Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species through Infomercials
By Sara Forbing
Click on the invaders' names to see examples of student infomercials:
Yellow floating heart
Eurasian collared dove
Feral swine
To download a printable version of this lesson plan, click on the image
We would greatly appreciate your feedback! Click here to complete a short survey telling us about your experience with this lesson plan.
By Sara Forbing
Click on the invaders' names to see examples of student infomercials:
Yellow floating heart
Eurasian collared dove
Feral swine
To download a printable version of this lesson plan, click on the image
We would greatly appreciate your feedback! Click here to complete a short survey telling us about your experience with this lesson plan.
Lesson Overview
In this lesson series, students will learn about invasive species and how they affect their environment. Students will also compare an invasive species to a native species to determine their structural differences. Students will research a Michigan invasive species and explain what can be done to remove or prevent the species from spreading. They will communicate their information by writing a script for an infomercial and recording it. These “commercials” will all be shown to the class so they can become familiar with many invasive species in Michigan.
Target Grade/Subject: 4th grade; Science; 3-4 class periods
Sources Consulted
Bohling, M. (2013, November 22). [Invasive Phragmites australis]. Retrieved March 30, 2018, from http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/invasive_phragmites_australis_what_is_it_and_why_is_it_a_problem
Invasive Species Species Profiles & Reporting Information. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2018, from http://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68002---,00.html
Reveal, J. L., & U. (n.d.). Typha latifolia L [Broadleaf cattail]. Retrieved March 30, 2018, from https://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=tyla_2v.jpg
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Michigan Science and/or Social Studies Standard Addressed
4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
List Materials & Quantities Needed (per class and per student group)
Pictures of cattails and phragmites
Computer with internet access for each team of 2 students
Access to google docs to record research
Technology to record commercials
New Vocabulary
1. Invasive Species: An invasive species is one that is not native and whose introduction causes harm, or is likely to cause harm to Michigan's economy, environment or human health.
2. Phragmites: any of several tall grasses of the genus Phragmites, having plumed heads, growing in marshy areas, especially the common reed P. australis.
Focus Question(s): Which invasive species are in Michigan and what can we do to help get rid of them?
Classroom Activities
Day 1: Show students the pictures of the native cattail and invasive phragmites with no information about the two species. Ask students to make observations about the two plants. What do they notice about the plant structures? What are the similarities and differences between the two species? After having them discuss with a partner and sharing out some of their observations, tell them about the two species and explain that the phragmites are invasive. Ask students what that might mean and have students provide ideas. Use student ideas to create a definition of invasive species. Once a definition has been created, have students brainstorm why that invasive species would be a problem. Have them compare the structural characteristics of the cattail to the phragmites to determine why the phragmites might spread more rapidly.
Day 2: Show students the Michigan Invasive Species website. Put students in partners, and have them decide on a species to research. Once they have chosen a species have them research the following questions.
Day 4: Share students’ videos so that everyone in the class can learn about multiple Michigan invasive species.
Assessment of Student Learning
Grade students’ video commercials based on how well they answered the required questions. Did they accurately answer all of the questions?
In this lesson series, students will learn about invasive species and how they affect their environment. Students will also compare an invasive species to a native species to determine their structural differences. Students will research a Michigan invasive species and explain what can be done to remove or prevent the species from spreading. They will communicate their information by writing a script for an infomercial and recording it. These “commercials” will all be shown to the class so they can become familiar with many invasive species in Michigan.
Target Grade/Subject: 4th grade; Science; 3-4 class periods
Sources Consulted
Bohling, M. (2013, November 22). [Invasive Phragmites australis]. Retrieved March 30, 2018, from http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/invasive_phragmites_australis_what_is_it_and_why_is_it_a_problem
Invasive Species Species Profiles & Reporting Information. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2018, from http://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68002---,00.html
Reveal, J. L., & U. (n.d.). Typha latifolia L [Broadleaf cattail]. Retrieved March 30, 2018, from https://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=tyla_2v.jpg
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain what makes a species invasive.
- Compare an invasive species to a native species.
- Identify ways an invasive species can move.
- Describe why an invasive species is dangerous and what we can do to prevent/remove them.
Michigan Science and/or Social Studies Standard Addressed
4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
List Materials & Quantities Needed (per class and per student group)
Pictures of cattails and phragmites
Computer with internet access for each team of 2 students
Access to google docs to record research
Technology to record commercials
New Vocabulary
1. Invasive Species: An invasive species is one that is not native and whose introduction causes harm, or is likely to cause harm to Michigan's economy, environment or human health.
2. Phragmites: any of several tall grasses of the genus Phragmites, having plumed heads, growing in marshy areas, especially the common reed P. australis.
Focus Question(s): Which invasive species are in Michigan and what can we do to help get rid of them?
Classroom Activities
Day 1: Show students the pictures of the native cattail and invasive phragmites with no information about the two species. Ask students to make observations about the two plants. What do they notice about the plant structures? What are the similarities and differences between the two species? After having them discuss with a partner and sharing out some of their observations, tell them about the two species and explain that the phragmites are invasive. Ask students what that might mean and have students provide ideas. Use student ideas to create a definition of invasive species. Once a definition has been created, have students brainstorm why that invasive species would be a problem. Have them compare the structural characteristics of the cattail to the phragmites to determine why the phragmites might spread more rapidly.
Day 2: Show students the Michigan Invasive Species website. Put students in partners, and have them decide on a species to research. Once they have chosen a species have them research the following questions.
- What is the invasive species?
- What does the invasive species look like?
- Where is the invasive species located?
- Why is the invasive species a problem?
- How did the invasive species get here?
- What can humans do to remove the invasive species or prevent it from spreading?
Day 4: Share students’ videos so that everyone in the class can learn about multiple Michigan invasive species.
Assessment of Student Learning
Grade students’ video commercials based on how well they answered the required questions. Did they accurately answer all of the questions?
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.