Students will explore their ideas about what it means to be an "alien" or an "invader", and generate basic understandings of invasive species by researching a noxious organism of their choice.
Objectives
Students should be able to:
1. Explain what an invasive species is.
2. Explain what a native species is.
3. Give an example of a situation in which an invasive species has taken over an ecological area.
Materials
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1 copy of the book,
Science Warriors: The Battle Against Invasive Species (Scientists in the Field) by Sneed B. Collard, III
Procedure
I will ask the students the following questions:
- What is an alien?
- What does the word "invasive" mean to you?
- What does the word "alien" mean to you?
Students will share their ideas about what these words mean and discuss whether they think they could be living with alien intruders in Cumberland, MD.
Students will then browse through the book,
Science Warriors: The Battle Against Invasive Species and choose an invasive organism that is featured in that book to do further research on. Students will create a brief presentation to the class on their organism that answers the following questions:
- Where did this organism come from?
- How did this organism end up in its new home?
- What characteristics have led to this organism becoming so successful in its new home?
- What organisms have been endangered by the presence of this new, invasive, organism?
References
State
Standards
1.5.2- The student will explain scientific concepts and processes through drawing, writing, and/or oral communication.
3.5.2- The student will analyze the interrelationships and interdependencies among different organisms and explain how these relationships contribute to the stabilty of the ecosystem.
3.5.3- The student will investigate how natural and man-made changes in environmental conditions will affect individual organisms and the dynamics of populations.
3.5.4- The student will illustrate how all organisms are part of and depend on two major global food webs that are positively or negatively influenced by human activity and technology.