The great barrier reef is an amazing model for an ecosystem triorama, showing a colorful slice of the underwater ecosystem. Also, look at my pages Trioramas: How To Create Engaging Visual Narratives For Kids for more ideas and Free 4-Week Kid’s Australia Unit Study Who Love Hands-on Learning.
The great barrier reef is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
So, for this triorama we took a trip to the craft store.
What I enjoyed about this method of creating the triorama is that even younger children who can’t write or draw well can still easily make a beautiful reef display.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, is swarming with an astounding variety of fish species.
It shows an incredible biodiversity of this underwater ecosystem, each playing their part in keeping it healthy.
Even if you’ve never experienced it up close you can see videos, pictures or books full of the wonders that can be found there.
BOOKS ABOUT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOR KIDS
First, look at these books about the great barrier reef to add this hands-on activity today.
5 Great Barrier Reef Books
Add some of these fun books about the Great Barrier Reef to your home library.
Vibrant, dynamic illustrations illuminate this enchanting place, its animal inhabitants, and the peoples who have embraced it as a centerpiece of their cultures. Learn all about how the reef came to be, its place in the world, and perhaps most importantly, what we can all do to help ensure that The Great Barrier Reef will be around for countless future generations to discover!
Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, but they support 25% of all marine species with food and shelter. In this lavishly illustrated book for ages 7 to 10, marine ecologist and underwater explorer Erin Spencer provides fascinating, scientific information in a highly accessible format, including details about the
types of coral, their anatomy and life cycle, where they live, how reefs develop, and the incredible diversity of marine animals that live among them, including aquarium favorites like clownfish, royal blue tangs, and sea turtles. Kids learn about the interdependent relationships of people and reefs and how human behavior puts reefs in danger, promising conservation work that scientists are undertaking, and solution-oriented ways kids and families can help in the effort.
The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system. Stretching more than 1,400 miles, it provides a home to a wide diversity of creatures. Designated a World Heritage Site, the reef is suffering from the effects of climate change but this fascinating book shows this spectacular part of our planet.
It's a trip Down Under for Christina, 10, Grant, 7, and their mystery-writing grandmother Mimi! Lots of surprises and mysterious activities unfold as the group travels through the Outback, Queensland, and finally to the Great Barrier Reef. During a glass-bottom boat ride, they discover more than coral and fish under the water-scuba divers and flesh-tearing moray eel lurk beneath their boat! They shudder at the eerie screech of the Tasmanian devil and brave the awesome Australian Outback (and Aborigines!) at night. Watch and wonder as Grant ends up in the Camel Cup camel race- will he make it to the finish line? Don't miss a moment of excitement in Christina and Grant's Australian adventure! Download free activities for this book!
Hardy adventurers ages 6 - 9 dive into a silent watery world where tiny coral animals grow together to form rock gardens of white, pink, and red-orange. In this action-packed undersea circus, jaws snap, tentacles sting, ink gets squirted, and fish suddenly glow while animals that look like plants sway gently and bashful clams hide the lively secrets inside their shells. Surprisingly dry and armed with a few pieces of equipment and their boundless imaginations, children explore this magical realm one small square at a time. "Science education at its best." ― Science Books and Films
Let’s look at some of these fish and the parts they play among the coral.
FISH OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF ECOSYSTEM
- Clownfish are instantly recognizable by their bright orange and white stripes. They are small, agile fish that have a symbiotic relationship with anemones, finding protection within their stinging tentacles and, in turn, they help to keep the anemone clean and healthy.
- Damselfish are known for their vibrant colors and territorial behavior. They play a key role in the reef’s food web, grazing on algae and providing a food source for larger fish.
- Parrotfish have beak-like mouths and vivid hues, they also play a crucial role in maintaining the reef’s health by grazing on algae and contributing to sand production.
- Surgeonfish are equipped with sharp spines on their tails, (which resembles a surgeon’s scalpel, hence the name). And they are known for their agility and territorial behavior.
- Cod and tuna, also prized for their culinary value, can be found in the reef’s waters, attracting both sport fishermen and commercial fishing operations.
- Butterflyfish, with their delicate patterns and graceful movements, are a delight to observe as they flit among the coral branches. They are specialized feeders, often targeting specific types of coral polyps or invertebrates.
- Angelfish are adorned with striking colors and distinctive shapes, they definitely add to the visual spectacle of the reef. They are omnivores, feeding on a variety of sponges, algae, and small invertebrates.
- Snapper and grouper are popular targets of recreational and commercial fishing. They are important predators that help regulate fish populations, feeding a variety of smaller fish and invertebrates.
The reef also provides habitat for a variety of sharks and rays, including the manta ray and the whale shark.
These apex predators are yet another part of maintaining the delicate balance of the reef’s ecosystem.
Also, look at more coral reef activities.
HANDS-ON ECOSYSTEM TRIORAMA CORAL REEF ACTIVITIES
- Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft
- Fun Hands-on Coral Reef Activities and Play Dough Invitation to Play
- Free Coral Reef Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
- The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
- Celebrate World Reef Day with a Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity
Also, look at these other themed trioramas.
MORE TRIORAMAS
- How to Make an Easy Rainforest Triorama With Kids
- How to Make a Water, Land, and Sky Animal Habitat Triorama
- How to Make an Amazing Shakespeare Triorama Book Report
- How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids
- How to Make a Giant Triorama Project About Cherokee Culture
- How to Make A Desert Triorama About the Gobi, Sahara, & Antarctica
- Amazing Geography Landforms: An Engaging Triorama Tutorial for Kids
- How to Make a Triorama Teaching the Primary Colors with Dollar Tree Supplies
- How To Build A Water Habitat Triorama With Kids
- How to Craft a Stunning Wolf Animal Triorama
- How to Make a Biome Triorama That Explores Alaska’s Amazing Features
- How to Make a Native American Triorama Highlighting Tribes in 3 Regions
- How to Make A Pyramid Diorama For States Of Matter
- The Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef: An Ecosystem Triorama
Finally, look at how to make this ecosystem triorama.
THE WONDERS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF: AN ECOSYSTEM TRIORAMA
You will need:
- Double Sided tape or glue stick
- 12×12 cardstock
- Scrap multi colored cardstock
- Ocean animal/plant stickers
- Letter stickers
- Scissors
First, as we do with all our trioramas, we are folding our square paper into a triangle and create a nice crease.
Next, unfold and repeat in the opposite direction.
Then, cut from one tip to the center of the folds and mark out one side that doesn’t need to be decorated (one on either side of the cut).
Before folding and gluing it into a pyramid add letter stickers along one side to Spell out ‘Great Barrier Reef’ along one side.
Fold the pyramid and glue the X underneath.
Use colorful cardstock to cut out some various types of coral to give your triorama dimension, leaving a little extra space at the bottom.
Fold over enough of the bottom so that you can glue it onto the triorama base.
Attach with glue, adding them to the front, middle, and back of the base, I like to use a double sided tape dispenser for projects like this.
Now begin adding fish, putting some on the background.
Add them coming in and out of the corals and grasses as well.
Your child can go crazy adding fish and other sea creatures to show off the brimming with life Great Coral Reef ecosystem.
