Diving for 500-Year-Old Corals in Tobago
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by American Museum of Natural History
What it is
- This video from the American Museum of Natural History is about scientific research that uses very old corals to help scientists answer important questions about changes in temperature, ocean currents, and other conditions.
- The scientists study corals around Goat Island and Little Tobago.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Students will hear from two female scientists and see the cores removed from the corals.
- This video gives an interesting look into how a researcher sets up a project.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with coral reefs.
- It may also benefit students to understand why scientists may be interested in knowing past temperatures.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Coral reefs are important habitats and nurseries for marine life and are vital for many people that rely on them for ecotourism businesses or subsistence fishing. This can be discussed in social studies or economics classes.
- Science classes can use this video to supplement other content on climate change, data collection, proxy temperature data, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
- Other related resources include this video about corals, this lesson about ocean acidification, and this interactive resource about coral bleaching.
From the scientist review
The resource explores the impact of climate change on coral reefs. It provides insights on experimentation and dating of corals to ascertain climate change impact over time. This is suitable to build students' forecasting skills.
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