SETON HILL UNIVERSITY

TOPIC
Name
Subject
Grade Level
Date/Duration
Big Ideas

Essential
Questions

PA/Common
Core/Standards

Objective
Bloom's
Taxonomy
Webb's Depth of
Knowledge
(DOK)
Formative &
Summative
Assessment
Evidence

Lesson Plan Template

Types of Coral Reefs and Types of Reefs
Mrs. Chonko
Science
4th Grade
One Week
There are different types of corals found in our ocean.
There are different types of reefs that are found in our
ocean.
Coral reefs are located in different oceans on Earth.
There are different environments that coral reefs grow
in.
What is the difference between fringing reefs, barrier
reefs, and coral reefs?
What are some of different types of corals?
Where are coral reefs located?
What environment do coral reefs grow in?
S4.A.1.3.4 Explain what happens to a living organism
when its food supply, access to water, shelter, or space
is changed.
S4.B.2.1.1 Identify characteristics for plant and animal
survival in different environments.
S4.A.3.3.1 Identify and describe observable patterns.
S4.A.3.3.2 Predict future conditions/events based on
observable patterns.
S4.B.1.1.3 Describe basic needs of plants and animals
Students will be able to list the different reefs with
100% accuracy on the test.
Students will list different characteristics of the
different reefs by listing 1-2 characteristics of each
different reef.
Students will be able to list the different oceans that
coral reefs grow in with 100% accuracy.
Students will be able to write the type of environment
that coral reefs grow in with 100% in paragraph form.
Students will show their level of understanding
regarding the different reefs by writing on an exit slip
the main three different types.
Students will show understanding of their knowledge of
coral reefs by the end-of-unit quiz.

ISTE Standards
for Students

Framework for
21st Century
Learning

Accommodation
s, Modifications

Engage students in exploring real-world issues and

solving authentic problems using digital tools and
resources.
Collaborate with students, peers, parents and
community members using digital tools and resources
to support student success and innovation.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
environment and the circumstances and conditions
affecting it, particularly as relates to air, climate, land,
food, energy, water and ecosystems.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of societys

impact on the natural world.

Investigate and analyze environmental issues, and

make accurate conclusions about effective solutions.

There will be a handicapped accessible desk for the

student as the student cannot sit at the average small
desks.
The teacher will provide the handicapped accessible
desk at the entrance of the classroom as it is too
difficult for the student to walk in and around the rows
of desks.
The student will use her assistive technology and the
teacher will wear a microphone that is synced to the
students technology due to the students speech
impairment.
The student will be provided copies of all pictures that
are shown on the projector.
The student will have access to typed lecture notes
and/or recorded lecture notes from the lesson plan
applied to her assistive technology.
The student is permitted to leave class a few minutes
early to arrive to her next class on time as mobility is
difficult for the student.

SUPERVISING
TEACHERS
SIGNATURE

Seton Hill University Lesson Plan Template Step-by-Step

Procedures

RATIONALE for
the Learning
Plan

Students will also have general knowledge of where coral reefs

are located. The students will have previous knowledge of
where the oceans can be found on the map and have some
knowledge of where each ocean can be located on the world
map or globe. The students will learn the concept of types of
coral reefs and for which oceans coral reefs can be found in
with explaining why coral reefs are located in those oceans.
This lesson will incorporate the PA Standards by teaching
students the basic needs of plants and animals and identifying
characteristics for plant and animal survival in different
environments

Introduction

Activating Prior Knowledge

Ask students what their knowledge is of the coral reefs.
Ask students if they know where coral reefs are grown
and in what environments they grow.
Hook/Lead-In/Anticipatory Set
The teacher is going to engage the students in the
lesson by reading the book Coral Reefs by Jason Chin.
Big Idea Statement
There are different types of corals found in our ocean.
There are different types of reefs that are found in our
ocean.
Coral reefs are located in different oceans on Earth.
There are different environments that coral reefs grow
in.
Essential Questions Statement
What is the difference between fringing reefs, barrier
reefs, and coral reefs?
What are some of different types of corals?
Objective Statement
The students will list the different reefs that exist.
Students will list different characteristics of the different
reefs.
Students will list different creatures that live in and off of
the coral reefs.
Students will discuss why coral reefs are dying or being
damaged.
Transition
After reading the book What Do You Find in a Coral
Reef? by Megan Kopp, the students will transition by
moving like a fish back to their seats to begin the lesson
on coral reefs.
Key Vocabulary
Coral Reef
Fringing Reefs
Barrier Reefs
Coral Atolls
Mushroom Corals

Explicit
Instructions

Lesson
Procedure

Reading
Materials
Technology
Equipment
Supplies

Massive Corals
Encrusting Corals
Foliase Corals
Elkhorn Corals
Table Corals
Pillar Corals
The Great Barrier Reef
Pre-Assessment of Students
During a group discussion the students will show their
knowledge of coral reefs and if the students can list
types of coral reefs as a whole group exercise.
Modeling of the Concept
The teacher will first write their knowledge on an index
card to begin the discussion on coral reefs. The students
will discuss their answers as a whole group exercise.
Each different answer will be put on the white board and
then elaborated upon as a whole group.
Guiding the Practice
The teacher will circulate around the room as the
students work on the objectives in the lesson plan.
The students will turn in an index card as to what they
have a question on without putting names on the index
card. This will lead to a class discussion and resolve any
questions or concerns the students may have about the
lesson.
Providing the Independent Practice
Students will provide the teacher with a crossword
puzzle that the students made to show their
comprehension of types of coral reefs, what coral reefs
are, and where they are located.
Transition
During periods of transition, the students will reply to
the teacher when their name is called a piece of
information that the students have learned about coral
reefs and types of coral reefs. The students will also
have access to the Jeopardy Board Game of Coral Reefs
provided by the teacher.
Coral Reefs by Jason Chin
Exploring the Coral Reef: Learn About the Oceans for
Kids YouTube Video
Coral Reef Ecosystems: Introduction WebQuest
Lets Dive In: The Coral Reef WebQuest
Projector
Pictures of types of coral reefs to go along with
vocabulary words.
Notebook paper
Pencils
Vocabulary words with definitions will be provided.

 Jeopardy Board Game of Coral Reefs

Evaluation of
Formal Evaluation
the
An end-of-the-unit quiz will be given to the students.
Learning/Master
An exit slip will be given for students to list the main
y of the
three different types of reefs that can be found.
Concept
Informal Evaluation
Students will have a discussion with the teacher one-onone to explain their knowledge of coral reefs and the
types of coral reefs.
Closure
Summary & Review of the Learning
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the three
main types of coral reefs by completing an exit ticket.
Students will have a one-on-one discussion with the
teacher to show their knowledge of coral reefs and the
types of coral reefs.
Student were asked to freely discuss the roadblocks of
this lesson and the students will provide a list to the
teacher via an index card. The teacher will adjust the
unit accordingly.
Homework/Assignments
Students will give students a study guide for the end-ofthe-lesson quiz.
Students will have a short essay showing their
knowledge of the types of environments that corals grow
in.
Teacher
I know the level of comprehension each student has by
Self-reflection
providing the students with an exit ticket explaining the
different types of coral reefs.
Students would have benefited from extending the
lesson plan duration.
Students would have benefited from have more images
of coral reefs to serve as a visual during the lesson.
The young student with a physical disability would have
benefited from having a different option as to the
transition activities the students did during those
periods.
John said that I loved getting to learn about coral reefs,
but I would have liked to do a coral reef science growth
experiment that my mom and older brother showed
me.