Prairie Roots: Lesson Plans

Prairie roots have a story to tell!

The first step in bringing that dynamic story to life is actually seeing the massive roots that are normally hidden from view. Their sheer size is striking.

But it takes more than simply looking at a preserved root or life-sized image to truly engage in the story of how prairie roots impact and improve soil health and water quality. That’s why the Tallgrass Prairie Center has developed lesson plans to help students learn about the ecological services provided by prairie roots. Developed and aligned to Iowa Core standards for upper elementary and middle school, many of the activities can be adapted for younger and older students. Click here, for a link to the Tallgrass Prairie Center Lesson Plans

The following lesson plans were created, reviewed and field-tested by a team of formal and informal educators from across Iowa. Using an active learning approach, they provide fun, engaging activities to promote meaningful learning and enduring knowledge.

This collection is a subset of the larger Open Educational Resources collection.
To go back to the Tallgrass Prairie Center page to browse other collections related to the center, click here.