Inquiry

by

Knotweed Germination Lesson

Knotweed Germination – Harvey- 9th/10th Grade
WISE teacher, Julia Harvey, makes important discovery with her students: Knotweed in the Willamette valley produces viable seed! After learning about Japanese knotweed at a WISE workshop, high school biology teacher Julia Harvey guided her students through an inquiry exercise to test whether knotweed populations in the upper Willamette Valley produced viable seed. Knotweed mainly reproduces through its roots or by vegetation fragments, but little is known about seed viability in the Willamette Valley. Students learned about experimental design for the state science work sample. They looked at whether knotweed seeds preferred moist or dry, hot or cool, light or no light conditions. Their experiments revealed that knotweed seeds are viable in nearly all the germination conditions they tested.

Knotweed Powerpoint – Harvey – 9th/10th Grade
A PowerPoint with many pictures of Knotweed, specifically in the Springfield, OR region.

by

AIS Blog description

Life – 10th Grade

Engaging the Community –
Teacher developed a blog to publicize her students work with Invasives, include links to news articles and information about ordering the “start to care” sweatshirts. View blog at: http://julielife-ais.blogspot.com/

Outcome –
Teacher led campaign to educate the community about invasive species.

Further Application –
A blog can increase awareness of AIS and provide a medium for students and others to share their work.

by

T-Shirts/Bumper Stickers description

Life – 10th Grade

Engaging the Community –
Anti AIS logo, illustration, and the words “Start to Care, Stop AIS from being there” printed on stylish dark green hoodie sweatshirt, t-shirt, or bumper stickers.

Outcome –
Availability of a logo and materials to help spread the work about invasives

Further Application –
Shirts and bumper sticker will continure to be distributed,made available on webstites, etc.

by

Invasive Species Songs description

Wilson – 7th Grade

Audio-Visual Media –
Hip-hop songs about invasives are and how we can make a difference. All original material developed by students.

Outcome –
Students learned about invasive species while having fun and being creative.

Further Application –
Songs were played on the local radio station and can be used in multiple educational settings to inspire others.

by

News Articles description

Wilson – 7th Grade

Engaging the Community –
Articles describe the need to increase public awareness and urge participation in the effort to stop invasive species spread

Outcome –
Students learn that they can have a positive contribution to their community.

Further Application –
Student developed news articles for distribution in local newsletters or paper

by

Invasive Species Posters description

Wilson – 7th Grade

Posters –
Posters define invasive species, describe their identification and impacts, and what people can do.

Outcome –
Students learn that they can have a positive contribution to their community

Further Application –
The posters will be laminated and posted at strategic places in their community in Cottage Grove in partnership with the Coast Fork Watershed Council

by

Integrated Invasives in Core Subjects description

Wilson – 7th Grade

Science Learning –
Read and summarize articles about invasive species

Students studied energy flow, biodiversity, nutrient cycling and co-evolution as a way to understand invasive species and their impacts

Outcome –
Students develop reading comprehension skills while learning about how invasive species are related to local issues.

Students learned the definition, spread, impact and solutions for invasive species.