Lesson Plans & Curricula
Comprehensive lessons designed to integrate AIS topics into your science classroom.
These fully developed, ready-to-use lesson plans explore the science behind Great Lakes aquatic invasive species. They are designed to support STEM education and can be adapted for middle and high school classrooms.
Lake Huron Species Sampling
Students will become scientists and conduct a species sampling to identify which species are in the lake and evaluate the impact on the food web.
Download PDFFood Web Disruption
Students explore how the introduction of zebra and quagga mussels altered the energy flow in the Great Lakes food web through interactive modeling.
Download PDFVectors of Invasion
An investigation into the primary pathways of introduction (ballast water, canals, and trade) and how policy and management can mitigate future risks.
Download PDFBuild an Invader
Students study the biological traits that make a species a successful invader, and then design their own hypothetical invasive organism adapted to a specific habitat.
Coming Soon!Mapping AIS with GLANSIS
A data-driven lesson where students use the GLANSIS Map Explorer to track the spread of specific species over time and analyze distribution patterns.
Coming Soon!The Sea Lamprey Story
Explore the history of one of the Great Lakes' earliest and most devastating invaders, and the scientific innovations used to control their population.
Coming Soon!Looking for more?
Check out our partner links for even more Great Lakes curricula.
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