Invasive Species AWARE

This series of lesson plans and activities has been developed to support learning about invasive species and pests. The lessons focus on the impact of invasive animals and plants.

The 8 X 45 minute long lessons in this series contain lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, teaching aides, student workbooks and activities for the classroom.

Through this series of lessons, students will learn about the common invasive plants and animals in the Pacific that can cause problems for people, agriculture and the natural environment.

The lesson theme is centered around basic information and lesson content was based on the Year 6 Kiribati curriculum but adapted for general use.

Lesson topics: Taro beetle : Myna birds : Cats and dogs : RatsInvasive plants  : Coconut rhinoceros beetle : Invasive ants : Mosquito : English Teaching Aides

Learning outcomes

The students learn about invasive plants and animals came from and the impact they cause to people and the environment. Using this knowledge, the students will be encouraged to think of ways to identify ways to help prevent these invasive plants and animals from entering their country and effective management of those that are already present.

The activities involve scientific observation, communication and thinking skills.

Back to top

How to deliver the lessons

All lessons can be taught together as a module. Each lesson can also be used stand-alone lessons on invasive species.

You can download all the resources needed for these lessons in a compressed file

Back to top

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 1: Taro beetles

In this lesson, students will be able to learn more about taro beetles and their impact. At the end of the lesson, students will able to:

  • Learn the characteristics of the taro beetle.
  • Learn the origins of the taro beetle.
  • Understand the negative impacts of the taro beetle on agriculture and people.
  • Learn about ways to manage the taro beetle.

Lesson 1 : Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentation : Student WorkbookAnnex 1

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 2: Myna birds

In this lesson, students will be able to learn more about myna birds and their impact. At the end of the lesson, students will able to:

  • Learn about mynas birds.
  • Where the myna birds came from and how they arrived in our country.
  • The problems they cause to our people, our agriculture and our natural environment.
  • The meaning of the word ‘Omnivore’.
  • Success stories of myna bird control.

Lesson 2 Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentationStudent Workbook

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 3: Cats and dogs

In this lesson, students will be able to learn more about cats and dogs and their impact. At the end of the lesson, students will able to:

  • Understand the term free-ranging.
  • Learn about the origins of cats and dogs.
  • Understand the negative impacts of these animals on public and people health and safely.
  • Learn about ways to manage free-ranging cats and dogs.

Lesson 3 Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentation : Student Workbook

Back to top

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 4: Rats

In this lesson, students will be able to learn more about rats and their impact on Kiribati. At the end of the lesson, students will able to:

  • Learn the characteristics of the rat.
  • Learn the origins of the rat.
  • Understand the negative impacts of the rat on agriculture and people.
  • Learn about ways to manage the rat

Lesson 4 Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentation : Student Workbook : Annex 1 : Annex 2 : Annex 3

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 5: Invasive plants

In this lesson, students will be able to learn more about invasive plants and their impact. At the end of the lesson, students will able to:

  • Learn what are invasive plants?
  • Learn about 4 common invasive plants.
  • Learn where the invasive plants came from and how they arrived in our country.
  • Understand the problems they cause to our people, our agriculture and our natural environment.

Lesson 5 Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentation : Student Workbook : Annex 1

Back to top

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 6: Coconut rhinoceros beetle

In this lesson, students will be able to learn more about invasive plants and their impact. At the end of the lesson, students will able to:

  • Learn the different types of coconut rhinoceros beetle.
  • Understand the negative impacts of the coconut rhinoceros beetle on agriculture and people.
  • Learn about ways to manage common coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentationStudent Workbook

Back to top

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 7: Invasive ants

Through this lesson, students will able to: 

  • Identify an ant as a living thing.
  • Understand that not all ants are invasive.
  • List the positive and negative impacts of ants on our environment. 
  • Use the skills of self-management, responsible decision-making and problem-solving and exhibit the values of care, respect and social-awareness.

Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentationAnnex 1b : Annex 2 : Annex 3

Back to top

Invasive plants and animals Lesson 8: Mosquito

In this lesson, students will be able to learn more about mosquitoes and their impact. At the end of the lesson, students will able to:

  • Learn the characteristics of the mosquito.
    Understand the impacts of the mosquito on people and the environment.
    Learn about ways to manage and prevent mosquito breeding.


Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan : PowerPoint presentationStudent Workbook

Back to top

English Teaching Aides

These teaching aides are in the form of posters and created to supplement the learning and teaching of the PIAT Aware lessons. 

Teaching aide

Image sources

Feral cat image by Brocken Inaglory - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2750156
Sphagneticola trilobata image courtesy of wikicommons (Public domain)
Feral dog image courtesy of wikicommons, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.orgwikiFileFeral_Dog
Rat Image by unnamed author, CC 4.0 BY-NC, http://pngimg.com/download/23557
Little fire ant image Alex Wild, https://www.alexanderwild.com

Information sources

Information sources are listed in each of the lesson plans.

We thank Souad Boudjelas of Pacific Invasives Initiative for collating information on invasive plants, myna birds, taro beetle and cats and dogs.