Why are Coral Reefs so Stressed Out? Coral reefs are bleaching due to climate change. Students investigate why the coral is bleaching & how to differentiate between healthy coral and bleached coral.As the climate is changing, coral reefs, one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, are feeling the effects. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), between 2014 and 2017 around 75% of the world’s tropical coral reefs experienced heat-stress severe enough to trigger bleaching. This lesson will teach students what corals are, their life cycle, what coral bleaching is, and why this matters. Topics Climate Change Authors Ashley Smith-Gibbons, Gina Disteldorf, Tautasi Falanai, Nancy FitzGerald, Melanie Rosenfelder Teacher ResourcesLesson PlanCoral Bleaching Slide ShowWebquest Worksheet and Key Student Resources Coral Vocabulary Words Student Webquest Worksheet PSA Student Direction Sheet and Project Rubric Additional Resources https://www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/threats-coral-reefs Cracking the Code of Coral Reef Resilience Barshis Lab World Wildlife NOAA Data website NOAA Bleaching Explanation KOA Card Smithsonian Coral Website Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Corals are animals Lost Cities What are corals? Bleached coral report Coral Reef Ecology Lab Website EPA How Can you Prevent Coral Bleaching Coral Reefs For Kids Information and coloring book Corals can reproduce asexually and sexually Next Generation Science Standards Crosscutting Concepts Cause and effect Stability and change Core Ideas LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience ESS3.D: Global Climate Change Practices Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concepts 5.A: Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest virus to the largest animal that has lived on Earth, the blue whale. 6.B: From the ocean we get foods, medicines, and mineral and energy resources. In addition, it provides jobs, supports our nation’s economy, serves as a highway for transportation of goods and people, and plays a role in national security.