This NGSS-aligned, 5E-based zoology unit dives into two foundational animal phyla— Porifera and Cnidaria—through the lens of a compelling phenomenon: Why are the corals turning white? Students explore biodiversity, adaptations, structure and function, and human impacts on reef ecosystems through inquiry-based learning, creative modeling, real-world data analysis, and performance tasks. Built around three-dimensional learning (DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs), this unit scaffolds core zoological concepts a