A World Below the Surface

WE MADE IT!!

I am SO SO excited that we are finally visiting Cairns, Australia today! I was tired of that 100 degree heat and I'm about ready to take us on a journey to the Great Barrier Reef! I'm sure many of you know that the Great Barrier Reef is the home to some of our favorite Disney characters like Nemo, Dory and even Squirt! Maybe if we are lucky we will see them today!! 

The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast northeastern Australia. The reefs are so massive that it can be seen from SPACE!! The Great Barrier Reef is made up of over a thousands reefs and is considered the largest living reef on Earth. Today from Cairns we are going to take a 45 minute ferry out to the Outer Reef because it is supposed to have some of the most spectacular views. Since we are visiting the Great Barrier Reef during Cairns "Green Season" it is vital that we wear a stinger suit in the water at all times. During Cairns "Green Season" they experience cyclones, which are just smaller versions of hurricanes. Just lots of rain, high winds and even thunderstorms! This is also breeding season for many animals cute and deadly. The Box Jellyfish is one of Australia's most deadly animals, in just one sting to the skin can be fatal. That's why today we are going to be wearing one of these funny blue suits. These blue suits protect your skin from coming in contact with a jelly fish. 

Just think... WE are about to see one of the LARGEST structures in the WORLD... let that just sink in for a moment. So what is a coral reef? Coral reefs are found in tropical locations around the world, we even have a coral reef off the coast of Key West, Florida. Reefs are an example of an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a community of living and non living creatures. Question time..

After you have watched the video above I want you to make a list of  two living and two non living things that can be found in the Great Barrier Reef. Post yours in the comments!

Okay have that done?!? Awesome! So these living and nonliving things rely on each other in order for survival. For example, the Sun provides a source of food for the plants, the Sea Turtle relies on the plants for food. Here we have an example of one of the many food chains in the Great Barrier Reef. Each animal, plant and non living thing depends on each other and without one the other may be threatened. 

Can you list the correct order of the coral reef food chain?

Here are your creatures:

Eel, angel fish, Sun and sea grass

List those in correct order from lowest to highest in the food chain.

Well explorers I think its about time we start exploring the Great Barrier Reef UNDERWATER! I'm about to scuba dive and while I do I want you to scuba dive with me!! Create your coral reef below to show what you will see below the surface.

How to make a paper tissue Coral Reef!

Materials:

• 3 different colors of tissue paper (I used red, yellow and purple because those are the three most prominent colors found in the Outer Reef)
• 1 blue piece of construction paper
• glue
• print out the image below

Our goals is to recreate a coral reef to show how living and non living things depend on each other in an ecosystem. Be creative and accurate! Once you have completed your coral reef take a picture and upload it in the comments section. 

Here is an example that is COMING SOON

See you down there,

Ms. Crummet