Curriculum: Scavenger Hunt
Grade Level:E,MS

By Cindy Retherford for Grand Traverse Conservation District

Scenario
An alien invader, the Gypsy Moth, has come to your back yard. The female has laid her eggs all over, in nickel and quarter size light brown patches. You can find them on trees, logs, woodpiles, the foundations of your house and garage, under the eaves, on your camper, trailer wheels, lawn furniture, behind signs, under birdhouses, almost everywhere outside.

Task
Search for egg masses everywhere in your yard. If you do not have any trees where you live, go to a relative's house or a neighbor's. Find as many egg masses as you can. Using a butter knife or putty knife, scrape the egg masses into a plastic bag or carton. (You might want to wear gloves, because some people may be allergic to the tiny hairs surrounding the egg masses.)

Be sure to write down in a notebook or on a piece of paper, where you found each egg mass and how many you found.

Objectives:
1. To learn about the Gypsy Moth
2. Develop data taking skills
3. Foster friendly competition (Prizes may be given to the person who finds the most egg masses, finds them in the most different places, finds them in the most unusual place, etc.)
4. Make a chart showing each person's name and how many egg masses they found.
5. Provide a community service by helping reduce next year's Gypsy Moth population.

Foundation Questions:
1. What is the Gypsy Moth?
2. Where did Gypsy Moths come from and how did they get to our area?
3. Why are Gypsy Moths considered harmful and a nuisance?
4. What is their Life Cycle?
5. What are some methods of controlling the pest?

Printouts in PDF Format
Click Here for printable Connect the Dots & Color Page.
Click Here for printable Monster Caterpillar.
Click Here for printable Life Cycle of Gypsy Moth.

To get Adobe's free Acrobat Reader, please click here. (link will open in a new window)

Resources
Grand Traverse County Gypsy Moth Suppression Program,
Cindy Retherford, County Coordinator
1222 Veteran Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: (231) 941-0960, E-mail: cretherford@gtcd.org
Paper publications, fact sheets, posters, slides, videos, preserved specimens.

Grand Traverse Conservation District Web Site: www.gtcd.org/gypsy-moth.
History, Life Cycle, Host Species, Methods of Control, Natural Enemies, Bt for Suppression, Don't Move the Gypsy Moth, Caterpillar Comparisons, Gypsy Moth PowerPoint Presentation.

Michigan's Gypsy Moth Education Program: www.ent.msu.edu/gypsyed/.
History, Life Cycle and Biology, Control and Management.

MDA Gypsy Moth: www.mda.state.mi.us/hot/gypsymoth/.
Life Cycle, Defoliation by Gypsy Moth, Effects in Michigan, Suppression Program, Management Options.

USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection & Quarantine:
www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/gm/.
Fact Sheets, Biology & Life Cycle, Slow the Spread.

Michigan Curriculum Framework Content Standards & Benchmarks
Science

Strand I
Standard I
#1 E,M
#5 E,M

Strand II
Standard I
#1 E,M
#2 E
#3 M

Strand III
Standard II
#3 E

more info: http://www.eteach.net/curriculum.cfm