Haitian Curriculum Fourth Grade Science Lesson Plan Coral Reefs in Haiti Content/Theme: Coral Reefs in Haiti/Ecosystems Grade: Fourth Primary Benchmark: SC.4.L.17.4 Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment. Time: 1 Class Period Objectives: 1. The student will identify Haiti and the unique characteristics of its coral reefs. 2. The student will identify factors that lead to the threatening of reefs in Haiti. Differentiated Instructional Activities: Teachers may choose to do one or more of the studentcentered activities. Activities cover elements of Bloom s taxonomy. Teacher Preparation/Materials: Reading Passage/Quiz, Vocabulary, Map of Haiti, Dictionaries, Drawing Paper, Markers, Yarn, Sponges, Construction Paper **If available, use the following United Streaming Videos: Coral Reefs Biomes: Essential and Endangered, Oceans Alive: The Coral Jungle, Oceans Alive: The Deep, Science of the Sea: Coral, Treasures of the Deep: Our Ocean Resources, World of Nature: Coral Reef, Rainforest of the Sea Pre-reading Activities: Review information about coral reefs with students. Remind students of what they know about a coral reef by filling out a KWL. Remind students of the definitions of ecosystem and habitat. Ask students to volunteer information about if they have ever seen a coral reef when snorkeling or swimming. Bring in a sample of coral to show students. Tell students, that one can find coral in the waters right off of the shores of Palm Beach County, in the Florida Keys, and in Haiti. Tell students that today, they will be examining the coral reef and its ecosystem around the island of Haiti. Ask students if they know the location of Haiti and show its location on a map. If possible, show its location and its proximity to Florida, its location in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and the fact that it shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Select one or more of the video clips from United Streaming and show it/them to the class. Discuss the video/videos with the class. Show students vocabulary chart and fill out with the class. Have class discuss words and pair and share ideas about words they may not know. During Reading Activities: Tell students that they are going to learn about coral reefs in Haiti. Distribute the Reading Passage to students. Tell students to underline the vocabulary words they reviewed from the chart.
After paragraph four, ask students to Quick Write about three things they learned about Haiti so far from the passage. Post-Reading Activities: Small group/large group Discussion: Either in small or large group, use the Q-cards to discuss and answer the following questions: o Where is Haiti located? The Caribbean Sea, a small portion of the Atlantic Ocean o What is the ecosystem that surrounds the island of Hispaniola? The coral reefs are ecosystems that surround Hispaniola. o Coral reefs are formed in what type of waters? Salt Water o What are the four types of reefs found in the waters surrounding Haiti? Barrier, Fringe, Patch, Cold Deep-Water Reefs o What have scientists found out about coral reefs? How do they study coral reefs? Scientists have found the age of coral reefs and the types of coral and sea life around reefs by using submersibles. o Explain the unique dive spots Haiti is home to? They have a wall of black coral to explore and the Zombie Hole. o What is one thing black coral is used for? Jewelry o What is Haiti s Zombie Hole home to? The world s largest sea sponge (elephant coral) is found in the Zombie Hole. o What are the reasons why reefs around Haiti are threatened? Soil erosion, pollution, over-fishing, and laws and resources (money) that goes into protecting the coral reefs is lacking. Haiti s reefs are not regulated. Quiz: Give quiz as group or individual. Students should refer to the reading passage. Answers: 1. b, 2. c, 3. d, 4. a, 5. b, 6. c, 7. b, 8. d, 9. d, 10. b, 11/12. Answers will vary 3-D Art: Give students drawing paper and colored markers or crayons. Tell students to think about what they have learned about coral reefs in general and what they have learned about coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean near Haiti, specifically the unique parts of Haitian Coral Reefs. Show students the materials of yarn, broken up sponges, and construction paper. Tell students to use these materials to draw and create a coral reef like the ones in Haiti. Have students to describe the reef in one or two sentences at the bottom. Display drawings and explanations around the room. ESOL Strategies: Alternative Assessment, Modeling, Cooperative Learning, Drawing, Realia Assessment: Student Participation, Quick write, Q-cards, Quiz, Artwork Resources: http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/research/coral-bleaching/scr1998/scr-08.html http://www.cep.unep.org/ http://www.reefbase.org/status/sta_coralreefs.asp?changearea=true&country
CORAL REEFS IN HAITI Haiti is located on the island of Hispaniola in the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The waters along the coast of Haiti are sprinkled with coral reefs. Coral reefs are ecosystems found in ocean salt waters. Many species of plants and animals like sponges, fish, and shellfish thrive in this coral reef habitat. Around Haiti there are a variety of reefs including: barrier, fringe, patch, and deep-water coral reefs. One thing that makes Haiti special is that it is home to deep-water reefs. Not all countries around the world have habitats for deep-water reefs. These reefs are difficult to explore, but Scientists explore them by using advanced technology such as manned and unmanned submersibles. These are submarines that dive deep into the water. Also, scientists try to find out the age of reefs. Reefs vary in age from very Submersible from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute