Critical Attributes Strategy

What is critical attributes strategy?

                The focal point of this strategy is to teach the procedural knowledge of a specific concept so that students will not form incorrect ideas and beliefs about the important topics at hand. 

Critical Attributes of Coral Reefs	Noncritical Attributes of Coral Reefs
Overfishing is hazardous to the balance of coral reefs.	Coral can be different colors.
Hurricanes, storms, etc. can cause an imbalance in the coral reefs.	Coral can be all different shapes and sizes.
Destruction of coral reefs affects humans.
Coral reefs are made up of plants, animals, and organisms.

  

We believe that in order to understand how and why coral reefs are being destroyed we first need to understand what coral reefs are and what they are made up of. 

Informational Knowledge of Coral Reefs

What makes up a coral reef. (click here to find out)

How the environment of the coral reef works.                 

The different types of coral.

Each part of the coral reef environment depends on each other.

Procedural Knowledge of Coral Reefs

The coral reefs are being destroyed by overfishing.

The coral reefs are being destroyed by storms, hurricanes, etc.

Imbalances of the coral reefs are occurring because of these factors. 

-In order to teach our topic we believe that it needs to be presented in an easy to understand language and there also needs to be accessible information such as quick definitions for coral reefs.  We also believe that too much information cannot be covered at once and new topics and subjects will be introduced at a steady pace. 

Hard Coral, Soft Coral, and Fish are just a few of the many things you find on a coral reef

Coral Reef Zones

What do you know about Coral?

            Coral is made up of thin layers of calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate comes from hundreds of soft-bodied animals known as coral polyps. Just like a plant, coral goes through a process of photosynthesis and requires a large amount of sunlight. This is why coral reefs are found in shallow, clear water. 
            There are two kinds of coral: hard and soft. Hard corals have a stiff exoskeleton that protects their bodies. Some examples of hard coral are brain, star, staghorn, and pillar corals. Soft corals do not have an exoskeleton which allows them to sway with the currents and waves. Some examples of soft coral are sea fans, sea whips, and sea rods.

           Second to tropical rain forests, coral reefs are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. Coral reefs are not made up solely of coral. They also contain sponges, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, sea turtles, sharks, dolphins, and many more things. Each part of the coral reef is interconnected with innumerable amounts of other plants, animals, and organisms.

            Since everything that is a part of the coral reef is interconnected, the balance of the coral reef can fluctuate drastically. For example, variation of one species can drastically change both the diversity and abundances of others. These variations can come from natural causes such as hurricanes or large storms. Unfortunately, it is more common that these variations occur from the result of people. For example, overfishing is hazardous to the balance of coral reef. When fishermen overfish herbivorous fish, there is an increase in the growth of algae and sea grass. This may result in the over abundance of other herbivorous marine life, such as sea urchins.

What are some ways we can help preserve coral reefs in known areas of destruction?

Do the fishermen know they are destroying these beautiful reefs?

To find out what is being done to prevent the destruction of coral reefs click below. 

Art Contest for Coral Reefs

Facts about Coral Reefs

http://reefrelief.org/learn/coral-reef-ecosystem/

                                                                     Soft Coral 

Hard Coral

Let's begin...

Hello everyone! Our names are Leah Potcner, Danielle Jones and Sal DiStefano.  We are in the Arts and Social Studies section of the curriculum block at Salem State University and have been assigned a group research project. Our topic is about the Coral Reefs and how they are in serious danger! This not only affects living things in the ocean, but it also affects US! "Coral Reefs benefit the environment and people in numerous ways such as protecting shores from the impact of waves and from storms, providing benefits to humans in the form of food and medicine, and providing economic benefits to local communities from tourism". (Coral Reefs: Ecosystems of Environmental and Human Value)

The reason we are researching this is because the Coral Reef is so valuable and we really need to be aware of how much danger it is in. It is hard to be aware of it because it is not something that we can easily see - such as the rain forest. We can all see that the rain forests are being destroyed, but because Coral Reefs are underwater, it is "out of sight, out of mind". We really need to raise our awareness on this issue and we are hoping that our research project will help all of you to become more aware as well.