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Pacific Whale Foundation
Discovery Center
300 Ma'alaea Rd., Suite 211
Wailuku, HI 96793
www.pacificwhale.org
(808) 856-8317
Aloha, e na Kumu (teachers),
Thank you for requesting a teacher’s packet from Pacific Whale Foundation. The Crazy Coral
Reefs curriculum is structured to aid students in gaining an understanding of what corals are, how
they create reefs, and how reefs are important as ecosystems.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to offer interactive, innovative marine science programs and experiences that
empower visitors and residents to help conserve our planet's oceans.
Facilities
Pacific Whale Foundation’s Discovery Center is a 2,800 sq. ft. facility overlooking Ma'alaea
Harbor in Maui. It includes a resource library, two fully functioning Discovery Labs, and Maui
Whale Center. Our Discovery Labs are equipped with advanced AV equipment and are currently
hosting a variety of school programs and educational opportunities for community members of all
ages. Adjacently located is Maui Whale Center, our exhibit room that includes artifacts, displays,
and a tidepool tank.
Mahalo for your continued patience and support,
Erica Cushing
Youth Education Director
[email protected]
(808) 856-8317
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
Crazy Coral Reefs
In this packet students will gain an understanding of what corals are, how they
create reefs and how reefs are important as ecosystems. This packet contains
activities that build upon one another. Each activity develops upon the ideas of the
previous one but may be used individually to supplement existing classroom
curriculum.
We start by introducing corals as individual animals. We learn about their life
cycle and how they develop into colonies. These colonies expand and become giant
coral heads. Coral heads come together to form massive reefs. Coral reefs are the
basis of a complex and fascinating ecosystem that includes everything from fish to
rays to sharks to turtles! So get ready to have fun learning about one of the many
wonders of the ocean: Coral Reefs.
Table of Contents
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Cnidarian Life Cycle
Coral Polyp Life Cycle
Polyp Song
Intercalical Communication Game
Coral Reef Types Specific to Hawaii
Plankton, Nekton, Benthos
Coral Reef Conservation
Field Trip Ideas
Helpful Links and Resources
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
Cnidarian Life Cycle
Lesson Title: Cnidarian Life Cycle
Objectives
 Students will be able to differentiate between the various
stages of the life cycle of a coral polyp
Materials
 life cycle diagrams
 markers
 glue
 collage bits (beads, glitter, sequins, etc.) for decorating
diagram
Procedure
1. Familiarize students with background information
2. Hand out diagrams
3. Use markers and collage bits to decorate and label the diagram.
Extensions and Variations:
1. For older students, have them cut-out the parts of the life cycle
diagram and reassemble them in correct order on a separate sheet of
paper.
2. Have students work in teams to create puppets for each phase of the
cnidarian life cycle. Use student research along with the provided
background information to include factors that influence coral
polyp survival.
Background Information
Corals belong to the phylum Cnidaria, which also includes hydroids and
jellyfish. The cnidarian life cycle is a bit confusing; almost all
cnidarians are jellyfish and polyps at some point in their life. When a
cnidarian isn’t really any particular thing, it is called a planula. A
planula is a microscope blob of cells, a piece of plankton drifting
about. Remember a planula is a piece of plankton, zooplankton, or
animal plankton, to be precise. When you are so microscopic, life can be
unforgiving. A whale shark could come along and gulp – goners! The
currents could whisk you away to Antarctica. What if you’re just
drifting over a sandy bottom and there are no big rocks or reefs to
settle upon? Maybe you are drifting in an area that is so incredibly
deep that the sun doesn’t shine. Wow, all of these factors could make
it hard for such a little critter! Let’s say that a planula had good
luck this time and drifted to the right spot, with the right
temperature, the right amount of sunlight and the right substrate on the
bottom for planula to attach. Finally our little planula will settle
down and secrete a skeleton house, then transform into a polyp. Polyps
are sessile, in other words, stuck, can’t move, frozen in place.
