Videos and activities designed to support learning in your own classroom, these resources aim to provide engaging, curriculum-aligned content, while also acting as a steppingstone towards visiting OIRS and gaining practical, hands-on field experience.

Each activity has been designed to be delivered within the classroom setting, with links to the Classroom on the Reef YouTube videos embedded directly into each worksheet.

The Classroom on the Reef program is designed to support teachers and provide the next generation of marine scientists with strong foundational knowledge and practical learning opportunities.

How are marine ecosystems formed?

Exploring the ways marine science is used to describe and explain how marine ecosystems are formed and change due to a variety of natural and anthropogenic influences.

Content by Professor Mia Hoogenboom, Head, Marine Biology and Aquaculture in the JCU College of Science and Engineering.

Aerial view of a coral reef

Coral reef distribution

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Various corals

Coral identification

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Bleached coral from Mission Beach 2017

Coral bleaching and ocean acidification

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Coral and a tape measure running through them

Virtual Activity 1

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Worksheets

Internet access is required in order to complete these worksheets. Each worksheet containa links to videos containing the content needed to complete them.

Close up of a coral

What is a coral?

Learn about corals as animals, and corals as the foundation species of coral reef ecosystems. We will also learn about the different types of reefs that corals can form, and the different coral reef habitats they create.

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View of a reef from a distance

Coral biogeography

Learn where coral reefs are distributed globally and why, by focusing on the factors that are important for coral growth and survival. Learn about coral history including when they appeared in the geologic record, and where and how they’ve changed over geologic time.

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Many corals in the one reef

Activity - Coral identification

Learn about the most common growth forms that corals exhibit, and the types ofcoral reef habitats they are best suited to. Collect biological data fromunderwater videos of the coral reef to assess coral diversity and abundance andmanipulate and interpret patterns in the data for presentation in a scientific posterto be shared with your class.

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Coming soon

We will be launching an open forum space where we will regularly share new research, publications, resources, and educational content aligned with the Marine Science syllabus. This forum will also create opportunities for collaboration between teachers, students, researchers, and the wider marine science community. We would also love to hear from you. If there are areas where you need additional support, resources, or up-to-date information, this forum will provide a space to ask questions, share ideas, and help us continue building high-quality, current curriculum content together.