AIS Lesson Plans and Materials
Be Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) 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 impacts.
This unit was created by FLBS and the Flathead Lakers with a grant from the Montana DNRC.
The unit lessons (described below) are available in electronic format and are also supported by teaching materials which are available for checkout. Contact the FLBS education team for teaching trunk reservations or to obtain specific lesson plans.
Additionally, students may participate in a local Mussel Walk (described below), or view the AIS Monitoring Video (below).
View the FLBS AIS Trunk availability calendar
Lesson Plans
Lesson 1: Wonder Whys of AIS
In this lesson, students are introduced to five non-native aquatic invasive species (AIS) that are potential threats to Montana waters. This lesson explores pathways of introduction, methods of dispersal, potential environmental impacts, distribution of these organisms, and adaptations that make these species invasive.
Resources available include:
- Lesson plan with state standards
- Presentation
- Student worksheets
- Materials for AIS stations
- AIS distribution maps
- AIS field guide
- Montana reference map
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.
Resources available include:
- Lesson plan with state standards
- Presentation
- Student worksheets
- Food web challenge cards
Lesson 3: Mapping AIS Mayhem
In this lesson, students 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.
Resources available include:
- Lesson plan with state standards
- Presentation
- Student worksheets
- Columbia River Basin map
- Flathead region map
- Montana reference map
- Watershed map
Lesson 4: AIS Mussel Mania
In this lesson, students compare and contrast native freshwater mussels to invasive zebra and quagga mussels, and learn how their life cycles, anatomy, and habitat preferences are similar or different to each other.
Resources available include:
- Lesson plan with state standards
- Student worksheets
- Freshwater mussel life cycle diagram
- Invasive mussel life cycle diagram
- Zebra mussel anatomy diagram
Lesson 5: Most Unwanted AIS Poster
In this lesson, students will create an informational poster about aquatic invasive species (AIS) that are threats 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.
Resources available include
- Lesson plan with standards
- Presentation
- Student worksheets
Lesson 6: Amazing AIS Adaptations
In this lesson, students design an imaginary aquatic invasive species (AIS), and explain how AIS have physical, chemical, and/or behavioral adaptations that help them outcompete other species.
Resources available include:
- Lesson plan with standards
- Presentation
- Student worksheet
- Amazing AIS adaptation cards
Lesson 7: Managing AIS
In this lesson, small groups of students read one fact sheet and watch one short video about the impacts of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) on various stakeholder groups in Montana. Each group prepares and gives a short presentation to share with the class about their stakeholder. Students are then challenged with an AIS management scenario and asked to reflect on the impact for their particular stakeholder.
Resources available include:
- Lesson plan with standards
- Student worksheets
- Stakeholder readings
Community Connections: Mussel Walk
A culminating activity after completing the AIS lessons is to have the middle school 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). Since 2019, CSKT, FLBS, the Flathead Lakers, and FWP co-organize several Mussel Walks in spring at different locations.
During the Mussel Walk, students rotate through several activities and then walk along the shoreline to search for invasive mussels and to pick up litter. Students are given the added challenge to find several pre-placed objects covered in 3D-printed invasive mussels designed by Bigfork artist Eric Thorsen.
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.
A typical Mussel Walk takes three hours. If you are interested in bringing your class to one of the Mussel Walks, please contact us.