Work in a group to design, build & code your own coral reef model using the Climate Action Kit! Think about what features your model should have to best represent coral bleaching and recovery. How could your model help an Ecologist study and protect coral reefs?

Digital graphic illustration of a scientist working with a number of vials and a miroscope. There are diagrams of a frog and DNA. On the side there is a large lab fridge with a glass door showing various generic jars, plants, vials and beakers.
What does an Ecologist do? Check out their Career Profile!

As you go through the steps below, you may wish to use our Design Journal Template to keep track of your work.

Journal Template
An icon of a magnifying glass, a paper with notes, and a brain.

Step 1

Research real-world coral reefs and learn how scientists study them. Look into what causes coral bleaching and how coral can recover.

Icons of a light bulb, a thought bubble, and a pencil.

Step 2

Plan what features your coral reef model will have. Decide which building blocks, sensors, and components from the Climate Action Kit you will use to bring your model to life.

icons of 3 building blocks (cube, corner connector, and short frame)

Step 3

Build your prototype, then connect it to Microsoft MakeCode to add code. Think about how you want the coral to react to changes in water temperature.

Icons of code blocks.

Step 4

Test and debug your model until it works the way you want.

SUCCESS CRITERIA

I can build a coral reef model with the Climate Action Kit that uses the LED ring to visually represent the coral’s health at different temperatures.

Don’t feel limited by this. You can get creative and add more features if you would like!

Let’s Build!