Reefed resources

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Welcome to the ReefED!

A one stop shop for all things Great Barrier Reef Education.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and its national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef, Reef HQ Aquarium, offer an extensive range of educational resources and programs. These resources are curriculum-linked for all year levels, from early learning to grade 12.

Scroll down to access these educational resources.

News feed

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is calling for motivated and inspired school students to join us in this year’s Reef Guardian School Eco Challenge.

World Oceans Day – 8 June- FREE - Introduction to the Great Barrier Reef virtual learning experience.

Reef scene with fishes and corals

World Environment Day – 5 June- FREE - Ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef virtual learning experience

Reef scene

Let’s celebrate World Turtle Day, 2023. Join our marine educators to gain an understanding of the biology and adaptations of sea turtles.

Explore educational resources
Our education resources cover a range of topics to teach and learn about the Great Barrier Reef including climate change, sea country connection, sustainability, wetlands, threats to the Reef, biodiversity. Below you can find resources, including our Reef Beat poster series, science unit plans, student activity sheets, videos and much more!
Click on the tabs or apply filters to browse through the resources by year level and topic.
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  • Primary school
  • Middle school
  • Senior school
Showing 89 results
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A new kind of sea star: how we're helping rehabilitate Green Island in the Great Barrier ReefWatch

A video explaining reef stars. Using hexagonal-shaped, metal frames called MARRS Reef Stars and thousands of live coral fragments, Neil and the team, in partnership with Queensland National Parks, are working to regenerate the Reef.

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Our field management team: on the frontlineWatch

A video showcasing the work of our field management team in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The field management program is a joint initiative of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

  • Responsible Reef practises
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Traditional Use of Marine Resource AgreementsWatch

The Marine Park Authority and Traditional Owners are working together to integrate modern marine park management and traditional knowledge to protect this irreplaceable iconic World Heritage Area. This video explains these partnerships.

  • First Nations peoples
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Yirrganydji Traditional use of Marine Resources AgreementWatch

Video explaining the Yirrganydji Traditional use of Marine Resources Agreement and the projects they are undertaking.

  • First Nations peoples
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Lama Lama Traditional Use of Marine Resources AgreementWatch

A video about the Lama Lama Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) that covers Sea Country which extends from Princess Charlotte Bay to the Normanby River, a rugged and breathtakingly beautiful part of the Great Barrier Reef.

  • First Nations peoples
Showing 52 results
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2010 Reef Beat Education Series: Sea Country Connections View/Open

A series of resources that include a set of posters and an activity book that link to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage and Culture on the Great Barrier Reef.

  • First Nations peoples
  • Reef Beat Series
  • Reef Guardians
Activity Sheet
Reef Beat education series: Junior Outlook Activity Sheets View/Open

A series of resources including an activity book and 10 posters featuring Dr. Chloe, Dr. Dave and others giving a colourful, junior snapshot of the 'Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2019'. This Reef Beat package provides an introduction to some Reef animals and actions to protect them and the Reef. These include coral, crabs, crown-of-thorns seastars, fish (and green zones), dugong, seabirds, marine turtles, whales, sharks and protecting your patch.

  • Climate change
  • Ecosystems and habitats
  • Endangered species
  • Reef Beat Series
  • Water quality
Junior Outlook
Reef Beat education series: Junior Outlook View/Open

A series of resources including an activity book and 10 posters featuring Dr. Chloe, Dr. Dave and others giving a colourful, junior snapshot of the 'Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2019'. This Reef Beat package provides an introduction to some Reef animals and actions to protect them and the Reef. These include coral, crabs, crown-of-thorns seastars, fish (and green zones), dugong, seabirds, marine turtles, whales, sharks and protecting your patch.

  • Climate change
  • Ecosystems and habitats
  • Marine debris
  • Reef Beat Series
  • Water quality
Polyp
Reef Beat education series: Junior Outlook It all started with a polyp View/Open

A series of resources including an activity book and 10 posters featuring Dr. Chloe, Dr. Dave and others giving a colourful, junior snapshot of the 'Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2019'. This Reef Beat package provides an introduction to some Reef animals and actions to protect them and the Reef. These include coral, crabs, crown-of-thorns seastars, fish (and green zones), dugong, seabirds, marine turtles, whales, sharks and protecting your patch.

