Illustrative underwater view of a healthy coral reef with many fish

Lesson 14 - Adapted Pathway

Reef Evidence Detectives

Find the facts. Explain what they show. Persuade with evidence.

Look closely

Can both statements be true?

Illustrative view of living coral and fish
The Reef is alive.
Illustrative view showing colourful coral beside pale bleached coral
The Reef is under pressure.
Both can be true because ...

Today's mission

Use facts to make a strong reason

Learning intention

We are learning to find facts in a text and use them as evidence.

  • Find a fact that matches my claim.
  • Explain what the fact shows.
  • Use two facts in a persuasive paragraph.
  • Keep the evidence accurate.

Four words unlock the text

Say it. Show it. Explain it.

Evidence

A fact that helps prove an idea.

Bleaching

Coral turns pale or white when it is stressed.

Local action

Help in or near the Reef.

Climate action

Action that reduces the warming of Earth and the ocean.

Student Pack - page 1

Read like an evidence detective

2 Underline two facts.
1 Circle one action.
□ Box the sentence that stops an overclaim.

First read: What is this article mostly about?

Second read: Which facts can help us persuade?

Match fact to claim

What did scientists find?

Illustrative image of a diver recording information about coral
Scientists found living coral in the north, centre and south, but coral cover had fallen.

Cause and effect

Why can hot water harm coral?

Ocean water becomes very warm.
Coral becomes stressed.
Tiny algae leave the coral.
Coral turns pale or white.

Bleached coral is stressed. It may recover if the water cools.

Different jobs - shared purpose

The Reef needs two kinds of help

Help near the Reef

  • cleaner water
  • less rubbish
  • careful Reef management
+

Reduce ocean warming

  • reduce greenhouse gases
  • reduce warming pressure
  • protect recovery time
Both give coral a better chance to survive and recover.

Evidence test

Can the article prove it?

Very warm water can bleach coral.

The Reef is the prettiest place in Australia.

Cleaner water can reduce pressure on the Reef.

Annotated model

Build one strong reason

Claim

We should protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Evidence

Scientists found living coral, but coral cover had fallen.

Explain

This shows the Reef is alive and needs help.

Why does the evidence match the claim?

Add action evidence

Use because to connect ideas

Cleaner water and careful Reef management can reduce pressure on coral.

Climate action is also needed because local projects cannot cool the whole ocean.

What job does each kind of action do?

Student Pack - page 3

Plan the five moves

1

Make your claim.

2

Add a fact about the problem.

3

Explain what it shows.

4

Add a fact about action.

5

Finish with a clear request.

Say it before you write it.

Independent writing

Write with evidence

  • 5-6 connected sentences
  • a clear claim
  • two facts from the article
  • “This shows ...” or “because ...”
  • a clear call to action
08:00

Evidence partner check

Can your partner follow the proof?

Revise one sentence now: add, replace, explain or make it more accurate.

Exit evidence

Prove one idea

We should  
because the article says  .
This shows  .