PURDUE AGRICULTURE
BOTANY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY

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Purdue Agriculture > Botany and Plant Pathology > Teaching Resources

The Botany and Plant Pathology Outreach Programs is pleased to provide you with these resources that can be used in your classrooms, ideas for science projects, or to increase public awareness about plant science and plant disease related topics.

The Story of Plant Pathology:

Plant Pathology: Past to Present is a colorfully illustrated story describing the origin, relevance, and science of plant pathology. The story unfolds as told by Anton deBary, the father of plant pathology. This Flash presentation is voice narrated in either English or Spanish. A coloring book version is available from the APS website. Also available on CD for classroom or kiosk displays that contains student worksheets, answer sheets, a teacher's guide and answer key. To obtain the Windows/Macintosh compatible CD, contact APS Press or the Purdue Extension Education Store.

Teaching Materials:

"K-12 Plant Path-Ways to Science" -- this website is sponsored by the American Phytopathological Society (APS) Education Center to assist science and biology teachers in the K through 12 grades interested in developing interactive laboratories and demonstrations that teach the basic principles of science and the scientific method.

Fun with Fungi in the Classroom:

"A Mushroom Literacy Theme (pdf file 68K)" -- a simple lesson plan focusing on using reading materials to introduce fungi to preschool and kindergarten level students. Included are a few activities with mushrooms.
"K12 Fungi Curricula (pdf file 100K)" -- a listing of the Indiana Academic Standard for biology. The list is not complete but includes requirements in which fungi can be used to solidify concepts and lessons.
"Fungi: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (pdf file 164K)" -- a lesson plan that introduces fungi as beneficial, harmful, and just plain odd looking organisms. There is considerable hands-on time in this curriculum.
"Teaching About Fungi: Grades K-12" -- a collection of teaching materials put together by the North American Mycological Association (NAMA). HTML webpage.

"Growing a Pineapple at Home (pdf file 95K)" -- instructions on how to propagate and grow a pineapple.

"Powdery Mildew Fungi: Classification and Ecology" -- by Gail E. Ruhl and Claudia A. Jasalavich. An introduction to a common group of fungi, the powdery mildew fungi, which are obligate parasites of plants. This exercise can be used to explore the ecology of a diverse group of fungi and/or as a way for students to learn about how fungi are classified. This lesson does not require the purchase or maintenance of special cultures, since powdery mildew fungi are easy to find on plants in nature. Teachers and/or students collect leaves infected with powdery mildew fungi from different kinds of plants and examine them with dissecting and compound microscopes.

Presentations:

"Why Aquatic Herbicides Affect Aquatic Plants and Not You" by Dr. Carole Lembi
Aquatic herbicides are used to demonstrate scientific concepts regarding herbicide toxicity, persistence in the environment, dosage, mode-of-action, carcinogenicity, bioaccumulation and other public concerns.
Flash Video (FLV) | Optimized QuickTime Movie | Flash Movie (SWF) | Presentation Transcript
You may also request the DVD or CD (Windows/Macintosh) of this presentation by contacting Dr. Lembi.

Slidesets:

Botanical Slidesets:

Amaranthaceae	Chenopodiaceae	Malvaceae
Amaryllidaceae	Commelinaceae	Orchidaceae
Apiaceae	Convolvulaceae	Papaveraceae
Apocynaceae	Cucurbitaceae	Poaceae
Araceae	Cyperaceae	Polemoniaceae
Arecaceae	Euphorbiaceae	Polygonaceae
Asclepiadaceae	Fabaceae	Portulacaceae
Asteraceae	Fumariaceae	Ranunculaceae
Boraginaceae	Geraniaceae	Rosaceae
Brassicaceae	Hydrophyllaceae	Rubiaceae
Bromeliaceae	Iridaceae	Scrophulariaceae
Cactaceae	Juncaceae	Solanaceae
Caprifoliaceae	Lamiaceae	Violaceae
Caryophyllaceae	Liliaceae

Weed Science Slidesets:

Monocots and Grasses	Annual Broadleaves	Tillage Systems
Creeping Perennials	Biennials	Management Systems
Simple Perennials	Herbicide Injury	Sprayers and Pumps
Nozzles	Herbicide Incorporation Equipment

Professors in the Classroom:

Do you ever wish you had help showing students the connection between your classroom and the outside world? Many of our faculty are willing to come and speak to your high school classes -- free of charge. Below are talks that can be given to your class by professors from the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology:

Agricultural Research: Why it is More Important Than Ever- a brief introduction into food production, world population, and why agricultural research is more critical than ever to meet the demand for food and fiber over the next 20 years. Dr. Ray Martyn, Professor
GMO's: What Are They and Why All the Fuss? - The introduction of genetically modified crops has had a major impact on agriculture. How are GMOs produced? Why do farmers grow them and why do some people object? Dr. Peter Goldsbrough, Professor and Department Head.
What is Life?- We can tell a living thing from a non-living thing...right? Maybe it's not so simple. This lecture will discuss the nature of the universe with respect to the earth and its living organisms. Emphasis will be on the origins and the early evolution of life on earth. Dr. Steve Hallett, Assistant Professor.
View a complete list of topics that are available from the "Professor in the Classroom" program.

To arrange a "Professor in the Classroom" to meet with your class, please contact:

Dan Gottschalk
Youth Development & Agricultural Education
615 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053 Phone: (765) 494-8423
Fax: (765) 496-1152
E-mail: prof.in.classroom@ydae.purdue.edu