Astoria Park Elementary School
Tallahassee, FL
Program for Gifted Students and Able Learners
Fall 2006
Mrs. Sandy Beck ,Teacher

Alien Invaders Class Schedule

AUGUST

August 16
Introductions. Show “The Trouble With Tribbles” Star Trek show.
KEY QUESTIONS: What are Tribbles? What are exotic species? What are some ways that invasive species are introduced to new places? Why are they a problem? What can you do to help? 
August 23
Show invasive exotic clips from United Streaming Video: Norwegian rat, hydrilla, nutria. Compare to Tribbles. Learn and discuss relevant new vocabulary words. Homework: Bring cuttings of plants from your backyard.
August 30
Review new vocabulary. Using field guides and the Internet, work in small groups to identify plants students brought. Take a walk outside, identify and learn about some of the trees, shrubs, grasses and other plants. Discuss “monoculture vs. biodiversity.”

SEPTEMBER

September 6
Review new vocabulary and characteristics of native, exotic and invasive exotic species. Distribute samples of local invasive exotic plants: mimosa, kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese climbing fern, etc. Students work in small groups to create a Profile of one species on a sheet of construction paper then share. Resources: charts, field guides, Internet.
1. Use clear contact paper to place sample on paper.
2. Write its common name.
3. Where does it originate (come from)?
4. Pathway?
5. Vectors?
6. What is the economic or environmental impact of this plant?
7. How can it be controlled?
September 13
Begin writing creative stories about “newly discovered” invasive species.
September 20
Continue creative stories.
September 27
Share creative stories. Watch National Geographic’s “Strange Days on Planet Earth,” discuss and begin extension activities.

OCTOBER
October 4
Complete and share “Strange Days on Planet Earth” activities.
October 11
Judy Ludlow, DEP biologist works with class to identify, take digital photos  and samples of invasive species on campus.
October 18
Research samples collected last week and work on individual field guides, creating a Profile for each.
October 25
Field Trip to Lake Jackson Mounds State Park with DEP biologist Judy Ludlow to identify, photograph and collect more samples.

NOVEMBER

November 1
Work on field guides
November 8
Meet and learn exotic birds and reptiles. Kathleen Carr, who has the web site monkparakeet.com, will share bring some of her monk parakeets to class.
November 15
Work on field guides
November 22 
Thanksgiving
November 29
Remove invasive exotic plant species on campus and replace with native plants.

DECEMBER

December 6
Remove invasives on campus and replace with natives.
December 13
Students share pages of field guides and photos of invasives at school (“before photos”) and photos of new natives planted (“after photos”) in a collaborative PowerPoint presentation for other classes.
December 20 
Early Release Day, no class

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Alien Invaders class

The Wild Classroom