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Reef Keepers

School:: University High School
Subject:: Science
Teacher:: Melanie Jenkins
Students Impacted:: 200
Grade:: 11
Date:: August 3, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Anonymous Family Foundation - $964.25

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 200

Thank you so much for funding our Reef Keepers grant! The students enjoyed setting up the saltwater aquarium and monitoring the water conditions. It takes several weeks for cycling to take place in a saltwater aquarium before fish and corals can safely survive. Every other day students on a rotational basis would measure pH, salinity, temperature, nitrite and nitrate levels along with ammonium levels to ensure the best conditions. Student learned to work together, keep accurate records, use different measurement tools, and interact and communicate effectively. Once the clownfish were added students enjoyed viewing and observing “Nemo” and each class period voted on a set of names for the pair of clownfish. Students continued to collect and analyze water samples and slowly we added live coral. Coral is very sensitive to any change in water conditions and parameters of light must be just perfect for their success. Currently due to the high cost of corals the tank only has a couple starter plugs but with time these will grow and students will be able to enjoy. Students have learned a new respect for the care and maintenance and attention to detail for a saltwater aquarium and its marine life. Students enjoy walking in class and passing by the tank with its vibrant colors of the clownfish and having a small piece of the ocean in our classroom.

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Clownfish and daisy polyp coral pic 1

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Clownfish and daisy polyp pic 2

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Clownfish and soft coral pic 3

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Students monitoring water conditions

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Marine aquariums create a perfect medium for scientific study. Maintaining and observing saltwater aquariums will improve student achievement in basic chemistry, physics, biology, and marine science. Through these aquarium systems, students will start to understand that science does not stop and recognize that science is a process and this project will provide prolonged scientific study.

What will be done with my students

SC.912.N.1.1 Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge, for example: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science, and do the following: Pose questions about the natural world, Conduct systematic observations, Write procedures that are clear and replicable. Identify observables and examine relationships between test (independent) variable and outcome (dependent) variable. Employ appropriate methods for accurate and consistent observations; conduct and record measurements at appropriate levels of precision. Plan investigations, use tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Properly use instruments, equipment, and materials including set-up, calibration, technique, maintenance, and storage. Pose answers, explanations, or descriptions of events, Generate explanations that explicate or describe natural phenomena (inferences), Use appropriate evidence and reasoning to justify these explanations to others

SC.912.N.1.6 Describe how scientific inferences are drawn from scientific observations and provide examples from the content being studied.
SC.912.L.17.2 Explain the general distribution of life in aquatic systems as a function of chemistry, geography, light, depth, salinity, and temperature.
SC.912.L.17.10 Diagram and explain the biogeochemical cycles of an ecosystem, including water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle.
Students will setup and be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of marine tanks fostering habitats of live corals and anemones. Students will regularly make measurements of temperature and salinity using thermometers and refractometers. Students will learn to use different kinds of test kits to measure pH, nitrate levels, and dissolved oxygen. Students will grow different species of live corals and sea anemones and observe their feeding, reproduction, role in energy transfer within food chains and examine their anatomy, diversity, and classification. Discussions on what is happening and why they think it is happening and if they notice changes can they tell why the changes are taking place to develop higher order thinking and problem-solving skills. Students also learn to work together, keep records and interact socially.

Benefits to my students

I will implement this with 11th-12th grade marine science students (approximately 200 students) over the course of the school year. The monitoring, maintenance, and observing the saltwater aquarium teaches responsibility, respect for nature and living creatures, how their actions directly impact the outcomes of a situation. It is an engaging, rewarding, and therapeutic opportunity to create the most stunning aquarium.

Budget Narrative

Saltwater aquarium setup kits along with the supplies and materials needed for monitoring and maintenance along with décor and live marine life

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Fluval Sea Flex Saltwater Aquarium kit 32.5 gallons	$498.99
2	Fluval protein skimmer	$89.99
3	Water heater submersible Pro50 (50watt)	$45.95
4	Acrylic Aquarium scrubber	$5.99
5	Fluval hydrometer	$14.99
6	DEPEPE 10pc aquarium filter media bags	$19.99
7	Test strips 9 in 1	$33.98
8	Rock décor (substrate for corals to grow on)	$44.99
9	Live anemones	$60.00
10	Clown fish	$75.00
11	Live coral	$66.00
12	Water conditioner	$8.38
	Total:	$964.25