Student Action to
Increase Biodiversity SSL at OEEP and at School
5 E Lessons
Enduring Understanding:
• Natural resources need protection and
conservation in a given environment.
• Biodiversity is a natural resource.
Essential Question:
• How can people help maintain and increase
biodiversity in their local environment?
5 E Lessons
Lesson Options:
All-Season Stewardship:
• Mulching
• Pulling Invasive Species
• Habitat Creation
Seasonal Stewardship:
• Seed Collection
• Planting perennials or bulbs
What is the connection between these
stewardship actions and protecting
biodiversity?
• Mulching
• Pulling Invasive Species
• Habitat Creation
• Seed Collection
• Planting perennials or bulbs
They all help local species survive! Local plants and
animals need habitat, food, and water!
First Mini Lesson:
Poison Ivy – The Plant!
What does it look like? Spring and Fall? Winter?
Can I still get it in the winter?
How can I protect myself?
Poison Ivy
Choose Your Own Adventure:
Three options:
1. Mulching Does More Than Look Pretty!
Help the Environment (Slides 8-13)
2. Say Goodbye to Nonnative Invasive Plants
(Slides 15 - 30)
3. Brush Piles for Life (Slide 32)
Mulching Helps the Environment?
Sure, it looks good, but how is
mulching good for the
environment?
Mulching Helps the Environment!
• Weed Control
• Moisture Retention
• Erosion Prevention
• Encouragement for Earthworms to Move In
• Maintenance of Soil Nutrients
How to Mulch Effectively!
• Spread the mulch about 3-4 inches thick. The
more mulch, the better!
• Mulch one smaller area completely with no
holes, bare spots, or gaps, before moving on to
another area.
How to Mulch Effectively!
• If mulching in a
garden, weed and
rake the area first.
• If mulching around
trees, be sure to
create a donut shape
around the tree – not
a volcano – and don’t
go too high up the
tree.
What Not to Do When You Mulch
Can you
guess why
this is bad
for trees?
SSL Reflection Discourse:
Now that we have completed our work for
today, talk with an elbow partner about:
• What you learned about mulching that you did not
know before
• How this SSL work helped the environment(i.e. what
need did your service address)
• Who or what benefitted from your service
• Transition slide
Non-Native Invasive Plant Removal
Nonnative Invasive Plant Removal:
Background
What is a nonnative invasive plant?
Nonnative:
Exists in an environment
where the species did not
evolve.
Invasive:
Displays rapid growth
and spreads quickly over
large areas.
Nonnative Invasive Plant Removal:
Background
Why are nonnative plants here?
Brought in by mistake! In soil, ship ballast,
or crop seed
Brought in on purpose! Intentionally
introduced because they provided:
o Ornamental landscape material
o Quick-growing and pest-free erosion
control
o Visual screening and windbreaks
o Edible food!
Why are Nonnative Plants a Problem?
VS
Nonnative Plants
o Native animals do not eat
them, and native diseases
don’t kill them
o Outcompete native plants
for basic necessities for
survival
o Are aggressive (grow fast)
and persistent
VS
Native Plants
o Are food sources for native
wildlife
o Are host plants for native
butterflies
o Play a vital role in the local
ecosystem
Wine Berry
o Native to Japan, Korea, and China
o Introduced in 1890 to combine with
raspberry and blackberry species
o Has 3 heart-shaped leaves that are white underneath
o Has deep red hairy stalks
Stilt Grass
o Native to Japan, Korea,
China, Malaysia and India.
o Bright green grass that has
silver hairs down the center
of its short bamboo-like
blade.
o Invades and alters disturbed
soils in sun or shade.
o In fall, it elongates quickly,
then produces seed banks
which stay viable in the soil
for years.
Oriental Bittersweet
o A deciduous, climbing, woody
vine that can grow to lengths of
60 ft. (18.3 m).
o Prolific vine growth allows it to
encircle trees and girdle them.
o
!!!
Oriental Bittersweet
• Vines can completely cover other
vegetation and shade, outcompete and kill even large trees.
• Birds eat the berries and spread
the seeds, so it disperses quickly.
• Remove by cutting the vine and
pulling up the roots.
• DO NOT PULL THE VINE DOWN!!!
Garlic Mustard
o Native to Europe
o Introduced in 1860 by humans for
food and medicinal purposes
o Leaves are triangular to heartshaped, and give off an odor of
garlic when crushed
o Small white flowers each have four
petals in the shape of a cross
Garlic Mustard
Look Alikes!
Beware!
Pull Only the Bad Guy!
GARLIC MUSTARD
SWEET CICELY – DON’T PULL!
GARLIC MUSTARD
EARLY SAXIFRAGE
DON’T PULL!
GARLIC MUSTARD
TOOTHWORT
DON’T PULL!
Action Plan
Pull EVERY invasive plant in your
group's area –
Leaving one plant is like
sowing a hundred seeds.
Get the roots out!
Grab the plant low on the
stem and wiggle to loosen the
roots.
Action Plan
Pile nonnative invasive plants in
one location
Some of these brush piles will
provide shelter for small
mammals and grounddwelling birds
Hint: When a wine berry branch
droops over and hits the ground,
it often re-roots – watch for
multiple root systems!
SSL Reflection Discourse:
Now that we have completed our work for
today, talk with an elbow partner about:
• What you learned about removing nonnative
invasive plants that you did not know before
• How this SSL work helped the
environment(i.e. what need did your service
address)
• Who or what benefitted from your service
• Transition
Brush Piles for Life
• Student viewing: Click on the link below to
find out more about creating habitats in the
woods.
https://prezi.com/sfxvngjlzomk/where-do-youwant-tolive/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
SSL Reflection Discourse:
Now that we have completed our work for
today, talk with an elbow partner about:
• What you learned about creating animal
habitat that you did not know before
• How this SSL work helped the
environment(i.e. what need did your service
address)
• Who or what benefitted from your service