young to thousands of years old. Scientists have found many types of coral in these cold-water reefs. They have found that deep-water corals are long living, slow growing, and fragile pieces of nature. Also found on Haitian reefs is black coral. This coral is only found at a few locations around the world. Because black coral is very valuable, many people harvest it to use for jewelry making. Haiti has a unique dive site that consists of an underwater wall covered with black coral. After diving this site, divers speak of the beauty and magnificence of the black coral. This piece of nature is important to preserve. Another dive site found in the surrounding waters of Haiti is known as the Zombie Hole. This unique site is said to be the home of the largest sea sponge in the world, called the Elephant Ear sponge. Sponges are important to the ecosystem of the coral reef and are the protective habitat of Elephant Ear Sponge from the American Museum of Natural History
sea life. They sometimes can be used as bath or cleaning sponges as well as painting tools. The reefs and special dive sites around Haiti are unique and beautiful, but unfortunately, they are being severely threatened. When a reef is threatened, it means that the marine life, coral, and waters surrounding it are in danger. There are many reasons why coral reefs around Haiti are threatened. One of the reasons why the reefs are in danger is soil erosion. Soil erosion is when the soil on the ground is depleted, or runs away, by wind, water, or rain. This erosion hurts the coral reefs and sea life because they need to soil to survive. Another reason for coral reef danger is over-fishing. Over-fishing happens when the waters are heavily used and the fish population is very low. Sometimes, illegal fishing practices occur. That is when people catch fish that are too small, or they catch too many fish at one time. The best thing that governments can do to stop over fishing and other illegal activities in the ocean is to have laws, regulations, and forces to protect the waters. Another reason for reef endangerment is polution. Pollution hurts the reefs when debris or other things are spilled into the water. Some examples of debris are: smoking products, plastic products, medical products, as well as numerous other products that kill sea life, like oil and chemicals. Pollution is widespread in Haitian waters. One of the effects of pollution is an extra-growth of algae, a green plant substance that smothers the coral. One last reason for coral endangerment is lack of laws and resourses. Countries can save their reefs if more money is used towards protecting them, and if they pass laws that help support the reefs. Ocean waters around Haiti are home to amazing plants and animals. Just like humans, these plants and animals need to be protected and nurtured to save the ecosystems that surround us.
NAME DATE QUICK WRITE
Vocabulary Chart Give yourself one point per column that applies WORD I can I can I I don t define use it have know it in a heard it at sentence of it all Total Points Ecosystem Erosion Debris Submersible Unique Harvest Habitat Fragile Preserve Endangerment
CORAL REEFS IN HAITI NAME DATE DIRECTIONS: Read each question and choose the best answer by using details in the reading passage. 1. Choose the correct description of the location of Haiti: a. off the state of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico b. on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea c. on the island of Cuba in the Atlantic Ocean d. off the Mexican coast in the Caribbean Sea 2. Which of the following is a habitat for coral and sponges? a. mangroves b. lakes and streams c. salt water coral reefs d. wetlands 3. How do scientists explore coral reefs? a. They use microscopes in the water. b. They dig in the bottom of the ocean. c. They use wet suits and swim near the coral reefs. d. They use submersibles that explore in the water. 4. Why is black coral important to preserve in Haitian waters? a. It is a rare, valuable coral. b. It helps protect other fish in the area. c. It is helping the coral reef become healthier. d. It is a big tourist spot for divers. 5. What is unique about the Zombie Hole dive spot in Haiti? a. It is a popular dive spot. b. It is home to the elephant ear sponge. c. It is filled with coral and fish. d. It is located in warm waters.
6. What are some of the other uses for sea sponges? a. They can be used for building. b. They can be used for sports. c. They can be used for washing or painting. d. They can be used as food for pets. 7. Why is soil erosion a threat to Haitian coral reefs? a. The soil hurts the coral reef fish and sea life. b. The soil that leaves the beach and coral reef is needed for nourishment. c. The soil covers and smothers the coral reefs. d. The soil takes up too much space for the coral reef to survive. 8. Which is the best way to stop over-fishing from happening in a coral reef? a. by placing more fish in the area of the coral reef b. by not allow humans to fish in that area c. by placing a police boat in the area d. by making laws and regulations for the waters 9. Which of the following is an example of debris that threatens coral reefs: a. smoke b. marine flags c. boat markers d. plastic products 10. What is one thing that governments can do to support their coral reefs? a. They can have meetings to discuss their reefs. b. They can pass laws and spend more money on their reefs. c. They can have frequent dive trips to unique reef spots. d. They can sell coral and sponges from the reef to raise money.
11. Describe two unique coral reef dive spots that surround Haiti. Use details and examples from the passage to support your answer. 12. Explain three reasons why coral reefs are endangered in Haiti. Use details from the reading passage to support your answer.