Reef HQ Programs | Students | Reef Guardians | GBR Explorer | Visual Library | Reef Beat |



Home  »  Reef HQ Programs Overview  »  The Living Classroom  »  Adaptations for Survival

Adaptations for Survival

Middle School

In this Reef HQ Education Program students find out about the amazing adaptations of Great Barrier Reef creatures. Investigate the characteristics essential to their survival including feeding, reproduction, communication and camouflage adaptations.

Curriculum Links

Completing this Reef HQ Education Program will develop students' ability to:

  • Examine the internal and external structure of Great Barrier Reef inhabitants and account for observed similarities and differences, in terms of adaptation;
  • Identify and analyse similarities and differences in the ways Great Barrier Reef inhabitants reproduce;
  • Make generalisations about the types of interactions which take place between the living and non-living parts of the Great Barrier Reef;
  • Explain why some features are more useful than others when used as a basis for grouping creatures on the Great Barrier Reef; and
  • Describe how body structure and behaviour assist in reducing resistance in the marine environment.

The following unit includes suggestions for activities that can be completed before and after your Reef HQ visit.

Reef HQ Visit

This teacher resource is linked to a class visit to Reef HQ. The Reef HQ visit will enable students to:

  • Observe the external structure of many creatures of the Great Barrier Reef;
  • Observe the different forms of locomotion used by marine animals;
  • Investigate reproductive strategies used by Great Barrier Reef inhabitants; and
  • Gain an appreciation for various behavioural, reproductive and structural adaptations of various marine creatures. 

    Video & Image Library
    movie

       WOW Factors

Attached Documents

You may need Acrobat Reader for some of the following documents.
Get Acrobat Reader
Get Acrobat Reader
Adaptations fo Survival - Teaching Unit
File size: 471k
Animal Camouflage - Challenge Activity
File size: 470k
Coral Reef Tank - Challenge Activity
File size: 746k
Fish Bits - Challenge Activity
File size: 508k
Good Relations / Symbiosis - Challenge Activity
File size: 963k
Predator Tank - Challenge Activity
File size: 758k
Ultimate Survivor - Challenge Activity
File size: 1612k