Make Your Own Model of a Florida Coral

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Rationale/Objectives/Purpose:

To construct a model of a coral polyp in order to understand how it functions in a reef system.

Time Required:

• 1 class period (40 to 50 minutes)

Safety Issues:

Students work with glue and scissors

Materials:

• paper towel tubes or insides from cellophane/aluminum foil rolls (egg cartons could also e used and the design reduced a bit)
• box or stool to be used as a base for the coral polyps
• any colors or research the colors of corals first)
• brown paper bags (to glue between polyps)
• glue, scissors, tape and disposable plastic gloves

Procedures:

1. Give each student some construction paper and have them make tubes with it that will fit inside the paper towels tubes. Tubes should fit snuggly in order to move in and out of tube. (If using egg cartons, the students will have to cut holes in the top of each egg indentation and make paper tubes to fit through each hole.)
2. Cut the paper towel tubes into thirds (each student can make three or share)
3. Pull a plastic glove through each construction paper tube until only the fingers are showing at the top. Draw dark dots in the center of each finger to represent the mouth.
4. Choose one of the coral forms attached and glue the polyps to the box in the shape of the particular coral you choose. Crumble pieces of brown paper bag and glue in between the polyps to represent the calcium caronate build up. (You could also use paper mache and then paint the paper to represent the various colors of the corals.)

Assessment:

• Ask your students to explain why the corals move up and down inside their tube homes.
• Ask your students to explain why the corals have many different colors

Extensions:

Research the roles corals play in the marine environments of Florida's coasts.

Internet Links:

Check out our links page.

Background:

Students should have covered a basic introduction to cnidarians and their common characteristics.

Key Words:

zooxanthellae, polyps, medusa, calcium carbonate