Reefs Unleashed

Designed to accommodate classes, grades, or groups with 15-1,000 students. Students will not be visible to the museum educator or other students, but they will be able to submit questions in writing through the Q&A, and interact through polls.

Designed to accommodate classes of 15 - 35 students. Students will be visible to the museum educator and their classmates, and will have the ability to raise their hand to ask questions. In order to participate in this format, those registering will need to provide copies of parental permissions to participate in onscreen programs. If you would like to register for more than 35 students you will need to book a second slot.

Designed to accommodate individual students or small groups with less than 15 students. Students will not be visible to the museum educator or other students, but they will be able submit questions in writing through the Q&A, and interact through polls. Homeschool Days available the first Monday of the month: October 5, November 2, and December 7.

Join Ocean Educator, Meaghan Cuddy, as she showcases highlights of the Sant Ocean Hall in these 2-5 minute videos.

• Sant Ocean Hall-Introduction
• Sant Ocean Hall- Carcharocles megalodon 
• Sant Ocean Hall- North Atlantic Right Whale
• Sant Ocean Hall-Indo-Pacific Coral Reef

Dive into the Sant Ocean Hall and virtually explore our exhibits! Teacher and student materials coming later this fall!

Learn all about coral and coral reefs on the Smithsonian's Ocean Portal.

Mixed Levels:

• Corals and Coral Reefs: Coral reefs are an incredibly important part of the ocean ecosystem, but what exactly are they? What is a coral? 
• Ocean Acidification: Ocean acidification is one of the greatest threats faced by coral reefs today. What is ocean acidification? How is it harming the reefs and the creatures who live there? 

Middle School:

• Reef Protection in Cabo Pulmo, Mexico: Can legal protection help save coral reefs? Learn about some of the laws enacted by the citizens of Cabo Pulmo, Mexico, and if they have been successful in protecting their environment.
• Reef Rescue: Protect Coral Reefs with Your Actions: Is there anything you can do at home to protect the coral reefs? Learn about responsible, reef-protecting behaviors whether you’re at the beach or far from it!

High School: 

• Massive Citizen Science Effort Seeks to Survey the Entire Great Barrier Reef: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is 1,400 miles long! How can scientists possibly study all the organisms that live there? By harnessing the power of citizen scientists - ordinary people who help scientists collect data for their research. 
• Naturally Resilient: Why are some coral reefs particularly resilient - able to bounce back after major disasters - and others are not? Compare life at the Bikini Atoll, where nuclear tests blasted craters into the reef, with other reefs around the world. What does a reef need to be resilient?

Advanced:

• On the Trail of DNA in the Ocean: The Reefs Unleashed program briefly mentions the use of eDNA to measure the biodiversity in the ocean. What is this cutting edge science, and how are researchers using it to learn more about the health of an ecosystem? 
• Worth the Investment: Ocean Real Estate Reveals Hidden Diversity: Dive back into the Autonomous Reef Monitoring System and learn more about how researchers are using ARMS to measure ocean life.

Use this hands on activity to help your learners connect with the natural world while practicing scientific thinking and science skills

Learn how scientists study the health of the ocean and live on a coral reef