Water Hyacinth : Weed Alert Activity

Objective: Students will learn key characteristics, identification techniques, and environmental impacts of water hyacinth.

Materials:

Weed Alert Handout

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/invaspec/2ndlevpgs/pdfs/hyacinth.pdf

Drawing pencils, colored pencils or watercolors

Paper

Poster Board or mat board

Photo images of water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/eiccra.html

Line drawing of water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/eichhsm.jpg

Activity:

1. Divide class into groups of 3-5 students per group.

2. Hand out copies of the Weed Alert: Water hyacinth to various groups.

3. After reading and discussing the handout, each group will design a public service announcement using one of the following (a flyer, a poster, a sticker, a doorknob hanger or a radio spot) that addresses the impacts of water hyacinth on Florida’s water bodies.

Extensions:

1. Students could design their PSA in a second language.

2. Develop a contest in conjunction with your local water district where the winning design could be inserted in a utility bill (electric, phone, or water bill) or water district mailing. http://dep.state.fl.us/secretary/watman/wmd_map.htm

3. Research and create a poster on how water hyacinth populations decrease biodiversity in Florida. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/guide/intrguid.html

Additional Resources:

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/seagrant/eiccra2.html

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/eiccra.pdf

http://sid.fcla.edu/mrsid/bin/show.pl?client=nontypes&image=206863a1.sid

http://www.apms.org/activity_book.pdf

A collaboration of the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
and the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Invasive Plant Management.
HS/EA 01/27/06
SSS: SC.F.1.4, SC.G.1.4, SC.G.2.4, SC.H.1.4, SC.H.2.4, SC.H.3.4, LA.A.1.4, LA.B.1.4, LA.B.2.4