Why should you be teaching about weeds?
Plant ecology often receives little attention in science classes, but teaching plant ecology and topics like invasive weeds not only educates students about interdisciplinary subjects like the water cycle, biological diversity, and soil matter, but also prompts students to be advocates in their communities by joining organizations that tackle important issues facing their local environments.
In a partnership with Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Sierra Nevada Journeys pooled their resources to make teaching plant ecology easy. The result is a hands-on Weed Warriors Curriculum, aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Nevada Academic Content Standards, focused on empowering kids to be active participants in preventing the spread of noxious weeds.
In four exploration-based lessons, students learn about Northern Nevada’s desert ecosystem, how noxious weeds affect native plants, how humans can add to the spread of invasive species, and most importantly, what they can do to become better advocates of their local ecosystem. The curriculum is packed with vocabulary words, extension activities, further resources and references, and adaptions for ESL, Special Ed or G.T.
To get started, watch this facilitated learning video, “Weed Warriors”, created by Clear Stream Media and in partnership with the Nevada Division of Agriculture, Truckee River Fund, Terry Beaty and Anne Mehringer, and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful. This video is open for informational use to teachers and the public and urges students to become Weed Warriors themselves.
To learn about this resource or download the Weed Warriors curriculum click here.