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
Lesson Plans
Connecting with Monitoring Montana Waters
Have you ever wondered what's happening in Montana's streams? Take a closer look at stream data from across Montana and the United States to learn more about the importance of river ecosystems.
Detecting AIS with eDNA
In this lesson, students will be introduced to how scientists detect and monitor Aquatic Invasive Species by comparing visual AIS detection with the processes of eDNA sampling, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and DNA Sequencing.
*Teachers, to obtain the answer key for the Search and Find activity or DNA strip identification, please contact us.
Discovering Data
The resources below will walk you through how to access public stream data from the Montana State University Extension Water Quality Program website and the National Water Quality Monitoring Council's Water Quality Portal. Additionally, you can find instructions on how to access lake, weather, and tributary data collected by Flathead Lake Biological Station scientists.
Food Web Dynamics (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
Students are introduced to what all plants and animals have in common and what they both need to survive. During this activity they will build a lake food chain and food web, as well as, learn how all organisms in the lake ecosystem are interconnected.
*Teachers, to obtain the answer key for the Search and Find activity or DNA strip identification, please contact us.
Food Web Dynamics (6th to 12th grade)
Students build a lake food web, learn how all organisms in the lake ecosystem are interconnected, and explain the roles phytoplankton and zooplankton play in the lake ecosystem as primary producers and consumers.
This lesson is designed for students to complete (in class) prior to attending a Lake Ecology field trip at the Bio Station.
Water Cycle Unit (5th to 8th grade)
Students will be introduced to the water cycle from both a local and global perspective, as well as, participate in hands-on inquiry stations, an online water cycle exploration activity, and a teacher-led presentation that will aid vocabulary acquisition and use. Students demonstrate their understanding of the water cycle by building a 3-D model that represents how the water cycles through a specific biome found on Earth.
Summary
Pre and Post-Unit Quizzes
Unit Lessons
Lesson #1: Water Cycle Inquiry: Explore the processes of the water cycle with five hands-on activities.
Lesson #2: Water Cycle Vocabulary Foldable: Learn the unit vocabulary by creating and using foldable flashcards.
Lesson #3: Water Cycle Around the World: Find and record evidence of the water cycle around the world using Google MyMaps.
Lesson #4: Four Seasons of the Water Cycle: Learn about how the Earth's tilt and rotation around the sun create uneven heating of the Earth's surface. The uneven heating impacts the global water cycle and the distribution of biomes on Earth.
Lesson #5: Water Cycle 3-D Model: Demonstrate your understanding by designing and building a functional 3-D model of a water cycle that represents a specific biome on Earth.