Cornell University
Weed IPM
Go on a weed hunt! Scholars gain insight into the characteristics of plants and examine the outdoor environment in order to identify five different types of weeds. Learners then show what they know with a one-page reflection.
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Graphing the Population Explosion of Weeds
Students are introduced to the seed cycle and draw the specific steps. In groups, they identify the human barriers to the spreading of weeds. After calculating the rate of spreading of the Yellowstar Thistle, they create graphs to see a...
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Where's the Grass
Students participate in a grassland game. In this grassland lesson, students simulate the impact of grazing animals and invasive weeds on grasslands.
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Campus/community Weed Pull
Students practice field identification of exotic invasive species. They use their identification key, and invasive plant species flash cards to identify and dig up exotic invasive species in a preselected
area as a community service.
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Weed Pull Preparation
Young scholars practice field identification of exotic invasive species. They identify and tag exotic invasive species in a local area using invasive species flash cards at a provided website.
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Invasive Plants
Students identify dandelion plants and label the areas where they are growing on a school site map. They identify other weeds in the area and determine whether or not they are crowding other plants native to the area. They label these...
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And Just How DO You Kill A Weed?
Young scholars explain chemical, cultural and biological weed control methods. They design and conduct an experiment to simulate a weed control method and explore various ways to prevent weed dispersal.
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Environment: Natural and Invasive Plants
Students examine a parcel of open land to collect data about the native and invasive plants found there. By monitoring the area, they prevent the spread of weeds through early detection. Students create posters describing the monitoring...
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Where Do Weeds Grow Best?
Student design an experiment in order to determine where weeds grow the best. Through data collection and observations, they discover optimum conditions for weed growth, conditions that make it difficult for weeds to grow, and create...
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Desinging and Using a Dichotomous Key
High schoolers are examine the purpose of dichotomous keys. In groups, they design their own in order to describe the characteristics of plants and weeds native to California. To end the lesson, they define new terminology associated...
National Park Service
Who Grows There?
More than 127 non-native species live in Glacier National Park in Montana and their infestations are growing! Pupils read about and gather samples of exotic plants. Participants create a master book of pressed plants and complete a...
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Most Troublesome Exotic Invasive Plant Species Web Quest
Students participate in a Web Quest activity in which they identify common exotic invasive plant species of the Southern Appalachian Region. After identifying the top 10 exotic invasive species, they choose one to research in depth.
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Introduction to Restoration Lesson
Students explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem. In this restoration lesson students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants establish.Â
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Pulling Together With Natives -- The Bradley Sisters' Story
Students identify the four ways to stop the spread of weeds in California. In groups, they practice the five methods of removing and controling the spread of the weeds. To end the activity, they summarize the Bradley sisters way of...
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Walk To School
Students recognize invasive plant species. They use their field notebooks with plant descriptions to identify and tally exotic invasive species either on their way to school or in their own neighborhood.
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Population Explosion Relay
Students study the concepts of seed dispersal, germination rate, exponential population growth, and predation by engaging in a bean 'weeds vs. natives' relay race. They illustrate how weeds out-compete other plants for space by crowding...
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Reading Comprehension 5: Level 10
Whether used as a reading comprehension assessment, as the basis of a mini-lesson on reading strategies, or as extra practice, this exercise will prove to be valuable because of the answers and explanation key that accompanies the...
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How Do We Know These Beetles Are Safe to Use?
Students evaluate the impact beetles have on plants. In groups, they select plants to expose to leaf-feeding beetles and place those beetles on the caged plants. They observe the beetles and discuss the insect and plant interaction...
Education Outside
Rain Dance
The importance of rainfall to the life cycle is underscored by an activity that engages class members in a discussion of how water effects newly planted seeds and supports their growth. Class members then create a dance to celebrate the...
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Collecting and Pressing Plants
Students engage in a lesson plan that is concerned with the study of native plants and classifying them according to a kind. They press them into a journal while identifying them according to species. Students compile the samples into a...
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Discovering Growth Patterns
In this statistics worksheet, young scholars examine data on a variety of subjects related to growth patterns and apply the data to 4 different graphs.
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Introducing the Use of Dichotomous Keys to Students
Students are introduced to the use of dichotomous keys as a simple means of beginning scientific observations in nature. They comprehend how to use a dichotomous key. Students distinguish characteristics of a group of organisms. They...
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Growing a Lawn
Young scholars research plant growth. In this plant growth lesson, students explore the needs of plants. Young scholars compare and contrast grass and broadleaf plants and grow a miniature lawn in a cup of soil. Resources are provided.
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Ecological Dilemmas
In this ecological dilemmas instructional activity, students read about people's impact on ecosystems. Students complete 3 activities that require them consider the negative impact humans have on their environment.