Invasive Species Publications
Classroom Resources & Curricula

Exploring Science Writing: An Environmental Focus
Eighteen exercises engage high school students in writing clearly about ecosystem issues and in understanding science-based stories. Enhances science, language arts, and inter- disciplinary curricula. Produced by the Michigan Sea Grant Program in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island Journalism Department. 1998. Contact: Mike Klepinger, MI Sea Grant (517) 353-5508 or Doug Jensen, MN Sea Grant (218) 726-8712. Cost: $6.

WI-Department of Natural Resources EE News Extras
Occasionally EE News focuses on a particular topic or contains special inserts. Listed below are some of the past issues and inserts that are still available free of charge. Order by sending your name and address and include the publication number and quantity to EE News, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

Archived issues of the popular teacher newsletter EE News focus on invasives. Listed below are some of the past issues and inserts that are available for download:

Aquatic Invasive Species Education Handbook [exit DNR]

Aquatic Exotic Educational Trunk
UW-Extension, in cooperation with DNR, Minnesota Sea Grant and the Wisconsin Association of Lake Districts, has developed an exotic trunk containing key educational materials on invasive species. The trunk can help teachers boost student awareness about exotic issues and in turn increase public involvement in outreach, volunteer monitoring and management efforts. Contact Laura Felda at UW-Extension (715) 365-2659 or by E-mail for more information.

Attack Pack
A self-contained teaching aid designed to assist high school students in teaching elementary and middle school youths about aquatic invasive species. Backpack contains books, maps and overheads, a videotape, a slide show, preserved specimens, games, and more. Developed by the Wisconsin Sea Grant Program. 2001. Contact: Phil Moy, WI Sea Grant (920) 683-4697. Cost: Available on loan.

Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife: 4H Manual and Guide
Eleven learn-by-doing activities designed for middle and high school students, concentrating on purple loosestrife, an invasive plant. Curriculum emphasizes action through collaborative bio-control efforts by joining students, educators, and citizens. Produced by the Illinois-Indiana and Michigan Sea Grant Programs in collaboration with the Minnesota Sea Grant Program. 2001. Contact: Doug Jensen, MN Sea Grant (218) 726-8712. Cost: $8/instructor manual and $2/student manual.

See Cella Chow! A Purple Loosestrife Biological Control Manualfor Educators [PDF 21.6MB]

Community Stewardship Projects on Exotic Aquatic Species
Booklet of activities and community stewardship projects developed by students as part of Sea Grant Exotic Aquatics on the Move education project. Produced by the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program. 2001. Contact: Valerie Eichman, IL-IN Sea Grant (217) 333-8055 or Doug Jensen, MN Sea Grant (218) 726-8712. Cost: Single hard copies available free of charge.

EATM: Exotic Aquatics on the Move CD: Building a Web of Awareness for Geography Educators and Students
Twenty-seven lessons on aquatic invasive species available as printable PDF files and in alignment with the National Geography Education Standards. Produced by six Sea Grant Programs (IL-IN, LA, MN, NY, OH, and WA) and six Geographic Education Alliances (IL, IN, LA, MI, NY, and WA). 2001. Contact: Robin Goettel, IL-IN Sea Grant (217) 333-4780 or Doug Jensen, MN Sea Grant (218) 726-8712. Cost: $2.50.

ESCAPE: Exotic Species Compendium of Activities to Protect the Ecosystem
An extensive collection on AIS for K-12 students. The compendium includes 36 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities, as well as game boards, zebra mussel shells, posters, music, an educational video, and more. Produced by the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program in partnership with the Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio Sea Grant Programs. 2001. Contact: Valerie Eichman, IL-IN Sea Grant (217) 244-8809 or Doug Jensen, MN Sea Grant (218) 726-8712. Cost: $58 (plus shipping).

Phragmites Handout [PDF 61KB]

Traveling Trunk Adventure: Exotic Aquatics
Get up close and personal with exotic plants and animals! Trunk includes interdisciplinary lesson plans, preserved specimens, stories, identification guides, lesson plans, and a video that uses the Bill Nye the Science Guy™ approach to learning. Designed for audiences ages 9 to adult. Trunk assists educators in providing intensified studies of exotic species. Developed by the Minnesota Sea Grant Program in collaboration with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program. 1996. Contact: Doug Jensen, MN Sea Grant (218) 726-8712. Cost: $35 / 10-day rental (costs vary depending on shipping).

Purple loosestrife curriculum
Wisconsin DNR, in cooperation with Wisconsin Wetland Association and Wisconsin teachers with experience rearing and releasing purple loosestrife-eating beetles, have created a set of 14 curricular activities focusing on wetland ecology and function, invasive species and their effects and especially the specific process of developing, rearing and releasing these beetles to control purple loosestrife. Contact Brock Woods at Wisconsin DNR, (608) 221-6349.