Lesson Plans
New lesson plan ideas are welcome. See below for instructions on submitting.
All lesson plans may be downloaded and used FOR FREE!!!
New lesson plan ideas are welcome. See below for instructions on submitting.
All lesson plans may be downloaded and used FOR FREE!!!
LINKS TO LESSON PLANS ON WATER, BIOLOGY, AQUATIC ORGANISMS, AND ECOSYSTEMS FOR A RANGE OF GRADES ARE LISTED BELOW. TO VIEW THESE TEACHER-CREATED LESSON PLANS, CLICK ON EITHER THE TITLE OR THE ADJACENT IMAGE (BOTH WILL WORK).
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What is an Ecosystem?
by Sonya Brown Students observe an aquarium--either a drawing of one or a classroom aquarium--and discuss the question "What is an ecosystem?" A hands-on activity is making diagrams of food chains observed in aquariums. Students might discuss the aquariums they saw at the Belle Isle Aquarium on a field trip. Fifth Grade Science. |
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Creating stories for science or engineering videos
by Jeffrey Ram Students learn the components of a good story, analyze these parts in a short video, then work on creating video stories of their own. Story topics in the lesson are about environmental problems of invasive species and plastics. Cross-curricular, between language arts and science at fifth to eighth grade level. |
Exploring Water Garden Ecosystems
By Maria Siciliano
This lesson gives students the opportunity to create and monitor their own mini-water garden, complete with plants and a fish! Students will learn how the plant cleans the fish’s environment, showing that all organisms play a role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. This lesson assumes that the students have already visited the Belle Isle Aquarium. Grade 5 Science.
By Maria Siciliano
This lesson gives students the opportunity to create and monitor their own mini-water garden, complete with plants and a fish! Students will learn how the plant cleans the fish’s environment, showing that all organisms play a role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. This lesson assumes that the students have already visited the Belle Isle Aquarium. Grade 5 Science.
INVASIVE SPECIES LESSON PLANS
(TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK ON THE TITLE, ADJACENT IMAGE, OR DOWNLOAD ICON)
(TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK ON THE TITLE, ADJACENT IMAGE, OR DOWNLOAD ICON)
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Invasive Species: Upsetting the Balance
by Karl Hartwig Includes invasive species background information, vocabulary, slides in PDF format, and a "create your own" invasive species activity. Fifth grade science. |
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Invasive Species Card Game. and Cards needed for the Invasive Species Game
by Jeffrey Ram Activity matches different invasive species cards with their means of introduction and places where they came from. Includes "how to stop them" breakout group activity. Grades 5 & 6. Potentially useful for other grades. |
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Invading the Invaders: Impacts of Zebra and Quagga Mussels
by Nicole Samuel This lesson plan explores how zebra mussels and quagga mussels have changed food webs in the Great Lakes by filtering plankton from the lakes. It includes a hands-on activity that demonstrates how mucus produced by the mussels may bind the floating plankton to concentrate it on the bottom of the lakes. For Grades 5 and 6 science. |
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Are Mussels on a Zebra Dangerous?
by Tina Williams Includes a Q & A activity in which the teacher shares the experience of having participated in collecting quagga mussels from the Detroit River (contact Jeff Ram [jeffram(at)wayne.edu] at Wayne State University about a teacher PD in which this occurs. Includes map-reading about the spread of these mussels. Students also watch a video about these invaders. For Grade 5 Science. |
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Lake Michigan Food Web and Sea Lamprey
by Bill Hodges Students explore the meaning of food webs and how invasive species like the sea lamprey have changed them. Hands-on activities include using "species cards" of Great Lakes and non-native organisms to create and modify food webs. For Middle School and High School students. |
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Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species in Michigan
by Shari Fresorger sfresorger(at)gocavs.net Students read and watch a video about zebra mussels and learn ways that scientist are combating other invasive species. Students brainstorm properties of zebra mussels that might make them vulnerable to being "caught" by a trap. Students then "save our ecosystem" by imaginatively designing a way to catch and destroy these Great Lakes invaders. Designed for Grade 5 science. |
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What are Invasive Species?
by Sarah Johnson Starting with a photo of two sea lamprey on a brown trout, students discover what invasive species are, why they are harmful, and what species are found in Michigan. Through small group and whole group discussions, including the technique of "sticky note observations and a gallery walk" students will ask questions and define problems associated with invasive species. Grade 5 invasive species lesson. |
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Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species in Michigan Through Infomercials!
by Sara Forbing sforbing(at)carok12.org Students begin their discussion of invasive species with photos of native cattails and invasive phragmites. After learning about the sources and harm caused by invasive species, students will then research a Michigan invasive species and communicate their ideas about how to remove or prevent it from spreading by writing a script for an infomercial, recording it, and learning about many invaders by watching each other's infomercials. For 4th grade science. |
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Earthworm Invaders
by Erica Sprague This lesson focuses on the role of earthworms in food webs and the devastating effect invasive earthworms are having on some forest ecosystems in the United States. Students study potential similar impacts in the Great Lakes region and how people can slow the spread. Students will learn about earthworm species, why they can be considered invasive, and do a lab to collect earthworms around the school as part of a place-based learning experience. For middle school science, grades 6 - 8. |
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Great Lakes Food Webs: Impacts of Invasive Species on Lake Huron Food Web
by Erica Sprague This lesson focuses on the effect of invasive species in the Lake Huron Food Web. They will identify the invaders as producers, consumers, decomposers or scavengers and investigate how the food web could potentially change as a result of the invasive species. For middle school science, grades 6 - 8. |
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Let Me Tell You About Plants!
