Learning Lichens Curriculum

Series of images taken during the Lichen survey.

Learning Lichens will introduce high school and advanced middle school students to intriguing lichen ecology, identification, and values to humans. Teachers can use these four lessons to help their students develop their observational, research design, and field inventory skills. Students will also be able to relate lichen ecology to its valuable use as a bioindicator of air quality and old growth habitat. The curriculum includes 4 lessons, student data sheets and protocols, teacher notes, and instructional PowerPoints for teachers and students. Learning Lichens has been developed and field tested by high school ecology teacher, Sarah Thorne and her students at Prospect Mt. High School in Alton, NH.Lichen biomonitoring is helping federal land managers meet federal and agency responsibilities to detect, map, evaluate trends, and assess the ecological impacts of air pollutants. Students will provide data through citizen science efforts to the US Forest Service Lichen Biomonitoring program.

Students will learn the biology, natural and cultural history, and scientific importance of lichens through field investigation.