Ripple Effects is a collection of 6-12 grade activities that introduce students to aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.
Curriculum Developed by: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Funding is provided by Great Lakes Restoration Initiative via an interagency agreement between the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Grant NA23OAR4170128).
Original Publication Date: 2026
Lesson 1: Ripple Effects, Invader Species of the Great Lakes
Lesson Summary Students engage in a card-matching activity to learn about aquatic invasive species (AIS). In…
Lesson 2: Ripple Effects, Find 7 Ways Aquatic Invaders Are Spread
Lesson Summary Aquatic invasive species (AIS) can be introduced into new bodies of water through various…
Lesson 3: Ripple Effects, Characteristics of Great Lakes Invasive Species
Lesson Summary Students use puzzle pieces to match Great Lakes aquatic invasive species (AIS) with their…
Lesson 4: Ripple Effects, Seeing Purple – A Population Explosion
Lesson Summary Through a simulation, sampling, and estimation activity, students learn about the impact of purple…
Lesson 5: Ripple Effects, Interview With A Vampire
Lesson Summary Students will act as reporters to research the effects of sea lamprey on the…
Lesson 6: Ripple Effects, Fishing For Invader Clues
Lesson Summary This activity offers an engaging way for students to conduct research on a specific…
Lesson 7: Ripple Effects, Don’t Stop For Hitchhikers
Lesson Summary Students role-play the part of lake inhabitants and the aquatic invasive species (AIS) that…
Lesson 8: Ripple Effects, Why Do They Thrive
Lesson Summary Students research the physical, biological, and behavioral characteristics of aquatic invasive species (AIS) that…