Invasive Species Calender
By Jessica Wagonmaker and Jessica Vander Ark
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By Jessica Wagonmaker and Jessica Vander Ark
CLICK ON IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS LESSON PLAN
We would greatly appreciate your feedback! Click here to complete a short survey telling us about your experience with this lesson plan.
Lesson Overview
Students create an Invasive Species Calendar with information about terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. This calendar can be used to educate family members and community residents on the threats and prevention tips for invasive species in Michigan.
Target Grade: Grade 6-8
Duration: Three 60 min class periods
Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe, state the ecosystem threat and a tip for prevention of six aquatic and six terrestrial invasive species.
List Materials & Quantities
Per group of 4 students:
Invasive Species Calendar Project Assignment handout. Click [here] for a pdf of the handout.
Standards Addressed
Science
1. MS-LS2-4 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
2. MS-LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Predatory interactions may reduce the number of organisms or eliminate whole populations of organisms. Mutually beneficial interactions, in contrast, may become so interdependent that each organism requires the other for survival. Although the species involved in these competitive, predatory and mutually beneficial interactions vary across ecosystems, the patterns of interactions of organisms with their environments, both living and nonliving, are shared.
3. MS-LS2-2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
English Language Arts
Grade 6-8
Focus Question: How can we educate others about invasive species?
Classroom Procedures
1. Divide class into groups of four students.
2. Explain to the students that they will be creating an Invasive Species calendar that can be used to educate the community on the threats to Michigan’s ecosystems and provide tips for preventing the introduction or spread of invasive species. Each student in the group will be responsible for completing three calendar pages.
3. Each calendar page must include the following elements:
The Assignment Handout includes lists of the following aquatic and terrestrial invasive species:
Aquatic Invasive Species
*Round Goby *Zebra Mussels *Fish Hook Water Flea *Rusty Crayfish *Quagga Mussel *Sea Lamprey *Grass Carp *Asian Carp
*Alewife *Spiny Water Flea *Northern Snakehead *European Frogbit *Water milfoil *Phragmites
Terrestrial Invasive Species
*Asian long horn beetle *Japaneese Beetle *Feral Swine *Purple loosestrife *Fanwort *Norway Maple *Garlic mustard *Flowering rush *Dog Strangling Vine *Common buckthorn *Reed canary grass *Tartarian honeysuckle *Autumn Olive *Gypsy Moth *Mute Swan *Emerald Ash Borer
5. Pass out 12 copies of blank calendar pages to each group.
6. Have student groups present their calendars to the whole class.
Optional: vote on the top 12 calendar pages and assemble into a calendar that can be reproduced and distributed to family members, school staff members, school board members, community members, and senior citizens. Distribute free copies to local businesses to display and use.
Assessment of Student Learning
Use rubric to grade each calendar page.
Students create an Invasive Species Calendar with information about terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. This calendar can be used to educate family members and community residents on the threats and prevention tips for invasive species in Michigan.
Target Grade: Grade 6-8
Duration: Three 60 min class periods
Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe, state the ecosystem threat and a tip for prevention of six aquatic and six terrestrial invasive species.
List Materials & Quantities
Per group of 4 students:
- Computer with internet access
- 12 blank calendar pages
- Colored pencils or crayons
Invasive Species Calendar Project Assignment handout. Click [here] for a pdf of the handout.
Standards Addressed
Science
1. MS-LS2-4 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
2. MS-LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Predatory interactions may reduce the number of organisms or eliminate whole populations of organisms. Mutually beneficial interactions, in contrast, may become so interdependent that each organism requires the other for survival. Although the species involved in these competitive, predatory and mutually beneficial interactions vary across ecosystems, the patterns of interactions of organisms with their environments, both living and nonliving, are shared.
3. MS-LS2-2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
English Language Arts
Grade 6-8
- Write informative/explanatory texts to examine atopic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
Focus Question: How can we educate others about invasive species?
Classroom Procedures
1. Divide class into groups of four students.
2. Explain to the students that they will be creating an Invasive Species calendar that can be used to educate the community on the threats to Michigan’s ecosystems and provide tips for preventing the introduction or spread of invasive species. Each student in the group will be responsible for completing three calendar pages.
3. Each calendar page must include the following elements:
- Common and scientific name
- Draw and color a picture of the invasive species.
- Description
- Ecosystem threat
- Tip for prevention
The Assignment Handout includes lists of the following aquatic and terrestrial invasive species:
Aquatic Invasive Species
*Round Goby *Zebra Mussels *Fish Hook Water Flea *Rusty Crayfish *Quagga Mussel *Sea Lamprey *Grass Carp *Asian Carp
*Alewife *Spiny Water Flea *Northern Snakehead *European Frogbit *Water milfoil *Phragmites
Terrestrial Invasive Species
*Asian long horn beetle *Japaneese Beetle *Feral Swine *Purple loosestrife *Fanwort *Norway Maple *Garlic mustard *Flowering rush *Dog Strangling Vine *Common buckthorn *Reed canary grass *Tartarian honeysuckle *Autumn Olive *Gypsy Moth *Mute Swan *Emerald Ash Borer
5. Pass out 12 copies of blank calendar pages to each group.
6. Have student groups present their calendars to the whole class.
Optional: vote on the top 12 calendar pages and assemble into a calendar that can be reproduced and distributed to family members, school staff members, school board members, community members, and senior citizens. Distribute free copies to local businesses to display and use.
Assessment of Student Learning
Use rubric to grade each calendar page.
New lesson plan ideas are welcome and will be uploaded as they are received and approved.
Instructions for submitting lesson plans for:
About invasive species,
About science and science careers
For information about submitting new lesson plans, please contact jchadde(at)mtu.edu
Lesson plan ideas from other web sites:
From Pennsylvania Sea Grant: 10 lesson plans about interactions of invasive species, biodiversity, and climate change
Creation of the above page of educational resources was funded in part by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program through the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agricultural and Rural Development.
This material is also based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1614187.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Instructions for submitting lesson plans for:
About invasive species,
About science and science careers
For information about submitting new lesson plans, please contact jchadde(at)mtu.edu
Lesson plan ideas from other web sites:
From Pennsylvania Sea Grant: 10 lesson plans about interactions of invasive species, biodiversity, and climate change
Creation of the above page of educational resources was funded in part by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program through the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agricultural and Rural Development.
This material is also based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1614187.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.