Click here to view the lesson plan (pdf).

Grade: K–2

Introduction

Most plants are quite literally rooted to their environments. Plants have developed a wide range of adaptations suitable to a sedentary lifestyle. Parts of plants are designed to capture the sun’s energy and convert it to food, obtain and conserve water, protect the plant from animals that might eat it, ensure propagation, withstand a range of climatic conditions, and compete with other plants for resources.

Students will learn the name and function of parts of plants. This knowledge establishes a common vocabulary and serves as the basis for future lessons that teach adaptive advantages of weeds, identification of weeds, consequences of weeds’ invasive nature, and effective control strategies.

Before teaching this lesson, read the entire lesson and make sure all materials are available.

Click here to view the lesson plan (pdf).

Grade: K–2

Introduction

Learning to recognize invasive plants in the environment is a skill all students can acquire, and it is the first step toward the control of invasive plants. Students will look closely at several common weeds, observe their variety of forms, understand how these forms relate to specific adaptations, and learn the common names of the weeds.

Students derive a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from their ability to identify plants in their natural habitat. Classroom exercises will introduce students to plant identification skills. To expand students’ understanding of plants and their place in the environment, encourage and help students to apply their identification skills to plants in natural habitats.

Before teaching this lesson, read the entire lesson and make sure all materials are available.

Click here to view the lesson plan (pdf).

Grade: 3 to 5

Introduction

Students will participate in a high-energy, fun competition that requires them to apply weed identification skills in a field setting. By identifying weeds in natural settings, students will begin to understand the variability within a species; improve their plant identification skills; learn how environmental clues, such as preferred sun exposure, soil type, and associated species aid in plant identification; and realize the magnitude of the weed problem in their own community. When students learn to recognize the invasive plant problem in their area, it is likely they will begin to recognize the problem in other locations too.

Students should have some previous exposure to local weed identification in a classroom setting. Teach this lesson after the lesson Weed Clue. Before teaching this lesson, read the entire lesson and make sure all materials are available.

Click here to view the lesson plan (pdf).

Grade: 3 to 5

Introduction

Dichotomous keys are one of the tools available for weed identification. The use of keys encourages close examination of a subject and helps to sharpen observation and classification skills. Students will learn about dichotomous keys, apply this method for classification and identification to simple objects, and create their own keys. Before teaching this lesson, read the entire lesson, and make sure all materials are available.