EDUCATION Resources for Invasive Species
NEW in 2007! Invasive Plants Taking Root in Alaska Curriculum
The Homer Soil and Water Conservation District has completed the "Invasive Plants: Taking Root in Alaska" curriculum for grades 9-12. The curriculum includes a variety of modules including labs and an online mapping exercise where students can check out local maps of invasive ornamental plants in Alaska.
Through implementation of the curriculum, students will be introduced to core concepts of invasive species biology and challenged to think about complex ecological, economic and social impacts of invasive plants. It also provides ample opportunity for independent investigation and encourages critical examination of the issue of invasive plants and their spread. The materials were developed for Kenai Peninsula science teachers but much of the material is appropriate for use state wide and beyond. |
Children, Students, & Teachers | Land Managers | Gardeners | Pet Owners
GAMES and other Fun Activities!!
This page lists general invasive species training courses and educational resources for children, teachers and students, land managers, gardeners, and pet owners. Get ideas for invasive species activities you can be involved in from our Outreach, Citizen Science and Action Groups page.
To learn more about the NBII Invasive Species Information Node (ISIN) please visit our About page. If you have questions about invasive species, they might have already been answered on our Frequently Asked Questions and Asked Questions pages.
Education Resources for Children, Students, and Educators!
> NEW in 2007! Invasive Plants Taking Root in Alaska Curriculum. Homer Soil & Water Conservation District, Homer, Alaska.
> Search the Discover Life EcoLibrary
Designed to help people of all ages (especially teachers and students) learn more about the world in which we live, the EcoLibrary is a product of Discover Life's partnership with biologist Dan L. Perlman of Brandeis University. The EcoLibrary images and descriptive text are available for free download as long as they are used for non-commercial purposes. To access the EcoLibrary, go to <http://www.discoverlife.org/ed/ecolibrary/>, and click on the words 'Enter EcoLibrary'. Scroll down to section number 7 (Human Impacts) and select the checkbox next to Invasive species to search for information on that topic. In the near future, case studies, maps, curriculum ideas, lesson plans, and interactive teaching materials will be added.
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> Alien Invasion - Plants on the Move Weed Curriculum for Grades K-12 (developed by Bureau of Land Management staff and other experts, and meets National Science Education Standards)
> Authentic Scientific Invasive Species Research for High School Students (Environmental Inquiry)
> Educational Resources (invasivespecies.org)
> K-12 Teaching Resources (Center for Invasive Plant Management)
> K-12 Invasive Plant Education Activities (Center for Invasive Plant Management)
> 2005 Invasive Species Education Program (The Great Lakes Schoolship Inland Seas Education Association).
> Invasive species K-12 educational materials (Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant). Includes:
- Zebra Mussel Mania Traveling Trunk. An educational kit and curriculum that allows elementary and middle school students to explore the effects of invasive species, particularly the zebra mussel, on ecosystems and local economies.
- Exotic Species Compendium of Activities to Protect the Ecosystem (ESCAPE). "A collection of activities developed from the Exotic Species Day Camp Project for Educators. This package includes 36 user-friendly sets of lessons that incorporate experiments, art, music and games."
- Exotic Aquatics on the Move. For Geography teachers and students.
- Nab the Aquatic Invader! Be a Sea Grant Super Sleuth. Meet the suspects, do a background check on them, and then book 'em!
> NatureWorks Invasive Species Page - includes a Teacher Guide, quizzes and NatureGuides
> Exotics to Go! Quote: "Presentations and publications to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species. a compact disk that is "fast food" for people who need materials to give presentations about zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species."
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> EEK! Alien Invaders Web (Environmental Education for Kids). The aliens have landed in Wisconsin!
> Purple Loosestrife Biological Control manual for educators (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). "The classroom teaching activities outlined in this document center on the biological control process. Topics range from a host-plant specificity experiment to an invasive plant art project."
> K12 Weed Education (California Department of Food and Agriculture)
> 42explore.com Invasive Species Web page. "This web project provides "four to eXplore" for each topic. On each page you'll find definitions, activities, the 4 good starting points, and many more links and resources for [invasive species] ."
