Lesson 20: Theme study – The Great Barrier Reef · Read aloud book . Notebook, coloured paper and...
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Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources © 2020 Lesson 20: Theme study – The Great Barrier Reef A unit study on the Great Barrier Reef can cover the 8 Key Learning Areas. What you will need: Library books Read aloud book Notebook, coloured paper and art and craft materials English Literature A read aloud is a great resource not just for its literary value, but also as a resource for copywork passages and narration. Check our article on how to use copywork to teach grammar, spelling and punctuation. Choose a passage from each chapter of the book to give you a neat summary and developing outline as you go. If you’re new to narration, we have an article on that, too. The Coral Island is a classic that our family enjoyed. There is also Swiss Family Robinson or Robinson Crusoe – not strictly covering reefs but include tropical island environments as a backdrop.
Transcript of Lesson 20: Theme study – The Great Barrier Reef · Read aloud book . Notebook, coloured paper and...
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources © 2020
Lesson 20: Theme study – The Great Barrier Reef
A unit study on the Great Barrier Reef can cover the 8 Key Learning Areas.
What you will need:
Library books
Read aloud book
Notebook, coloured paper and art and craft materials
English
Literature
A read aloud is a great resource not just for its literary value, but also as a resource for copywork passages and narration. Check our article on how to use copywork to teach grammar, spelling and punctuation. Choose a passage from each chapter of the book to give you a neat summary and developing outline as you go.
If you’re new to narration, we have an article on that, too.
The Coral Island is a classic that our family enjoyed. There is also Swiss Family Robinson or Robinson Crusoe – not strictly covering reefs but include tropical island environments as a backdrop.
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources © 2020
Vocabulary
Here are a few words to get you started, which can also be used as spelling words:
channel: a wide strait; a navigable passage between shoal parts
cay: a coastal reef or sandy islet, made up of fragments of coral
polyp: a many-tentacled, sessile aquatic coelenterate having a radially symmetrical body typically cylindrical or cup-shaped as a sea anemone or coral; a single unit of a colonial organism
ecosystem: a community of organisms and their non-living environment
environment: the external and internal conditions affecting the existence, growth and welfare of organisms
reef: a ridge of sand or rocks or especially of coral usually near the surface of the water
predator: an animal which preys on or seeks out other animals to eat
symbiotic: dissimilar organisms in a partnership forming an association which is mutually advantageous
Maths
Continue with your regular maths program.
If you come across instances where you need to use maths during this unit, note them down.
Science
There is plenty of scope for science in this unit. Obviously, the most important thing is to find out what a reef is and how it is made. Study coral; draw and label a diagram of its parts; research the different types of coral.
Here are some other ideas:
Reef animals and plants; food chains; life cycles; symbiotic relationships
How many different animal, plant and fish species are in the reef?
Endangered species, including the reef itself and how it needs to be protected; what endangers it?
Make some mini books (combine this with art) about some of these: whales dolphins
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources © 2020
sharks dugongs manatees turtles sea slugs anemones Dangerous creatures Blue ringed octopus Irukanji jellyfish cone shell Fish Angel fish Butterfly fish Clownfish Damselfish Surgeon fish Parrot fish groupers and basslets Plants sea grass/seaweed Turtle Weed Sea Grape
The Arts
The reef is a colourful place so make your notebook/project colourful! Print things out on coloured paper.
Use different media to create models of fish (collage or papier mache); make a fish mobile; a diorama of a reef scene.
Technology
Learn what equipment researchers and scientists use to learn about the reef; how they collect data; what they want to find out and how they go about it.
If you live near the sea, collect some specimens that you can look at under a microscope.
Learn about scuba diving equipment.
Humanities and Social Sciences
Draw a map of Australia and mark the Great Barrier Reef on it.
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources © 2020
Study tourism
Environmental issues
Languages
Translate some key words related to the reef and its creatures into the language you are learning and add them to your vocabulary.
Health and Physical Education
Try some activities such as scuba diving and snorkelling.
Your notebook
An easy way to organise your information is to divide your notebook or folder into eight sections, labelled for each KLA. Make a cover for it and have it bound. Use some plastic sleeves to hold any pictures or mini books and odds and ends. Use the images below to decorate your notebook.
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources
Education Reformation FREE Homeschool Resources © 2020
