Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Aquatic Invasive Species Education Project

Aquatic Invasive Species Education Project

Aquatic Invasive Species Education Trunk


Bring the outside into your classroom with this unique hands-on, interdisciplinary teaching tool. This trunk is designed to educate students while building on fundamental disciplines like math, art, social studies, science, language arts, and physical education.

The Aquatic Invasive Species Education Trunk is available FREE to educators in Maryland for a one to two week period, depending on availability. Please call the location nearest you to reserve an education trunk. You will be responsible for picking up and dropping off the education trunk at the appropriate location (see Locations and Contact Information below). For a listing of additional education trunks, please click here.

Education Kit Button
 

What’s Inside?

Books/Education guides:

  • Alien Invaders in Nature: A Folding Pocket Guide
  • Aliens from Earth: When Animals and Plants Invade Other Ecosystems by Marry Batten
  • Educator’s guide with over 40 lesson plans!
  • Invasion Ecology Student Guide by M. Krasny
  • Invasion Ecology Teacher Guide by M. Krasny
  • Legend of the American Chestnut Tree printout by K. Carmack & N. Rodriguez
  • Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping by USFWS
  • Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas by NPS and USFWS
  • Teaching About Invasive Species by T. Grant

CDs

  • Resource CD w/ lesson plans, resources, and videos

Hands-On Items

  • American Chestnut burr
  • Bullfrog replica
  • Chinese Chestnut
  • Chinese Chestnut burr
  • Laminated American and Chinese Chestnut leaves
  • Laminated Purple Loosestrife segment
  • Laminated Water Chestnut
  • Lesson plan supplies and materials to run activities
  • Life-size fish print (see below)
  • Nutria pelt
  • Muskrat pelt
  • Red-eared Slider replica
  • Rusty Crayfish in resin
  • Water Chestnut fruit
  • Zebra Mussel shells in container

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How to Reserve​

The Aquatic Invasive Species trunk may be reserved by educators for up to 2 weeks at a time, pending availability. The trunk is free to use, but it must be picked up and dropped off at the loan facility. Anyone 18 and older can borrow the trunk for education purposes. Proof of ID is required upon picking up the trunk.

This project was generously funded by the Mid-Atlantic Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species (SA7528131-C) and was completed by staff with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.​