AIS Lesson Plans and Materials

Be (Aquatic Invasive Species) Aware Unit

Designed for grades 6-8

This unit introduces students to potential aquatic invasive species (AIS) threats to Montana waters. These lessons explore pathways of introduction, methods of dispersal, potential environmental impacts, organism distribution, and species adaptations, as well as community group impacts.

This unit was created by FLBS, with support from the Flathead Lakers and the Montana DNRC.

These lessons are supported by AIS material trunks, which are available for checkout. Contact the FLBS education team for trunk reservations.

View the FLBS AIS Trunk availability calendar

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Lesson Plans

Lesson 1: Wonder Whys of AIS

In this lesson students will be introduced to five non-native aquatic invasive species (AIS) that are potential threats to Montana waters. This lesson will explore pathways of introduction, methods of dispersal, potential environmental impacts, distribution of these organisms, and adaptations that make these species invasive.

Lesson Plan

  • Wonder Whys of AIS Lesson Plan

Presentation

  • Wonder Whys of AIS Presentation

Additional Materials

  • Student worksheets
  • AIS Stations
  • AIS Distribution Maps
  • Aquatic Invasive Species Field Guide
  • Montana Reference Map

Remote Learning (RL) Materials for "Home School" Use

  • RL Student worksheets
  • RL AIS Activity Stations

Lesson 2: Food Web Challenge

In this lesson, students complete a lake food web challenge, learn how all organisms in the lake ecosystem are interconnected, and explain how aquatic invasive species can impact the food web.

 

Lesson Plan

  • Food Web Challenge Lesson Plan

Presentation

  • Food Web Challenge Presentation

Additional Materials

  • Student worksheets
  • Food Web Challenge Cards

Remote Learning (RL) Materials for "Home School" Use

  • RL Student worksheets

*Teachers, to obtain the answer key for the Search and Find activity or DNA strip identification, please contact us.

Lesson 3: Mapping AIS Mayhem

In this lesson, students will examine invasive mussel distribution maps to learn how fast invasive mussels can disperse over time, discuss how the mussels move from place to place, and explain how they could impact their local economy and environment.

Lesson Plan

  • Mapping AIS Mayhem Lesson Plan

Presentation
For optimal classroom use, we recommend using the Powerpoint (PPTX) version. For low bandwidth or web viewing, use the PDF version.

  • Mapping AIS Mayhem Presentation (PowerPoint)
  • Mapping AIS Mayhem Presentation (PDF)

Additional Materials

  • Student worksheets
  • Columbia River Basin Map
  • Flathead Region Map
  • Montana Reference Map
  • Watershed Map

Remote Learning (RL) Materials for "Home School" Use

  • RL Student worksheets

Lesson 4: AIS Mussel Mania

Students will compare and contrast native freshwater mussels to invasive zebra and quagga mussels, and learn how their life cycles, anatomy, and habitat preference are similar or different to each other.

 

Lesson Plan

  • AIS Mussel Mania Lesson Plan

Additional Material

  • Student worksheets
  • Freshwater Mussel Life Cycle part A *
  • Freshwater Mussel Life Cycle part B *
  • Invasive Mussel Life Cycle *
  • Zebra Mussel Anatomy

Remote Learning (RL) Materials for "Home School" Use

  • RL Student worksheets

* Students will also need the life cycle and zebra mussel anatomy diagrams (posted above) to complete this lesson at home.

Lesson 5: Most Unwanted AIS Poster

In this lesson, students will create an informational poster about aquatic invasive species (AIS) that are a threat to their local environment and economy. The poster may be completed as either an electronic document or as a hard-copy poster. To educate the school community, the finished posters can be posted in the school and/or compiled into a document that can be shared electronically.

Lesson Plan

  • Most Unwanted AIS Poster Lesson Plan

Presentation

  • Most Unwanted AIS Presentation

Additional Materials

  • Student worksheets

Remote Learning (RL) Materials for "Home School" Use
This lesson can be completed as designed entirely from home with the use of internet. If a student does not have internet at home the teacher can print out one of the two research packets below for the student to use.

  • RL Student worksheets
  • RL Topic Sign Up Sheet*
  • RL Research Packet A - American Bullfrog
  • RL Research Packet B - Zebra Mussel
  • RL Poster Gallery worksheet**

* The Topic Sign Up Sheet is provided as a Microsoft Word document so the instructor can enter in the student names into the document.