Once
a polyp is ready to start life, it goes through a strange reproduction,
the seriously silly process of strobilation. To visualize strobilation,
imagine a bamboo plant growing taller and taller in segments. Once the
polyp is growing and growing like a bamboo, the segments at the end bud
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
and pinch off! Not only that, but they pinch themselves off in the
shape of a six-sided star. These cool new star things are called
ephyra. Ephyra cruise the ocean blue all the while metamorphosing into
yet another stage! Slowly Ephyra grows into a medusa, that’s a fancy
word for jellyfish-like! Now medusa can find other medusas and make
eggs, lots of little eggs! These eggs grow and hatch into planula and
we are right back where we started!
Ephyra – Immature medusa of a cnidarian (almost always microscopic).
Medusa – The free swimming body type of cnidarians resembling a
gelatinous umbrella or bell with tentacles at its margins (commonly
known as sea jellies).
Plankton - Organisms that are suspended in the water column and are not
able to swim against the currents. Therefore they rely on water
movements for distribution and transport.
Planula – The planktonic stage of a cnidarian when it is drifting about
the ocean currents looking for a place to settle.
Polyp – An individual cnidarian forming part of a colony.
Strobilation – A budding stage in the reproductive cycle of cnidarians
that produce ephyras.
Zooplankton – Suspended mostly microscopic animals drifting in the water
column.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
POLYP SONG
(follows itsy-bitsy spider melody)
Drifting, and floating ma ka moana nui,
Searching and seeking for the perfect space for me.
Auwe – a whale shark! Watch out for his big mouth
An ocean current saves me - mahalo for the sea.
Settlement cues appearing everywhere around me
This tropical climate will suit me very well.
Where shall I settle? There’s lots of competition
Among the different corals, only time will tell.
Sessile on the bottom, I will start making
Minerals to build my exoskeleton
My tentacles are growing, I’m getting so much bigger
Soon I will be a colony, that will be so fun.
My tentacles, at night, I use for filter feeding
I’m searching for the perfect zooxanthellae
This special little algae will make me very happy
I’ll keep it in my tissues - inside my belly.
I am pinching off some buddies but we will stay connected
Intercalical tissues are what keep us as one
Together we make hale for all the reef’s critters
We’re an ecosystem – one for all and all for one!
Hawaiian Words
Auwe (ah-way)– Oh my gosh!
Hale (ha-lay)- house
Ma ka (ma-kah)– locator phrase – indicates location
Moana nui (moe-ah-na nu-E)– vast, deep ocean
Mahalo (ma-ha-low)– thank you
Definitions
Calyx (Calices-plural) – cup shaped cavity or structure in which
corals live (i.e. the exoskeleton of reef building coral polyps)
Ecosystem – living factors in an environment with its associated
abiotic factors
Exoskeleton – skeleton of an animal that is external to the soft
tissue
Intercalical Tissue – tissue that connects coral polyps [outside
of the calices]
Planula- The planktonic larval stage of a coral when it is
drifting about on ocean currents.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
Sessile – animals that are permanently attached to the bottom and
cannot move
Settlement Cues – environmental factors that encourage larva to
settle and begin developing. These include temperature, currents,
wave action and sunlight.
Zooxanthellae – symbiotic algae that are found in most corals.
Feed off the coral's waste, and supply coral polyps with
nutrients. Zooxanthellae also give coral its color.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
Intercalical Communication Game
Objective: The goals of this game are to demonstrate how coral
polyps communicate within a colony through their intercalical
tissues. This rudimentary form of communication allows polyps to
thrive as a colony. Using intercalical tissues, polyps can alert
one another when the feeding is good and also when danger is near.
Materials : small object to represent zooxanthellae (ping pong
ball, x-large pom pom, etc.); area large enough to accommodate all
students sitting cross-legged in a circle; prop to represent a
stress to coral ( a crown of thorns or other coralivore puppet)
1. Seat children cross-legged in a circle with knees touching to
represent intercalical tissue. Each child represents a
polyp. Remind the children they are sessile and cannot move
around.
