Lesson Overview

In this lesson students will start of by looking at the life cycle on coral reefs and the importance of mangrove forests and sea grass to the biodiversity of coral reefs. Following that students learn what MPAs are and decide where they would locate the four different MPAs in Com. The context of the lesson is the proposal for a new community marine protected area in Com.

Learning outcomes

• Describe the need for a variety of habitats in the lifecycle of a species
• Give some examples of how to protect reefs
• Explain why the location of an MPA has been chosen and justify with ecological reasons

Lesson steps

1. The Story so far (10 mins)
   Students set themselves targets based on the lesson criteria. Students discuss why a local fisherman might be pleased to have an MPA placed in the Com region. After this students will look at the life cycle on the reef.
2. Solutions (30 mins)
   Using the information about the threats and solutions to coral reef, students to categorise the threats to the coral reef and some strategies used to protect the coral reefs. Students will then consider the solutions and differences between top-down and bottom-up conservation methods. Students choose where they would put the MPA and justify their choices.
3. Google Earth Pro (15 mins)
   Students draw their own proposed MPA on the map using Google Earth Pro in the location they choose and write a justification for this choice of location. They must not exceed an area of 25 hectares due to funding restrictions.
4. Self-reflection (5 mins)
   Students decide if they have met their targets set at the beginning of the lesson and reflect on the lesson’s importance to the context of the Scheme of Work by answering the questions.

England

GCSE Science

AQA Trilogy

• 4.7.3.6 – Students should be able to describe both positive and negative human interactions in an ecosystem and explain their impact on biodiversity
• WS1.4 – Evaluate given information about methods that can be used to tackle problems caused by human impacts on the environment

AQA Combined Science: Synergy

• 4.4.2.7 – Describe positive human interactions within ecosystems and explain their impact on biodiversity
• WS1.4 – Evaluate given information about methods that can be used to tackle problems caused by human impacts on the environment

OCR Twenty-first Century Science

• IaS4 – How do science and technology impact society?

OCR Gateway Science

• B6.1 – Describe both positive and negative human interactions within ecosystems and explain their impact on biodiversity.
• B6.1c – Explain some of the benefits and challenges of maintaining local and global biodiversity.

Edexcel

• B9.10 – Explain the benefits of maintaining local and global biodiversity, including the conservation of animal species and the impact of reforestation.