Dive to the Coral Reefs
From Reading Rainbow · 1989
28 min1st2nd3rd4thReading & Writing (ELA)Science
Summary
Elizabeth Tayntor's nonfiction book takes readers beneath the ocean surface to explore the incredible variety of life in a coral reef. LeVar Burton goes scuba diving to see coral, fish, and sea creatures up close.
Viewer safety
All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Elizabeth Tayntor dives into the colorful world of coral reefs.
- What is coral made of — plant, animal, or mineral? How do you know?
- Name three animals that live in a coral reef. How does each one depend on the reef?
- What threats to coral reefs does the episode mention?
- Why does protecting coral reefs matter even for people who live far from the ocean?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: coral reef, ecosystem, polyp, biodiversity, marine.
Try it: Draw a coral reef and label at least three different animals that live there. Write one sentence explaining why coral reefs are called the "rainforests of the sea."