2. Give each child a small object to hold in his/her hands
(tentacles) to represent zooxanthellae. (see suggestions
from materials list above)
3. Lock arms tightly at elbows to represent intercalical tissue.
4. Use a prop to “stress” the polyp: fill a squirt bottle with
“pollution” and squirt the polyps, or use a puppet or stuffed
animal to act as a predator.
5. “Stress” a random polyp and ask them to release their
zooxanthellae.
6. Whoever is “stressed” releases their zooxanthellae and puts
their head and shoulders down, keeping arms locked tightly,
this will pull on neighboring polyps.
7. Eventually the entire reef will collapse with polyps’
pulling/signaling one another.
Definitions
Calyx (Calices) – cup shaped cavity or structure (i.e. the
exoskeleton of reef building coral polyps)
Exoskeleton – a skeleton to an animal that is external to the soft
tissue
Intercalical Tissue – tissue that connects coral polyps [outside
of the calices]
Planula – microscopic planktonic larva
Sessile – animals that are permanently attached to the bottom and
cannot move
Tentacle - an arm-like appendage used for locomotion, sensory
perception and/or feeding.
Zooxanthellae – symbiotic algae that are found in most corals,
they feed of the coral's waste, and supply coral polyps with
nutrients. Zooxanthellae also give coral its color.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
Background Information
Zooxanthellae are acquired through filter feeding and later stored
in the polyp’s tissues. There are many different species of
zooxanthellae and from time to time coral colonies may change
species of their hosted zooxanthellae. When the zooxanthellae are
lost, the polyps appear white, with only the calcium carbonate
exoskeleton reflecting light and color. Zooxanthellae are released
when the reef is under stress. Sources of stress include
sedimentation, pollution, changes in temperature, changes in pH,
changes in salinity or climatic change. It is possible for the
reef to regain zooxanthellae and possibly find a species better
suited to the adverse conditions, however the release of one may
start a chain reaction with the entire colony expelling their
zooxanthellae. When this happens, the colony most likely parishes
due to lack of nutrients.
Coral Reef Types Specific to
Hawaii
Reef Communities – non-structural reef composed of an assemblage
(community) of non-connected, loose coral colonies. A reef
community often represents the beginnings of a true coral reef or
a habitat under intense disturbance where an actual fringing reef
cannot develop.
Example in Hawaii: Puna and Kalapana districts on Big Island (very
young and prone to disturbance)
Fringing Reefs – As coral colonies continue to grow and interact
with other sessile organisms, a structural reef will appear
directly offshore of sections of the island. Such a fringing reef
includes an outwardly growing reef slope, a reef flat and may have
channels cutting through it. Juvenile fringing reefs are often
termed apron reefs; eventually a number of apron reefs grow
together and form fringing reefs.
Example in Hawaii: Kaupo district in Maui
Specific Examples: Honolua Bay and Flemings, Maui
Barrier Reefs – As an island continues to erode away and sink, the
fringing reefs will appear to move farther and farther offshore.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
Eventually a barrier reef will be formed separating a relatively
large body of water (a lagoon) from the offshore circulation
Example in Hawaii: Wai Kane and Kahana districts, O’ahu
Specific Examples: Kane’ohe Bay, O’ahu
Atolls – a ring or horseshoe-shaped reef surrounding an isolated
body of water, the lagoon. Of the 330 know atolls, all but 9 of
them are in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Atolls can range in
size from over 2400 km2 (that’s roughly 1400 square miles for you
non-metric types) for Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands to
less than a couple km2 for a number of atolls in the Central
Pacific.
Example in Hawaii: Midway and Kure, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Northeast shores of the Hawaiian Islands tend to lack complex
coral development due to Northeast trade winds and severe wave
action.
