Coral Reef Ecosystem Resources

Learners of all ages from elementary to adult can explore the wonders of coral reef ecosystems in this collection of resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuaries. The collection features NOAA webinars, lesson plans, videos, infographics and posters, virtual reality experiences, and more showcasing various aspects of coral reef ecosystems.

Elementary audiences can check out the Coral Reef Ecosystems Elementary Resource collection, featuring age-appropriate resources about coral reefs covering topics such as coral spawning, coral reef habitats, threats to coral reefs, and what can be done about it. Paint a Reef Mural (grades K–8) teaches students about the different types of animals inhabiting a coral reef environment, then challenges students to work cooperatively to construct a mural depicting a coral reef scene. Students in grades 4–12 can explore lessons and activities from the Exploring Ocean Mysteries curriculum. These lessons provide opportunities for students to work with authentic data as they learn about coral reef ecosystems. 

Other notable resources appropriate for all audiences are the collection of infographics and posters detailing challenges facing coral reef ecosystems and the Species on the Reef video collection, which introduce viewers to the diversity of marine plants and animals living withing National Marine Sanctuary coral reefs.

Thomas Edison and Learning Through Failure

Though Thomas Edison introduced major technological advancements, he also experienced commercial failures. An activity from the Library of Congress blog Teaching With the Library engages students in analyzing potential reasons for some of Edison’s “failures.” Students examine primary sources relating to failed inventions, such as a vote recorder, a talking doll, and an idea for a machine that could “record messages from the dead.” Teachers challenge students to identify the problem Edison was trying to solve and how the proposed solution worked, and to reflect on—using evidence from the primary sources—why the proposed inventions were not commercially successful at the time. To expand the activity, have students consider what could have been done to make these ideas work, or have students research whether some of these ideas were implemented later. 

Protein Viewer Mobile App

This Android app was created for non-commercial, educational purposes and is intended to lower the barrier to working with 3D protein structures in classroom and outreach settings. It primarily uses publicly available data from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RCSB) Protein Data Bank (PDB), and in its latest update, also integrates UniProt, a freely accessible database of protein sequence and functional information. This makes it possible not only to view, rotate, and explore protein structures directly on a smartphone or tablet, but also to see biological context and annotations in one place—which may be useful to high school science teachers, AP/IB instructors, undergraduate lab courses, and outreach programs. The app enables the following.

•    Students can browse RCSB PDB entries and visualize them in 3D on their own phones.
•    Teachers can quickly pull up a protein in class—hemoglobin, spike protein, green fluorescent protein (GFP), lysozyme, etc.—and show structure, chains, and coloring without a desktop installation.
•    University and graduate students can rotate models on the go and discuss them with peers.
•    Researchers can casually check a structure and its UniProt-linked information while away from the lab.

Because Protein Viewer runs on a standard Android device, it is suitable for informal science education, biology clubs, gifted education, and teacher workshops.

Bonnie Plants Third-Grade Cabbage Program  
 
Bonnie Plants will award a $1,000 scholarship to one third grader in each state (except Alaska and Hawaii) for growing a cabbage in the third-grade cabbage program. Free plants will be delivered in fall 2025 to teachers in the southern United States and in early spring 2026 to teachers in the rest of the country. Submit orders by December 1. Students will then have until September 2026 to grow their cabbage and submit their entries. 

At the end of the season, teachers from each third-grade participating class select the student who has grown the “best” cabbage, based on size and appearance. The program then awards a $1,000 scholarship to one student in each participating state.

2025 CHS Foundation/CoBank Classroom Grant

Funding is available to provide 40 classrooms with funding for agricultural literacy projects. These $500 grants are available to preK–12 teachers who have classroom projects that use agricultural concepts to teach science, reading, writing, math, social studies, and more. Eligible projects include classroom and schoolyard gardens, embryology projects, aquaculture projects, and agricultural literacy reading programs, to name a few. Projects must be completed by June 1 the following year to allow for submission of a final report by June 30. Only state-certified classroom teachers employed by a school district or private school teachers may apply. (Deadline November 15)

ALDI Community Gift Card Program

The ALDI Community Gift Card (ACGC) program offers gifts valued between $100 and $1,000 to qualified nonprofits and schools committed to supporting after-school and out-of-school youth programs. This initiative also extends to food banks and pantries. Whether your mission focuses on supporting children through education, arts, athletics, or addressing food insecurity, you’re invited to apply. (Deadline November 30)