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What are Invasive Species? Activity Guide

Provided by: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) |Published on: March 4, 2026

Activity - Classroom

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Synopsis

This activity guide introduces students to the differences between native and invasive plants through species descriptions and visual comparisons.
The resource includes a worksheet where students identify plant types in illustrated scenes and analyze how invasive species affect biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Biology

Authors: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)

Region: United States

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

Students will enjoy coloring the images and determining the differences.
This resource does a great job of explaining the difference between native and invasive species with simple images and examples.

Prerequisites

Teachers may want to note that the links to additional resources at the bottom of the resource will not open in a new tab, and users will have to navigate back to the activity.
Before students look at the two images, it may benefit them to understand biodiversity and its importance.

Differentiation & Implementation

After this activity, students can select one species that is native to their region to research and one species that is invasive.
To make connections to climate change, teachers can explain how warming temperatures can cause invasive species to become more prevalent and problematic. This resource uses species in Maine to explain the relationship between climate change and invasive species.
Using the first page of the activity and other resources, students can try to identify the plants and animals in the images and label them on the picture.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

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Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

National Environmental Education Foundation

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is the nation's leading organization in lifelong environmental learning, creating opportunities for people to experience and learn about the environment in ways that improve their lives and the health of the planet. NEEF is a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization working to make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives.

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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.

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What are Invasive Species? Activity Guide

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Related Teaching Resources