The Thorny Problem: A Japanese Beetle Activity
Grade Level: Middle School
Discipline: Biology
Standards: Science as Inquiry:
- Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigations
- Design and conduct a scientific investigation
- Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data
- Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence
- Think critically and logically to make the relationships between evidence and explanations
- Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions
- Communicate scientific procedures and explanations
- Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry
Japanese beetles are a thorn in the side of rose growers everywhere. The invasive species, introduced to North America in the early 1900s, causes crop and landscaping damage in the tens of millions of dollars each year, and roses are not immune. But are all types of roses the same in the eyes of the beetles?
This simple, one-day activity answers that question while helping young scholars build the skills to gather, analyze, interpret, and report scientific data. A 20-point scoring rubric is included for easy grading.
Learn more by downloading the activity plan above.
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