** All definitions on this handout were taken from Guilko, D.
Coral Reef Ecology. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, HI
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
1998.
Hawaiian
PLANKTON, NEKTON, BENTHOS
Program Title: Plankton, Nekton, Benthos
Program Theme: Coral Reef Communities
Objectives
 Students will be able to identify marine organisms
as plankton, nekton or benthos.
Materials
 Plankton, Nekton, Benthos handout (to be included)
 Oceanic Organisms handout (to be included)
 Markers/crayons/scissors/glue sticks
 Bits (beads, glitter, sequins, etc.) for decorating
diagram
Procedure
1. Copy both handouts on separate papers and define the three
categories:
2. Nekton or Pelagic- Animals with strong swimming capabilities
that are able to swim against a current (e.g. adult fish,
squid and marine mammals).
 Plankton- Organisms that are suspended in the water column
and are not able to swim against the currents. Therefore
they rely on water movements for distribution and transport.
 Benthos- Organisms living on or attached to the seafloor.
3. Students may color the animals, then cut and paste in the
appropriate category.
4. Students may use small pieces of cardboard to give the
critters a 3-D effect.
Background Information
Ocean critters can be divided into three specific groups:
benthos, nekton and plankton. This division is based on swimming
ability and where you are likely to find the organism in the water
column. Benthos describes bottom dwellers and sessile or attached
organisms. Some examples of benthos critters include, corals as
polyps, sea cucumbers, octopus and sea stars.
Nekton defines the ‘swimmers:’ any creature capable of
independent movement against moving water is classified as nekton.
Some examples include squid, fish and sharks. Nekton critters
live in all areas of the ocean including inshore and offshore or
pelagic waters. They can swim well and make use of their talents.
Plankton on the other hand includes any organism that depends
on the movement of water for locomotion and is not capable of
moving against a current. Plankton is generally assumed to be
microscopic, but this is not always the case. Drifting organisms
as large as the Portuguese man-o-war will fall into this category.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
There are basically two types of plankton: phytoplankton and
zooplankton. Phytoplankton is sometimes overlooked but it’s very
important, it is what drives the food web in the ocean.
Phytoplankton makes its own food, like plants do. Zooplankton
can’t make their own food, they rely upon the phytoplankton for
their nourishment. Corals, in their planula stage fall into this
group zooplankton.
Definitions
Pelagic – describes offshore, open ocean areas and the organisms
that dwell there.
Water column – spatial distribution of the ocean, usually
stratified horizontally.
Planktos - Greek for drifting or wandering
Phytoplankton – plant-like, planktonic organisms with
photosynthetic pigments
Zooplankton – animal-like, planktonic organisms that consume
organisms
Planula- The planktonic stage of a cnidarian (coral) when it is
drifting about on ocean currents.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION
The coral reef is generally viewed as a non-vital part of the
ocean environment. Coral reefs are in fact a rarity, covering less
than 1% of the ocean floor. Though scarce, coral reefs provide an
extremely unique ecosystem serving many life functions in and
around the reef. Coral reefs are often dubbed the “rainforests” of
the sea, because of their extreme diversity and their important
ecological role. Like the true rainforest, coral reefs deserve
conservation measures to protect them from human impact. They
provide food and shelter for the
fish we eat and they protect our
\\\
islands from erosion and wave damage. In addition medical
technology is being derived from the coral reefs. For example the
Mycrosporin like amino acids (MAA) found in coral have a SPF 50!
Coral’s exoskeleton is being used for bone transplants because it
has the same density, calcium and vascularity as human bone.
Currently reefs face many threats from pollution, climate and even
tourism. Runoff is a large pollutant here in Hawaii as are the
tourists who damage the reef while snorkeling. Snorkelers
sometimes touch and trample the reef. It’s easy to see why public
education plays such an important role in protecting this valuable
resource.
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION
HOW TO HELP:




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Keep learning as much as you can and share your knowledge
with others.
