Developed by INSTAAR (Timothy Seastedt, Emily Krall, David Knochel) in collaboration with BVSD teachers Kim Greene and Dan Tomlin at Manhattan Middle School.

Developed by INSTAAR (Timothy Seastedt, Emily Krall, David Knochel) in collaboration with BVSD teachers Kim

Greene and Dan Tomlin at Manhattan Middle School

Weeds and Weevils Lesson Plan

for 7th grade

Life cycles of plants

Dalmatian ToadflaxSpotted Knapweed

Life cycles of insects

Mencinus janthinusLarinus minutus

Interaction between the life cycles of plants and insects

Fitting in with larger goals

Substituting for STC Organisms---From Macro to Micro Lesson 6 The Cabbage White---From Egg to ButterflyAdvantages:

Uses local examplesEliminates hard to

manage development of caterpillar

Eliminates coordination of Fast Plant growth with the caterpillar

Replaces with easy to store and use plant/insect dissection

Additional advantages…Highlights current

CU science research Introduces the

environmental threat of non-native invasive species

Discusses the strategies of land management, including biological controls

Lesson 1.1 Introduction to topic

Lesson 1.2Dissection of dandelion

Lesson 1.3Review HW assignmentLife cycle card game

Lesson 1.4Knapweed and toadflax dissections

Overview of lesson plan

Introduce students to the life cycles of plants and insects and how they interactVenn diagramStudents discuss their findings in table groups

Discuss the area where plant and insect cycles overlap

Lesson 1.1

Introduce term “invasive species” to studentsWhat is an invasive species or weed?Discuss characteristics of an invasive weed:

large seed bank, can survive with few resources, etc.

Dissect dandelions Identify parts of the plant: root, stem, leaves,

flower, seedMake scientific drawings, give opportunity to

look at plant under microscope

Lesson 1.2

Review “invasion of the soil grabbers” homework assignmentLook at graph results on projector, discuss

what the graph showsLife cycle cards

Students put cards in order of insect and plant life cycles

Discuss mistakes that students make and describe correct order

Lesson 1.3

Image of Soil Grabbers Homework Graph

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

Non-native invasive annual grasses and forbs

Year

% o

f g

rou

nd

co

vere

d

Dissect Knapweed seed headsFind Larinus minutus insects in the seed heads

Identify different stages:Larvae, pupa, adult

Dissect Dalmatian Toadflax stemsFind Mencinus janthinus

Identify different stages:Larvae, pupa, adult

Lesson 1.4

Debrief dissectionsReiterate how plants and insects coexist and

need each other to survive. Also review life cycles of both.

Discuss the potential negative impacts of biological controls and why these examples are scientifically soundTested in a lab for 5 years before introduced, first

introduced in a closed environment, host-specific to knapweed and toadflax

Be sure students understand the environmental consequences of invasive species

Conclusions

Average Pre-test Score: 8.48 Average Post-test Score: 10.80Average Change: 2.33 Average percent increase in score: 16%Range: 11% to 23%

Improvements…Insect life cycles

Adaptions for other grades…

Success rates

What did you learn?

“I learned that invasive plants are steadily rising in growth each year”

“I learned that some insects live in plants.”“I learned about the insect and plant life

cycle.”“I learned that beetles inside invasive plants

are killing the plant and eating the inside.”

Comments from students

Emily Krall—Outreach Coordinator at INSTAAREmily.krall@colorado.edu

Kim Greene—Science teacher at Manhattan Middle SchoolKim.greene @bvsd.org

Dan Tomlin—Science teacher at Manhattan Middle School dan.tomlin@bvsd.org

Contacts