In The Unique Underwater Ecosystems of Submarine Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough goes deep beneath the ocean surface, where volcanic eruptions have built enormous submarine mountains — some taller than Mount Everest when measured from the seafloor. These underwater peaks create unique ecosystems, as powerful ocean currents sweep nutrients up their slopes. This influx of nutrients supports vibrant marine communities, including soft corals, whip corals, and giant sponges that filter nourishment from the water. Though these ecosystems thrive in complete darkness, they rely entirely on the energy transported by deep-sea currents. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.

In The Go Jetters Clean Up Oil on the Reef, the Go Jetters crew discovers a submarine leaking oil onto a reef. They head to the location to clean up the spill and protect the vital underwater ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four international heroes as they travel the globe visiting landmarks and solving environmental problems with Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.

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 an 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.

• 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 A Journey Through the Coral Triangle, host Simon Reeve dives into the breathtaking underwater paradise of Raja Ampat in the Coral Triangle. Home to three-quarters of the world’s coral species, this ecosystem is often called the "Amazon of the Sea." Simon explains how the ocean produces half the oxygen we breathe and reveals the critical role sharks play as apex predators in keeping the marine food chain balanced. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.

In Towering Underwater Volcanic Peaks, narrator David Attenborough explores the underwater volcanoes that rise nearly 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) from the seafloor, reaching close to the ocean's surface. These towering peaks create nutrient-rich environments that support an abundance of marine life. Ocean currents push nutrients toward the surface, fueling plankton blooms that attract fish and other sea creatures. A Mola mola (ocean sunfish) visits one of these seamounts to be cleaned by reef fish, which remove parasites from its skin. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.

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.

In Volcanic Activity Shapes Life on the Seafloor narrator David Attenborough showcases volcanic activity beneath the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is split by an immense volcanic mountain chain stretching 45,000 miles. In some places, fissures release superheated, mineral-rich water, forming towering chimneys called hydrothermal vents. Despite extreme temperatures and toxic chemicals, bacteria thrive here, forming the base of an ecosystem independent of sunlight. Shrimp and other crustaceans graze on these bacteria, creating a unique deep-sea community. Similar vents exist in the Pacific Ocean, where different species have adapted to similar conditions. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.

In The Go Jetters and the Shipwreck Reef, the Go Jetters crew discovers the rusty submarine wreck isn’t leaking oil — it’s become a reef itself! Ubercorn shares funky facts about natural and artificial reefs, and how objects, like shipwrecks, can help the reef by becoming underwater habitats. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four international heroes as they travel the globe visiting landmarks and solving environmental problems with Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.

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.