The education department of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary takes several programs into the schools each year. Coral Reef Classroom, shown here, is a program where the coral reef is the classroom and students are marine scientists for a day. Middle school students learn firsthand basic coral reef ecosystem ecology, strategies of Sanctuary management, and scientific techniques for monitoring various oceanographic parameters that characterize the "health" of the coral reef. This program involves a classroom presentation, a day on a boat using scientific equipment, recording data, guided snorkeling discussions, and pre- and post-tests. (photo:Heather Dine - Florida Keys NMS)