> Invasive Species - Teacher's Guide (NatureWorks)
> What's Up in the Environment? - Invasive Species Class Project (thirteen ed online)
> Aliens in Your Neighborhood. An Introduction to the National Parks Invasive Weeds Curriculum, Integrating Invasive Weeds within Middle School Sciences (Invasive Species and the National Parks)
> Silent Invaders. Invasive plants and animals - problems they cause, what's being done and how you can help. Includes an invasive plants guide, and an invasive animals guide. Interactive Web site focused at teens with video footage, an educators guide, control activities, and prevention information.
> EE-Link Environmental Education on the Internet (Search results for keyword "invasive")
> Publications for teaching and public outreach (Weeds Gone Wild - Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas)
> Aquatic Invasive Species - An Educator's Information and Materials Guide . Educating Future Leaders on the Health of Our Planet (Minnesota Sea Grant). 
> Grades 4-6 School Curriculum (Invasive Plant Atlas of New England). This Invasive Species curriculum, developed by Kate LeRose, is targeted at students in an Environmental Sciences program grades 4-6. The material provided here may assist classroom teachers in developing an Invasive Species Science module within an Environmental Sciences curriculum.
> Weed Education Curriculum list by the Montana War on Weeds group
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New Zealand Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
> Stowaways Kid's Pages - activities, competitions, and information about invasive species
> Animal Pests online educational information and resources for teachers
National Invasive Species Information Center
> Educational Resources for K-12 Students
> Invasive Species Educational Resources
> Manager's Toolkit Outreach Tools
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Education Resources for Land Managers
> New! DCNR Invasive Exotic Plant Tutorial for Natural Lands Managers. Prepared by the Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, Inc. Quote: "The Invasive Exotic Plant (IEP) Management Tutorial for Natural Lands Managers provides a "one-stop-shop" for natural resource managers who are interested in organizing on-the-ground efforts to prevent, manage and control IEP's."
> Land Manager Resources (Center for Invasive Plant Management)
> Information for Land Managers (California Invasive Plant Council)
> Land Values, Land Management and Invasive Weeds (weedawareness.org). Quote: "This course specifically designed by REALTORS to meet needs of real estate licensees is a cooperative effort between the Montana Board of Realty Regulation, Montana Association of REALTORS, and the Campaign Task Force to help reduce risk during land transactions."
Department of the Interior (DOI) Learn and the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC)
> New! Pesticides and Fish and Wildlife Resources Course. National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). Quote: "This course offers an overview of the major types of pesticides that may affect fish and wildlife resources, typical routes of exposure, assessing potential risk, and environmental fate of pesticides in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Portions of Federal laws that relate to pesticide use will be described. A description of current pesticide use policy and principles of integrated pest management will be provided. Participants will learn procedures to evaluate non-target effects, and considerations for listed species. Case histories describe different types of pesticide use and field investigation procedures. Useful references and information sources about pesticide safety and use and fish and wildlife risk are provided."
> Integrated Pest Management, Pesticide Applications. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Salt Lake City, Utah. Quote: " A certification-level course that examines the problems of noxious weeds and poisonous plants and the applying of combatant chemicals approved for use on federal lands."
> Noxious Weed Management Short Course. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Chico Hot Springs, Montana. Quote: "Sponsored by the Western Society of Weed Science and the Western Weed Coordinating Committee, course covers extensive weed identification and weed eradication programs."
> Southwest Noxious Weed Short Course. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Farmington, New Mexico. Quote: "Sponsored by the Western Soceity of Weed Science and the Western Coordinating Committee, course covers extensive weed identification and weed eradication programs."
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For Pet Owners and Aquarium Enthusiasts
Aquarium enthusiasts
> Don't Leave Them Stranded! (New Hampshire Fish and Game)
> Exotic Aquatic Plants - What Every Plant Enthusiast Needs to Know (Illinois - Indiana Sea Grant)
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