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Invasive Species

Lesson Plan & Game

Grades 3-5

≅ 60 minutes

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STANDARDS

Next Generation Science Standards	NGSS.3-LS4-4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
College, Career, & Civics Standards	6.1.5.GeoGI.4 Explain how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the distribution and movement of people, goods, and ideas.

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I can

01

I can

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I can

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Learning OUTCOMES

define cultural practice and invasive species.

define cultural practices that spread invasive species.

explain how to reduce the spread of invasive species within our community.

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What is a cultural practice?

How can cultural practices spread invasive species?

What can we do to reduce the spread of invasive species within our community?

Essential QUESTIONS

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Agenda

INQUIRE

INVESTIGATE

INSPIRE

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INQUIRE

≅ 10 minutes

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Turn and Talk

What are two questions you have after watching this video?

Watch

Watch the video about invasive species.

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Reflect

Write a three-sentence summary about the video. �
Write one example of a cultural practice that could accidentally lead the spread of an invasive species.

Sentence Starters

The main idea/message of the video is…�
An example of a cultural practice is… ��It could lead to the spread of an invasive species because…

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INVESTIGATE

≅ 30 minutes

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Game TIME

Use the game cards to learn

how cultural practices can lead to the spread of invasive species.

Students then play the game Three Steps Forward, One Step Back using the Game Scenarios Document or Game Scenarios Cards to model how the spread of cultural practices (such as landscaping, hunting for sport, etc.) can lead to changes in environmental characteristics such as invasive species affecting the environment.
In each round of this game the teacher reads a scenario to the students explaining the cultural practices that led to the introduction of the invasive species.

One person starts off as the introduced invasive species.
Students spread out throughout the classroom or outside at the discretion of the teacher.
The “invasive species” student is allowed to take three steps towards the other “native species” students who are trying to escape. The “native species” students can only take one step.
When the “invasive species” student tags a “native species” student, the “native species” student becomes an “invasive species” as well and is able to take three steps during their turn.
As more students become “invasive species,” students will be able to view how invasive species spread quickly throughout the environment.

Image by Smash Icons via FlatIcon

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Let’s DISCUSS

What cultural practices can bring in invasive species?

Do you notice any patterns in these cultural practices?

How quickly do you think invasive species can spread through a population?

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INSPIRE

≅ 20 minutes

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Conduct research to fill in the Alien Invaders Graphic Organizer.�
Use art supplies or create a slideshow to share your information in a poster or presentation.

Learn & SHARE

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Step 1: LEARN

Use the

Alien Invasion Graphic Organizer

for taking notes.

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Step 2: SHARE

Option 1

Use art supplies to create a poster to share your findings.

Option 2

Use Slides or PowerPoint to create a presentation to share your findings.

Make Sure to Include:

The cultural practice
How invasion occurred
What the community can do
Engaging fonts and colors
Photos or drawings

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Glossary

culture - the beliefs, social practices, and characteristics of a racial, religious, or social group

habitat - the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows

invasive - tending to spread, usually in a harmful way

species - a group of animals of the same kind and with the same name

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Share your journey with us!

@subjecttoclimate

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Creators & COLLABORATORS

Please leave this slide for attribution.

Authors

Scientist Reviewer

Image Resources

Mallory Swafford

Archibong Akpan, PhD

Template Slides:

SlidesGo

Images from:

FreePik, FlatIcon