Module 1: Silent Invaders

Overview

Module 1 begins with a humorous 25-minute audio-visual presentation (Silent Invaders) about basic classification concepts related to Florida plant life (aquatic vs. terrestrial plants; emersed, submersed, floating, and floating-leaved; native, non-native and invasive). Students become familiar with these terms along with impacts invasive plant species are having on our freshwater habitats, natural areas, and neighborhoods. Big Ideas include species migration, adaption/extinction, empirical evidence, environmental changes, and human impacts.

Objectives

• Classify plants using a variety of criteria (aquatic vs terrestrial plants; emersed, floating, floating-leaved, submersed; native vs. non-native vs. invasive)
• Learn techniques for recognizing and/or identifying plants
• Understand the difference between native, non-native, and invasive plants
• Identify environmental and economic impacts of invasive species
• Identify positive actions we can take to help prevent invasive plant introductions in our own backyards and neighborhoods

Lesson Plans & Activities

Introductory Materials

• Common Core Standards

  Science Big Ideas:

  • The Practice of Science
  • Earth Structures
  • Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms
  • Interdependence

  Reading/Language Arts Strands/Standards:

  • Vocabulary Development
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Literary Analysis – Non-Fiction
  • Writing Process
  • Informative Writing
  • Communication – Listening and Speaking
  • Information Literacy – Research Process
  • Information Literacy – Technology

  Social Studies Strands:

  • Geography
  • Civics and Government