by Shari Fresorger sfresorger(at)gocavs.net Students learn about the problems caused by introducing invasive plants into our ecosystem and use their knowledge to develop displays and brochures to educate the community about using native ornamental plants instead of non-native, potentially invasive ones. This is a cross-curricular lesson plan, potentially usable K - 5th grade, covering ELA, science, and social studies standards. |
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Invasive Species Research to Create Awareness
by Sarah Johnson Students work in groups to research an invasive species found, restricted, or prohibited in the State of Michigan. After researching various invasive species through State of Michigan and other websites, students will discover various solutions to control or prevent invasive species. Students then reinforce their understanding by working in groups to develop projects to spread awareness about species that are a danger to the Michigan environment. Grade 5 science. |
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Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species in Michigan
by Dawn Michalak (michalakd(at)bcschools.net) This lesson is intended to be taught at the beginning of the school year. This lesson uses invasive species as examples to introduce vocabulary words that will be used throughout the school year across multiple science topics. The lesson includes posters that illustrate many of the vocabulary words. Target Grade/Subject: Grades 1-5, Science vocabulary |
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Researching Invasive Species
By Heidi Trepkowski Provides an overview about invasive species and the damage they cause to Michigan’s eco-systems and the Great Lakes. Students will have the opportunity to research a specific invasive species, and then write a short report and build a model to display their findings. Grade 5 Science. |
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Why are Invasive Species Successful? An Investigation
By William Smith Students explore the reproductive methods of both invasive plant and animal species through a combination of dissection and reading. They will then apply this knowledge toward the inhabitants of a local park or nature center to determine how successful each species is at reproduction. Grades 7 and 8 Science. |
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Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species in Michigan
By Stephen Atwood This lesson places an emphasis on how to manage and control the spread of invasive plants in Michigan. Can be taught as a traditional class, or as a flipped class in which a student guides the discussion/lesson. Grades 9th through 12th. |
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Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species in Michigan
By Vlad Borza Students learn the difference between native, non-native, and invasive species. They then learn to apply these labels to different aquatic creatures. This lesson will also introduce students to research by having them analyze articles to create a presentation on invasive species. Grades 6th through 12th. |
Asian Carp: Non-Native or Invasive?
By Erica Sprague
Provides an overview of Asian Carp and the issued they cause in the Great Lakes. Students will thoroughly investigate this species, looking at Asian Cart’s food web and their effect on human health, to determine if this species is non-native or invasive. For middle school science, grades 6-8.
By Erica Sprague
Provides an overview of Asian Carp and the issued they cause in the Great Lakes. Students will thoroughly investigate this species, looking at Asian Cart’s food web and their effect on human health, to determine if this species is non-native or invasive. For middle school science, grades 6-8.
Protecting our Waterways Design Challenge: Silver Carp
By Jessica Wagonmaker and Jessica Vander Ark
This lesson emphasizes critical thinking and collaborative work as students will brainstorm and design a barrier to prevent Silver Carp from invading a waterway. Provides a great introduction into the basic design process that engineers use to solve problems. Grades 3-12.
By Jessica Wagonmaker and Jessica Vander Ark
This lesson emphasizes critical thinking and collaborative work as students will brainstorm and design a barrier to prevent Silver Carp from invading a waterway. Provides a great introduction into the basic design process that engineers use to solve problems. Grades 3-12.
Pollinator vs Invasive Species
By Erica Sprague
This lesson introduces students to pollinators, and emphasizes the role they play in human survival. Using this information, students will design a plan to help gardeners who want attract pollinators and plant native species gardens. For middle school science, grades 6-8.
By Erica Sprague
This lesson introduces students to pollinators, and emphasizes the role they play in human survival. Using this information, students will design a plan to help gardeners who want attract pollinators and plant native species gardens. For middle school science, grades 6-8.
Invasive Species Multimedia Educational Outreach Project
By Maria Siciliano
This lesson explores the impact that invasive species have on the Michigan ecosystem. Students will then be encouraged to utilize their newfound knowledge of invasive species to create a multimedia educational outreach project. This lesson assumes that the students have already visited the Belle Isle Aquarium. Grade 5 Science.
By Maria Siciliano
This lesson explores the impact that invasive species have on the Michigan ecosystem. Students will then be encouraged to utilize their newfound knowledge of invasive species to create a multimedia educational outreach project. This lesson assumes that the students have already visited the Belle Isle Aquarium. Grade 5 Science.
Invasive Species Calendar
By Jessica Wagonmaker and Jessica Vander Ark
Students will create and design a calendar that contains information about terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. In addition to containing pictures, the calendar will contain prevention tips for minimizing the quantity of invasive species in Michigan. Grades 6-8.
By Jessica Wagonmaker and Jessica Vander Ark
Students will create and design a calendar that contains information about terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. In addition to containing pictures, the calendar will contain prevention tips for minimizing the quantity of invasive species in Michigan. Grades 6-8.
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.