wildlife and habitats! This playlist explores the warm springs where manatees gather in winter and shows how dolphins team up in Florida Bay to catch their food in clever ways. Along the way, your students will discover what makes Florida’s ecosystems so special and why they’re worth protecting. These clips are perfect for sparking curiosity, starting great classroom discussions, and inspiring kids to think like young scientists and conservationists.
Dive into the incredible world of sharks with this thrilling BBC Learning Hub playlist! From the sleek and powerful great white to the gentle giant whale shark and the uniquely shaped hammerhead, these videos showcase the beauty and mystery of the ocean's most iconic predators. Perfect for sparking curiosity and a little shark-inspired awe in your classroom! 🦈