THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Oceans and the Great Barrier Reef 
– news and resources round up
As the UN puts pressure Australia to better protect the Great Barrier Reef, we've fished out some resources to help you tackle the issues

Great Barrier Reef: ocean acidification, agricultural runoff and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish are just a few of the threats the world's most iconic reef is facing. 

Photograph: Grant V. Faint/Getty Images

http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jun/23/great-barrier-reef-oceans-news-teaching-resources

The world's most iconic coral reef is under dire threat and the World Heritage Committee has given the Queensland and federal government of Australia just one year to act on its recommendations to save the Great Barrier Reef from joining the Unesco danger list.

Threats include climate change, coastal developments, agricultural runoff, ocean acidification and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish – and are not helped by mining companies treating the Great Barrier Reef as a dumping ground for waste.

Here are the best news stories, multimedia, teaching resources and websites to help explore the coral reef peril as well as wider issues in the world's oceans.

From the Guardian

UN challenges Australia to protect the Great Barrier Reef
The World Heritage Committee says the reef will be listed as a threatened ecosystem unless government takes steps to protect it – and has given them one year to get on with the job.

Great Barrier Reef – photo gallery
Here are some images of the spectacular wildlife harboured by this vast stretch of coast. From a manta ray cruising over a shipwreck to an effervescent ribbon eel, it's a stunning reminder of what's at stake here.

Rainbow Warrior ship docks in Melbourne – video
In March Greenpeace's protest ship sailed into Melbourne's Port Philip Bay ahead of a six-week tour to highlight the planned coal expansion projects that threaten the survival of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Dramatic fall in Great Barrier Reef coral cover – video
Coral cover on Australia's Great Barrier Reef has declined by more than half over the last 27 years. Storms, coral bleaching and a rise in the number of crown-of-thorn starfish which suck out the coral's nutrients, have led to the alarming decline. Scientists warn that unless action is taken the coral will halve again within a decade.

Our oceans – animation
Powerful must-see short film voiced by oceanographer Sylvia Earle which uses hand drawn animation to highlight the urgent need to protect our oceans from pollution and overfishing.

A dive on Heron Island – video
Gorgeous film about Catlin Seaview Survey testing their new camera on the Great Barrier Reef.

Could the world's biggest marine sanctuary be declared in the Antarctic?
Fascinating article about protected oceans which would lock out fishing from more than 1.5 million square kilometres of ocean around the Antarctic.

On the Guardian Teacher Network

Dinner at the Reef game guide
This interactive game from the imaginative folk at ARKive explores food chains on a coral reef. You'll also need to download teachers' notes and here's an extension activity.

Dinner at the Reef event cards
In order to get the most out of the dinner at the reef game print out these useful cards – plus find detailed species cards.

Sea explorer writing frames
Beautiful set of writing frames to inspire children to imagine what it would be like to go on a great sea adventure.

Sea coordinates
If you were planning a scientific mission to the Great Barrier Reef or a deep sea mission, how would you coordinate your vessels? Interesting geography resource from the RNLI explains how to locate boats on a grid.

Clapping fish game for concentration
One hand represents the sea and the other to the fish – and every time the fish jumps out of the sea the children have to clap together at exactly the same time – this is a great way to re-focus your class and get ready for work.

Turtle life cycle
Fascinating PowerPoint focusing the life cycle the large green turtle, a creature that counts the Great Barrier Reef as one of its favourite hangouts.

Deep sea wildlife – reading comprehension
Reading comprehension resource on the creatures that live on the deep sea floor, including comprehension questions and an exploration of bioluminescence.

By the sea
A whole bank of resources for key stage 1 on the sea – including images, new geographical vocabulary and a look at the impact of environmental change.

Coastal erosion and deposition
Comprehensive guide for key stage 4 about how waves are formed and their destructive and constructive powers.

The best of the web

Why is the Great Barrier Reef so important?
Unesco's microsite on the beautiful reef on the north-east coast of Australia is fascinating to explore. The Great Barrier Reef contains 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and also is home for the dugong and the large green turtle, both of which are threatened with extinction.

UNESCO's list of world heritage in danger
Find out about the 38 sites on the World Heritage Committee's current danger list – stemming from an interactive map and going into detailed info and videos on each site, just perfect for the geography classroom. The list include los Katios national park in Colombia, the old city of Jerusalem and its walls, Timbuktu and... the Liverpool docks.

Great Barrier Reef
Facts, videos and info on Australia's greatest natural wonder and major tourist draw. Also sign the Save the Reef petition.

Take a virtual dive
Catlin survey scientists have used pioneering specially-designed cameras to take 360-degree panoramas of reef life – allowing people to explore, study and monitor reefs remotely from anywhere in the world.

National geographic video on the Great Barrier Reef
Awesome video to slap on the whiteboard for the perfect intro to the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest living structure that is even visible from space. Also see 10 things you can do to save the ocean.

Greenpeace's oceans campaign
With ocean habitats being destroyed by destruction fishing practices, industry using the sea as a dumping ground and global warming, the world's oceans are in crisis. Find out more and action that's needed here.

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