Welcome to the Great Barrier Reef

Learn about the colourful Great Barrier Reef!

Lesson steps

Show children the Earth Cubs Map of the World.

Great Barrier Reef World Map

See the Great Barrier Reef World Map

Hand out sticky notes and ask children to predict where Australia is by placing sticky notes on the map.

Show children the location of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.

Hand out atlases, and ask children to find the locations. Allow them to spend time finding the Pacific Ocean, surrounding seas and to talk about geographical observations. Record key geographical vocabulary on the working wall.

Tell children that the Great Barrier Reef is a very special habitat

Use the The Great Barrier Reef Presentation to show children images of coral and talk about why it is so important.

The Colourful Coral Reef

Learn about what coral reef is!

Show What is hurting coral reef?

What is Hurting Coral Reef?

Learn about why coral reef is important and what's hurting it!

Spend time talking about the children’s reactions to the coral.

Ask children to play coral tennis. Sit with a talk partner and say 1 thing they notice about the coral, then swap with a partner. Share knowledge with the class.

Learning outcomes

To use maps and simple geographical vocabulary.

To know what coral is and why it is important.

Create coral reefs using drawing or sculpture.

Questions

Can you plan a journey to the Great Barrier Reef?

What transport would be the most environmentally friendly?

Vocabulary

Australia

The Great Barrier Reef

Journey

Location

Coral reef

Polyps

Talking points

Coral is so colourful and bright. On your walk to school look for colourful creatures and plants. (Wildflowers, ladybirds, butterflies, bumble bees).

Activity ideas

Playdough coral

Model how to make playdough coral reef, and leave the example out for children to see. Put coloured playdough on tables and ask children to make their own coral reefs.