**The Poster Gallery activity would be an optional extension for the students to examine each other's posters from an online platform.

Lesson 6: Amazing AIS Adaptations

In this lesson, students will design an imaginary aquatic invasive species (AIS), and explain how AIS have physical, chemical, and/or behavioral adaptations that help them outcompete other species.

 

Lesson Plan

  • Amazing AIS Adaptations Lesson Plan

Presentation

  • Amazing AIS Adaptations Presentation

Additional Material

  • Student worksheets
  • Amazing AIS Adaptations Cards

Remote Learning (RL) Materials for "Home School" Use

  • RL Student worksheets (pdf)
  • RL Amazing AIS Animal Adaptation Cards (docx) *

* The RL Amazing AIS Animal Adaptation cards are provided as a Microsoft Word document so that instructor can add student names to the cards.

Lesson 7: Managing AIS

In this lesson, small groups of students will have 15-20 minutes to read one fact sheet and watch one short video about the impacts of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) on various stakeholder groups in Montana. They will prepare and give a short presentation to share with the class about their stakeholder. They will be challenged with an AIS management scenario and asked to reflect on the impact for their particular stakeholder.

Lesson Plan

  • Managing AIS Lesson Plan

Additional Material

  • Student worksheets
  • Stakeholder Readings*

Remote Learning (RL) Materials for "Home School" Use

  • RL Student worksheets

* The students will also need the stakeholder readings (posted above) to complete this lesson at home. If a student does not have internet, he/she can complete the lesson without watching the videos provided in the readings.

Community Connections: Mussel Walk

A culminating activity after completing the AIS lessons is to have the students participate in a Mussel Walk along a local shoreline. The first Mussel Walk around Flathead Lake was organized by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).  The activities described below were done at Mussel Walks during Spring 2019 through a collaboration between CSKT, the Flathead Lakers and FLBS.  

During the Mussel Walk, students put their classroom knowledge to the test as they rotate through four activities and then walk along the shoreline to search for invasive mussels and to pick up litter. The goal is for the students to become empowered with the knowledge of how to protect their local lakes, ponds, wetlands, rivers, and streams from invasive mussels and to take an active role in Aquatic Invasive Species prevention. 

Below are brief descriptions of the activities.

Activity A

AIS Game Show (15 min.)

Students work in groups of 3-5 to answer questions about invasive zebra and quagga mussel growth, development, reproduction, and methods of dispersal.  Students record their answers on a whiteboard and earn points if they answer correctly. The winning team earns bragging rights and a prize!

AIS Game Show Lesson Plan

Activity B

Mussel Inspection (15 min.)

Students perform an inspection activity that requires them to think about the challenges boat inspectors face when they have to quickly but effectively inspect motorized and non-motorized boats.

Adapted from Invaders Inspector Activity

Activity C

Clean, Drain, Dry Challenge (15 min.)

Student groups of 3-5 are given a small model of one of the following objects: Jet Ski, boat, trailer, rope, seaplane, fishing gear, kayak or raft, inflatable, squirt gun, or fire tanker truck.  The students work together to create an action plan for how they would effectively clean, drain, and dry the object and then present their plan to the group.

Clean, Drain, Dry Activity Lesson Plan

Activity D (option #1)

Exploding Invasives (15 min.)

Students compete in a game that introduces invasive mussels to an existing population of native mussels. Students take the role of a native or invasive mussel and compete for habitat space and resources.

Exploding Invasives (Adapted Project Wet - Invaders! activity)

Activity D (optional #2)

Mussel Dog Demo (15 min.)

A mussel dog handler demonstrates how mussel dogs inspect boats for invasive mussels.   Request a Mussel Dog Demonstration at https://mtblackdogservices.com/

 Note: Although the students typically love to see the mussel dogs in action, the dogs are not always available for these events.  As a result, students can complete the Project Wet - Invaders! game if the mussel dogs are not available.

Shoreline Mussel Walk Activity (30 min.)

To engage in active stewardship of their local watershed, students walk in groups of 20-30 to search for invasive mussels and to collect litter along the shoreline.  Students are given the added challenge to find five pre-placed objects covered in 3D-printed invasive mussels designed by Bigfork artist Eric Thorsen.

AIS Mussel Monitoring Video

Learn how the scientists at the Flathead Lake Biological Station monitor for invasive mussels in Flathead Lake.