Oceanography: Ocean Ecosystems

• Define intertidal zone.
• Explain the importance of intertidal zones.
• State several animals and plants found in an intertidal zone.
• Explain their unique adaptations to this environment.
• Define estuary.
• Explain the importance of estuaries.
• State several animals and plants found in an estuary.
• Explain their unique adaptations to this environment.
• Define coral reef.
• Explain the importance of coral reefs.
• State several animals and plants found in a coral reef.
• Explain their unique adaptations to this environment.

Three habitats that thrive along the ocean coasts are intertidal zones, estuaries, and coral reefs. All have very unique properties and are important in maintaining the balance of life on sea and land. In this lesson, students will study these ecosystems in depth. Students will go on 360 field trips to each ecosystem, observing the physical characteristics of each area and the various types of animal and plant life abundant there as well. Students will manipulate IFX examples of aquatic life found in each habitat. Discussions will include unique adaptations found in each organism.

1. Have several manipulative examples of animals and plants found in these three ecosystems out for students to handle. (examples in ancillary section)
2. Have students place the organisms at the properly labeled table (tidal zone, estuary, coral reef).
3. Introduce tidal zone and their physical characteristics.
4. Go on a 360 field trip to a tidal zone.
5. Come back to classroom and look at the animals and plants and discuss their adaptations.
6. Introduce estuaries and their physical characteristics.
7. Go on a 360 field trip to the Chesapeake Bay estuary.
8. Come back to classroom and look at the animals and plants and discuss their adaptations.
9. Introduce coral reefs and their physical characteristics.
10. Go on a 360 field trip to a coral reef.
11. Come back to classroom and look at the animals and plants and discuss their adaptations.
12. End lesson with questions and comments.

Animals used for estuary: sea otter, salmon, eel, duck, jellyfish, pike, seaweed, oyster shell Animals used for coral reef: starfish, coral, sponges, blue shark, clown fish, angel fish, octopus Animals used for tidal zones: several  mollusks, snail, seaweed, starfish, sponges   360 tidal pool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cm8f53qFXs   Grandpa's Coral Reef https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVaYEnZUNHI