Science Connection
Have students gather more information about coral reefs. As a class, you could visit an aquarium or even a tropical fish store to view coral firsthand and make observations about how they live and interact with other marine animals. 

Art Connection
Students can decorate the classroom to resemble a reef community. They can create painted mobiles of colorful tropical fish. Desks, bookshelves, and chairs can be transformed into coral using colored paper. Streamers hung from the ceiling can represent soft coral or kelp. 

Math Connection
Have students create a timeline of coral growth based on the growth rate given in the text. Have then compare this to human growth rate. 

Reading Independently
Invite students to reread the book independently or with a partner. Have students share their own stories from the Writing Connection with each other.

Home Connection
Invite students to take the book home to read with their families. Have them share their Writing Connection stories with a family member. 

Assessment

• Note the strategies students discuss during the Reflect on Reading Strategies section. Note if they understand how knowing information about the text and asking questions prior to reading can help them understand the information.
• Review students’ completed worksheet 1 to assess their understanding of cause-and-effect relationships. Note if they can justify their responses with references to information from the text.
• Review students’ completed worksheet 2 to assess their ability to divide words into syllables. Listen as they read the words to see if they can apply what they know about closed syllables and short vowels to pronunciation.