Invasive Species: K-12 Educator Resources

Utilizing iMapInvasives in the classroom

Invasive species are non-native plants, animals, insects and diseases that threaten our environment, health and economy. Due to things like a lack of predators, invasives grow quickly and outcompete our native species for resources, disrupting food webs and even endangering some species. It is crucial that students have a basic understanding of invasive species and what they can do to help stop the spread. By instilling this knowledge at an early age, we can help mold them into becoming good stewards of the environment. Incorporate invasive species into your classroom by utilizing the resources below.

All links below leave DEC's website unless otherwise noted.

Educator Resources

Curriculum and lesson plans

• DEC's invasive species curriculum for middle and high school students (PDF)
  • To view the accompanying PowerPoint presentation and other additional materials, visit the iMapInvasives Educator Resources page
• USDA's Hungry Pests Curriculum and Educator Resources
• Aquatic invasive species activities from New York's Great Lakes Ecosystem Education Exchange (GLEEE)
• US Forest Service's Non-Native Invasive Species Learning Kits
• USDA's K-12 Educators Resource Library

Educational materials

• Conservationist for Kids magazine: Invasive Species issue (PDF)
• USDA's Hungry Pests Kid's Activities
• Invasive species training from the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network
• Western NY PRISM's Invasive Species Coloring Book

Additional Resources

• iMapInvasives - New York State's invasive species database
• Seek app from iNaturalist - Free app that uses image recognition to help you identify the plants and animals around you
• SLELO PRISM's educational resources - Videos, guides, and presentations from the St. Lawrence/Eastern Lake Ontario PRISM
• Cornell's FishTracker - This student-oriented citizen science project records and maps the presence of several species of fish, both endangered and invasive, in New York State
• Sea Grant's Nab the Aquatic Invader Website - Kids become a "Sea Grant Super Sleuth" and investigate pesky aquatic invasives in this educational game
• Introduction to Scientific Sketching from the California Academy of Sciences - Kids can practice their observation skills while learning to sketch like a scientist
• Kid friendly plant identification guide from the Alice Ferguson Foundation - Leaf-based ID guide that breaks up plants by habitat type
• Connect Kids to Parks Field Trip Grant Program - Field trip refund grant program connecting New York school children with nature and New York State history
• DEC's teacher information (DEC website) - Resources for educators and youth leaders