Put your sunscreen on early. Not only will you be better
protected; the lotion will have more time to absorb into your
skin instead of washing off you and onto the reef.
Don’t touch or step on the reef. Though it looks and feels
like a rock, coral is a live animal and very delicate too!
Just by touching or standing on the reef you can kill
hundreds of tiny polyps.
Plant trees, flowers or shrubs in your own yard to prevent
erosion. With less mud exposed, there will be less sediment
washed into the sea
Try to buy organic foods and products when possible. Organic
farming doesn’t use pesticides therefore the runoff is less
harmful to the sea, plus it is better for you. Other organic
soaps and household products that eventually wash down the
drain are less harmful than non-organic products. Check out
seventh generation products at www.seventhgeneration.com or
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
look in your local drug store for Burt’s Bees products, such
as environmentally friendly soaps and insect repellent.
FIELD TRIP IDEAS
Go to the ocean… or bring the ocean to you!

Take a trek to your nearest tropical ocean for a first hand peek
at the coral reefs. Maui’s offshore environment is teaming with
coral reefs. Snorkeling is great almost anywhere off of Maui,
but some of the more popular sites include the Wailea coast,
Olowalu (mile marker 14), Kaanapali, and Honolua Bay.

Some families might have traveled to the Caribbean, S. Florida,
or Hawaii and have pictures to share for a make believe journey
through the coral reef. For this activity bring in dried (and
dead) bits of coral that have washed ashore, sand, pictures,
plastic animal models, etc. to inspire inquiry observation.
Recordings or waves, sea birds and other ocean sounds help to
transform the students to an ocean state-of-mind (check our
store website www.pacificwhale.org for available CDs). Guide
them through a fantasy swim above the reef; talk about turtles,
different fish, sponges, octopus, and many other animals.
Describe the ocean current, the stinging tentacles of a
cnidarian. Each child could be a different animal... Some may
chose plankton, fish, sessile animals, etc.

Visit an ancient ocean... Do some research of your local area
and you may just find it was underwater. Research ancient
animals that could have inhabited your present neighborhood. Be
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
sure to include climate changes and pictures of the fossil
record.

Most aquariums offer "Virtual Tours" that are full of pictures
and links. The Monterey Bay aquarium, the Waikiki Aquarium and
others have live cameras either in exhibits or in the open
ocean.
3. Maui Ocean Center - www.mauioceancenter.com
4. Monterey Bay Aquarium - www.mbayaq.org/
5. Waikiki Aquarium - www.waquarum.otted.hawaii.edu/
6. National Geographic’s Critter Cam www.nationalgeographic.com/features/98/crittercam/

If you live on Maui or next time you are visiting, call Pacific
Whale Foundation’s Ocean Science Discovery Center to find dates
and times of our next Full Moon Tidepool Exploration and other
interactive programs. (808) 244-8391 or 1(800) WHALE-1-1.
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center
HELPFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
Background Information and Current Issues Facing Coral Reefs
EPA - www.epa.gov/ow
Protect Marine Life ioc.unesco.org/IYO/classroom/protect_marine_life.htm
Save Our Seas - www.planet.hawaii.com/sos/
Reef Relief - www.reefrelief.org/
NOAA Coral Health and Monitoring Program - www.coral.noaa.gov/
Teaching Resources
National Science Teacher’s Association – www.nsta.org
Lawrence Hall of Science – www.lhs.berkely.edu
NOAA Resource Guide for Teachers of Marine Science www.swfsc.ucsd.edu/bibliography/ELEMBK2.htm
National Marine Educators Association - http://www.marine-ed.org
Aquariums to Visit
Maui Ocean Center, Ma’alaea, Maui
John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL.
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, CA.
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Pittsburgh, PA.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, WA.
Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, ‘Oahu
*If you live on Maui or are visiting, be sure to check out
Hawaii’s Aquatic Journey at Maui Ocean Center:
www.mauioceancenter.com
© Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center