Coral+Reefs

Define "ecotourism" in your Interactive Notebook. Task: ** For this lesson, you will work in pairs. Each team will create a presentation to convince the Australian government they are the best people to hire to give ecotours. You will visit the Ecotourism Explorer Web site, and determine how ecotours differ from standard tours. Working with your partner, it is your team's goal is to convince the Australian government that it would be the most qualified team to give ecotours of the Great Barrier Reef.
 * Tourists who flock to the Great Barrier Reef frequently are unaware of the ecological damage they cause. The Australian government wants to provide ecotours of the Great Barrier Reef, but it needs qualified tour guides. Tell students that they will be learning about responsible tourism, and will be "training" to be tour guides. **

First, you will need to gather basic information about coral reefs. Answer the following questions in your Interactive Notebook: You may start your research by reading: v [|Corals] v [|Reef Research Center] v [|The Great Barrier Reef] v National Geographic: Great Barrier Reef v Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority v [|CORAL SEA CONSERVATION ZONE] v [|Coral Reef Conservation Program] v [|Coral Reef Protection]
 * What is a coral reef?
 * What is the Great Barrier Reef?
 * Why is the coral of the Great Barrier Reef important?
 * What are some of the threats to the health of the reef?
 * What do the terms "preservation," "conservation," and "restoration" mean? How might these terms apply to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia?

[|Citation Maker]

As a team you will create a brochure to promote your ecotourism venture.

First, you will gather information about the Great Coral Reef, keep in mind points you might want to address in your brochures. You have the freedom to create any shape, color, or size of brochure that you wish.

Here are some suggestions on what you might want to include in your brochures: For design tips and a checklist of more items your brochure could feature, go to Create a Brochure.
 * A map of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. (Make sure your map includes latitude and longitude, and "TODALSS," a cartographer's way of remembering these map elements: Title, Orientation, Data, Author, Legend, Scale, and Source.
 * A description of a coral reef. What is a coral reef? Why are coral reefs important?
 * The reason why the Great Barrier Reef can be called a region. What are the unique characteristics of this region?
 * A list of
 * some of the species that inhabit the Great Barrier Reef, including various kinds of fish, coral, mollusks (such as clams and sea slugs), seaweed, birds, sea snakes, and sea turtles;
 * natural and human-induced threats to the Great Barrier Reef; and
 * things people can do to help save the reef.
 * Tips for responsible techniques and practices for marine ecotourism.

Make sure all the information included in the brochures focuses on "ecotourism". Presentation: ** Teams should prepare to pitch their ideas for ecotourism at the Great Barrier Reef to the Australian government (your classmates). Have fun—choose an Australian name for your "company," dress like a tour guide, use props, and affect an Australian accent. Classmates will pretend to be Australian government officials. Each team should limit its presentation to 4 to 6 minutes. Both team members should equally participate in the presentation. Teams should use what they have learned about the environmental importance of coral reefs and the benefits of ecotourism to convince the Australian government to hire them to give ecotours of the Great Barrier Reef. Explain the ways in which humans are modifying this region and what people can do to help save the reef. Extension: ** [|EPA: Coral Reefs and Your Coastal Watershed] [|Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority] [|National Geographic: Virtual WorldGreat Barrier Reef] [|The Ocean Conservancy]
 * You don't have to live near the coast to have an effect on a coral reef. Explore the steps the Environmental Protection Agency is taking to protect coral reefs and how you can contribute to this effort.
 * Related Links: **