STEM Activity: Crafting Corals for Reef Awareness

Did you know that coral reefs are animals – not plants or rocks? These vibrant underwater structures are formed by tiny animals called polyps that build protective exoskeletons around themselves. Coral reefs are crucial to the environment. They support biodiversity and act as natural water filters, feeding on ocean particles and helping keep the surrounding water clear and beautiful.

As nature often inspires inventors to create new technology, coral structures have influenced designs for artificial reefs, water filtration systems and underwater construction materials. You can dream up new possibilities and create your own coral reef model for World Reef Awareness Day.

Materials Needed

• Craft items (e.g., tissue paper, pipe cleaners, beads, stickers, etc.)
• Construction paper
• Glue or tape
• Paint or markers
• Recyclable items (e.g., egg cartons, cardboard tubes, bottle caps, etc.)
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather all your materials and set up your workspace.
    
2. To spark your imagination, start exploring invention and biomimicry. Consider visiting your local library and looking for books, magazines or other resources that feature coral reefs. Ask an adult to search online for pictures of coral reefs to inspire your design.
    
3. Create your coral pieces using recyclable items. Here are a few ideas to try:
   • Cut egg cartons into different shapes to resemble coral. Some pieces can be left whole to create large, brain-like corals.
   • Use cardboard tubes to form tube corals by cutting slits at the top to make tentacle-like structures.
   • Stack bottle caps to resemble coral polyps or small reef creatures.
      
4. Attach your coral pieces using glue or tape to form a free-standing, 3D structure. Try stacking them to make a tall reef or spreading them out to mimic a shallow reef! If you use glue, allow your coral reef structure to dry completely. A hot glue gun will dry fastest but should only be used with adult supervision.
    
5. Add color and texture to your coral reef by painting your coral pieces bright colors to mimic reefs in real life. You can use markers to add details like polyp mouths, coral patterns or algae, and add tissue paper or pipe cleaners to simulate soft corals and seaweed.
    
6. Introduce marine life to your coral reef by drawing fish, sea turtles and other reef animals on construction paper. Considering including beads or stickers to represent tiny reef creatures like shrimp and starfish.
    
7. Display your coral reef model and discuss these questions with a friend or family member:
   • What types of coral did you make?
   • How do coral reefs help other marine life?
   • Why do you think recycling is important for ocean health?
   • How can invention and technology help protect coral reefs?

What Are We Discovering?

The ocean’s unique and delicate ecosystems are filled with extraordinary creatures and habitats that maintain balanced, symbiotic relationships, but climate change continues to be a threat to coral reefs. When ocean water gets too warm, corals can get stressed and turn white. This process is called “bleaching” and corals can take several years to recover fully. The good news is that coral reefs can inspire scientific innovation for ocean conservation.

You can help protect coral reefs by using reef-friendly sunscreen, avoiding touching or stepping on corals when swimming and spreading awareness about reef conservation. Maybe you will invent an underwater robot or a new device to restore and protect coral reefs!

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