You can do this activity on your own or in a small group. The number of people you have working on the same reef-in-a-box depends on how much time you have to complete the activity. The more people you have, the faster it should be.

Activity steps

1. If your box still has flaps attached to it, cut these off.
2. Cut a piece of yellow or sandy-coloured backing paper to line the bottom of your box and stick it in place with glue.
3. Cut pieces of blue backing paper to line the top and sides of the box to represent the sky, and stick these in place with glue.
4. Now measure out a section of aluminium foil to go around the sides of your box. Cut a wave pattern along the top of the foil, and then stick it in place around the sides beneath the skyline.
5. Choose at least two types of plants or algae and two corals from the coral life checklist (see What you'll need section), and the relevant pictures from the coral life templates.
   
6. To help colour or decorate these, search for images in the Coral life gallery.
7. Stick these examples of reef life to the bottom of the sides of your box.
8. Select a range of other coral creatures for your reef. Try to have a selection of different types of invertebrates, fish, and other vertebrates.
9. Use the coral life templates or search for images in the Coral life gallery.
10. You can place the coral life on the coral, on the seafloor, or use thread to hang them from the top of the box (simply attach thread to for example a fish and make a hole through the top of the box and push the thread through. Use a matchstick or paper clip to keep it in place).

• Cardboard box at least 60cm wide x 40cm high x 40cm deep (but the bigger, the better!)
• 2 sections of coloured backing paper (blue for the sky and a yellow or sandy colour for the bottom)
• Section of aluminium foil
• Glue (child-safe)
• Sticking tape
• Scissors (child-safe)
• 10 paper clips
• Roll cotton thread
• Selection of the coloured pens, pencils or crayons
• Selection of coloured pipe cleaners to add a more 3D feel to some of the animals, eg the brain coral, sea anemone and crown-of-thorns starfish

What is coral?

A coral reef is not a plant or a rock, although it can resemble both. A coral reef is a living structure made up of tiny animals called polyps. The coral polyp is an animal from the same group, or phylum, as jellyfish and sea anemones, called Cnidaria. The majority of coral polyps are sessile, which means that they are fixed in one place.

Like other animals, such as crabs, lobsters and shellfish, they grow their own structures from calcium carbonate dissolved in the ocean.

Corals reproduce both sexually and asexually. There is one day a year when corals release their eggs and sperm into the water, so that the fertilised eggs will develop into larvae and settle on a part of the reef to grow into a new coral.

Why are reefs important?

Coral is not just important because it is amazing in itself, but also because it is a habitat-forming animal. The beautiful structures created by the coral polyp support over 25% of life in the ocean.

Without the reef, thousands of species would be in jeopardy. Coastal fisheries would be badly affected and livelihoods would be lost. Polyps may only measure a few millimetres across, but they play a crucial role in the global ecosystem.