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Day One: Meet the Borer 

An Introduction to the Emerald Ash Borer

Approximate time

• One class period

Learning Objectives

• Identify and discuss the EAB infestation problem
• Identify successful ways to slow the spread
• Propose ways to promote community involvement in the “slow the spread” effort
• Work cooperatively to produce an effective EAB outreach campaign

Preparation

• Download copies of The Emerald Ash Borers in Your Neighborhood.
• Make transparency of a copy of the News Release. (Or create a PowerPoint slide; this will depend upon the technology that is available.)
• Divide the class into campaign teams, 4-6 students per team.
• Make photocopies and/or overhead of Activity Sheet 1:  Arrest the Pest! Outreach Campaign Plan, one per student or team.

Materials

• Overhead projector or computer and projector
• Transparencies and overhead pens or chart paper and markers
• Paper
• Pens and pencils for taking notes

Vocabulary

• Infestation
• Invasive
• Canopy
• Vertical splits
• Galleries
• Quarantine
• Vascular system
• Epicormic shoots
• Larva(e)
• Trap tree
• Exit hole
• Regulation
• Nursery

Teaching Tips

• To accommodate a variety of learning styles, it may be helpful to make a copy of the News Release for students to read along with you.
• Prior to reading the News Release aloud, you may want to conduct a short vocabulary lesson using the glossary provided.

Part One

Introduction 
Over the course of the next week, students will be learning about efforts that are being made to slow the spread of a destructive pest from Asia called the “Emerald Ash Borer” (EAB). Students will be introduced to the EAB infestation problem by reading an actual News Release from the Agricultural Communication Department at Purdue University.  They will form campaign teams and begin brainstorming ideas for community-outreach campaign projects.

Discussion and Exploration

• Ask the students what they already know about EAB.  Have they heard of it?  Do they know what it looks like? Have them share and discuss for a few minutes.

• As a kick-off activity, read (or have students read) the News Release aloud to the class. Ask students to take notes while you read, making notes about any important points they hear. After the reading, use the following questions to guide a class discussion.

• What is the problem described in the News Release?
• What is being affected?
• How can we slow the spread of this pest?
• What are the signs and symptoms of infestation?
• What can we do to help?

• Finish the discussion by alluding to Part Two of the EAB activity. Ask students:  What can you do to help? What about creating a campaign to help spread the word?

Part Two

Teaching Tips

• You will need to guide the students throughout the planning process to ensure that the campaigns are workable (costs are low and materials are readily available) and that messages are appropriate for the target audience.
• Be sure to collect Activity Sheet 1:  Arrest That Pest! Outreach Campaign Plan at the end of the period, because students will need to use them throughout the unit.

Brainstorming Ideas for an Outreach Campaign Project

Introduction
Since the EAB was first discovered in the Detroit/Windsor area in 2002, efforts have been made to slow the spread of the borer by eliminating the “people pathway” (human transport of ash wood). Students!  This is where you come in! Today we will be working together in teams to develop outreach campaigns to get the community involved in looking for the signs and symptoms of EAB and how to prevent or reduce the spread.

Activity

Kick-Off for the Arrest That Pest! Outreach Campaign

• As a class, brainstorm the different ways in which people get new information.  The News Release discussed earlier was one example. What are some others?

• Make a list of the ideas presented by the students. Some examples would be flyers, newspapers, brochures, television or radio, posters, Web sites, and word of mouth.

• Remind the students that they are using science-based research and information to solve a very real problem facing urban and rural communities across Indiana and beyond. They are learning about EAB, and their job is to teach others in the community about this insect and the threat it poses.

• Divide the students into campaign teams of 4 to 6 students to begin planning their community-outreach campaigns. Provide each team with Activity Sheet 1:  Arrest That Pest! Outreach Campaign Plan. 

• Briefly review the directions on Activity Sheet 1 to see if students have any questions. Let them know that you will be moving throughout the room, offering assistance if it is needed.

• Students should begin by determining what they want to say, to whom they want to say it, how they want to say it (theme), and how they want to present it (flyer, poster, Web page, newspaper article, etc.).

• To help students get started, use the following list as idea-starters for campaign titles and headlines. Have students brainstorm other ideas for creating a catchy campaign.
• Wanted Poster:  Wanted Dead or Alive!  Indiana’s Most Wanted
• Retro:  Save Trees, Not Borers; Hug a Tree – Not a Borer 
• TV commercials:  Got Ash?  Got EAB?
• Movies:  Nightmare on Ash Trees, I Saw What You Did To My Ash Tree, Dude, Where’s My Ash?

Examples of campaign ideas

This is a booklet that informs the reader about EAB. The booklet was designed for a workshop that has several checkpoints, at each checkpoint participants have to answer questions correctly. Once they answer the questions correctly you receive a stamp in their passport and are able to move to the next checkpoint. [View larger image] The entire booklet is not shown in the larger version

This pamphlet informs the reader on the history of EAB, the signs and symptoms of EAB, and what to do to help prevent the spread of EAB. [View larger image] The entire pamphlet is not shown in the larger version

This business card tells the reader where to find more information about EAB. [View larger image]

This poster explains why transporting firewood from place to place could be harmful to the environment. [View larger image]

This poster highlights important information about EAB such as, where it came from and syptoms of EAB on ash trees. [View larger image]

This tree tag can be placed on an ash tree to inform passersby about EAB. [View larger image]

Wrap Up    
While the campaign teams are working, remind students to choose a theme that will appeal to their target audience. Explain that in the next few lessons they will be learning more about EAB and will work on incorporating the new information into their campaigns.