INVASIVE PLANTS OF ARIZONA A PROJECT DESIGNED WITH GIFTED FOURTH GRADERS IN MIND

INVASIVE PLANTS OF ARIZONA

A PROJECT DESIGNED WITH GIFTED FOURTH GRADERS IN MIND

By Jason McIntosh7/18/08

ARIZONA STATE STANDARDS:Science

- Changes in Environment“Describe how natural events and

human activities have positive and negative impacts on the environment.”

- Nature of Scientific Knowledge“Describe how scientific knowledge is

subject to change as new information and technology challenges prevailing theories.”

ARIZONA’S INVASIVE PLANTSEXTENSIONS MENU

Student Directions: Please choose three activities in a row while making sure to go through the middle square. You must complete the middle square by yourself, but can work with a partner on the other two activities.

REQUIRED CENTER ACTIVITY

* Choose an invasive plant found in Arizona from the list Mr. McIntosh will give you. Research your plant to find out how it was introduced, why it is a problem, and what can be done about it. Create a PowerPoint to share with the class.

CATEGORIZED LISTHIGH:

These species have severe ecological impacts on ecosystems, plant and animal communities, and vegetational structure; invasiveness attributes are conducive to moderate to high rates of dispersal and establishment; and species are usually widely distributed, both among and within ecosystems communities.

Plants Ranked High (19) • Acroptilon repens (Russian knapweed) • Arundo donax (Giant reed) • Bromus rubens (Red brome) • Bromus tectorum (Cheatgrass) • Centaurea solstitialis (Yellow starthistle) • Eichhornia crassipes (Water hyacinth) • Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive) • Eragrostis lehmanniana (Lehmann lovegrass) • Euphorbia esula (Leafy spurge) • Euryops multifi dus (Sweet resinbush) • Lepidum latifolium (Perennial pepperweed) • Myriophyllum aquaticum (Parrot’s feather) • Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) • Pennisetum ciliare (Buffelgrass) • Pennisetum setaceum (Fountain grass) • Salvina molesta (Giant salvinia) • Tamarix chinensis (Fivestamen tamarisk) • Tamarix parvifl ora (Smallfl ower tamarisk) • Tamarix ramosissima (Saltcedar)

List generated by “Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council” and found at:www.azgovernor.gov/ais/Documents/Final%20Invasive%20Report%20low%20res.pdf

www.aznps.org/html/GrowNative.pdf

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Identify the plants in the works of art Mr. McIntosh gives you using a reference book. Create your own work of art that includes your invasive plant.

(This idea was developed by the Illinois State Museum)

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Use the Plant Studio 2.0 software to make a model of the invasive plant you chose.

This is free shareware you can download by going to this website

http://www.kurtzfernhout.com/PlantStudio/index.htm

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Create a television commercial to run on ABC during your favorite program that uses the slogan “Don’t Plant a Pest!”

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Invent your own invasive plant. What natural species will it displace? What positive or negative side effects will it have on the environment?

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Create a “Wanted” poster for your invasive plant.

Give it human characteristics and be creative.

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Pretend you are an invasive plant. Write a letter to a town asking for their permission to grow there. Be persuasive!

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Pretend the Governor of Arizona has asked you to be on a panel of citizens that has been charged to create a plan of attack for combating invasive plants in our State. What would your recommendations be and why?

OTHER POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Imagine waking up and going outside your house to find all the plants were invasive. Create a skit with a partner about the unusual plants you discover now growing in Arizona. Be sure to mention what states or countries they came from.