  • Climate change
  • Ecosystems and habitats
  • Endangered species
  • Marine debris
  • Reef Beat Series
  • Water quality
Creatures
Reef Beat education series: Junior Outlook - Cryptic crawly creatures View/Open

A series of resources including an activity book and 10 posters featuring Dr. Chloe, Dr. Dave and others giving a colourful, junior snapshot of the 'Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2019'. This Reef Beat package provides an introduction to some Reef animals and actions to protect them and the Reef. These include coral, crabs, crown-of-thorns seastars, fish (and green zones), dugong, seabirds, marine turtles, whales, sharks and protecting your patch.

  • Climate change
  • Ecosystems and habitats
  • Endangered species
  • Marine debris
  • Reef Beat Series
  • Water quality
Showing 64 results
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GBRMPA Teaching Units - Coral bleaching: Year 8 Australian Science curriculum focus View/Open

In this mini unit, students will observe different animal and plant cells under the microscope. They will investigate the structure and function of different animal cells and observe and describe the function of chloroplast in plant cells. Students will investigate zooxanthellae and their symbiotic relationship with coral and use this understanding to explain coral bleaching. Students will recognise the link between carbon footprint and coral bleaching and identify ways to manage carbon footprints from the individual to community level.

  • Climate change
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GBRMPA Teaching Units - Wetlands: Year 7 Australian Science curriculum focus View/Open

In this unit, students will investigate different wetland types. They will describe how wetlands are part of the water cycle. Students will identify different animals that live in wetlands and group and classify them. Students will recognise and understand the interactions between living things in food chains and food webs in a wetland, and how human activity can affect these interactions. Students will understand and investigate water health of a wetland and consider threats to wetland health and how to manage it.

  • Ecosystems and habitats
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2016 Reef Beat Education Series: Threats to the Reef View/Open

A series of resources that include videos and an activity book that link to threats to the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Climate change
  • Extreme weather
  • Marine debris
  • Reef Beat Series
  • Reef Guardians
  • Responsible Reef practises
  • Human uses on the Reef
  • Water quality
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2013 Reef Beat Education Series: The amazing Great Barrier Reef, let's keep it great View/Open

A series of resources that include a poster and an activity book that link to the amazing Great Barrier Reef and its importance as a national and global icon.

  • Reef Beat Series
  • Reef Guardians
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2012 Reef Beat Education Series: The inshore Great Barrier Reef, bursting with biodiversity View/Open

A series of resources that include a set of posters and an activity book that link to inshore biodiversity on the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Ecosystems and habitats
  • Endangered species
  • Reef Beat Series
  • Reef Guardians
  • Responsible Reef practises
  • Water quality
Showing 72 results
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How we use science to manage the Great Barrier Reef Watch

A video explaining how the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority manages the Great Barrier Reef.

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What is the International Coral Reef Initiative? Watch

A Video explaining the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). Australia is a founding member of the ICRI — a partnership of nations and organisations working together on coral reefs and related ecosystems around the world.

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Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2019 Watch

Video of our 2019 Outlook Report highlights the urgent need for our continued and accelerated action to improve the long-term outlook for the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Climate change
  • Extreme weather
  • Responsible Reef practises
  • Water quality
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What is the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report? Watch

Climate change is the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide. Check out this explainer video for a summary of the Reef’s long-term outlook and what’s being done to protect this great natural icon.

  • Climate change
  • Ecosystems and habitats
  • Endangered species
  • Extreme weather
  • First Nations peoples
  • Marine debris
  • Responsible Reef practises
  • Human uses on the Reef
  • Water quality
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Monitoring for management: Reef 2050 plan? Watch

The Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program is a coordinated and integrated monitoring, modelling and reporting program for the Great Barrier Reef and its adjacent catchment that will help track the progress towards targets and objectives of the Reef 2050 Plan, under the plan’s seven themes. This will be a key input to assessing the effectiveness of the plan.

  • Climate change
  • Endangered species
  • Extreme weather
  • Marine debris
  • Responsible Reef practises
  • Water quality
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