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Popular "Join Our Pest Patrol" Now a 4-H Publication - June 2002
April 22, 2002
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - The Pennsylvania IPM Program's popular publication "Join Our Pest Patrol" is now a 4-H publication and available through Penn State Cooperative Extension.
"Join Our Pest Patrol" is a fun, educational resource for 4-H Leaders and Pennsylvania teachers of children in grades 3 and 4. The workbook addresses newly adopted state academic standards in environment and ecology focusing on integrated pest management.
Integrated pest management, or IPM, aims to manage pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe and environmentally compatible.
Through fun and educational activities such as crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blanks, mazes and picture drawing, students using the workbook can determine whether an insect is a "pest or guest," find out about weeds such as dandelions and purple loosestrife, and learn pesticide safety.
Also available is the accompanying leader and teacher guide that includes facts, investigations, activities and resources to support children's curiosity and extended learning. Concepts include distinguishing weed and insect pests from beneficial plants and insects; understanding why humans want to manage pests; recognizing common pests in our homes, gardens and neighborhoods; choosing the least toxic ways to manage pests; and safeguarding against pesticide risks. The guide will help better explain IPM to children.
Copies of the publication are available upon request from your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office.
Additional resources are available on the program's Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu. The "Schools" link leads to information about the school IPM effort in Pennsylvania and to educational materials from across the country. At this Web page, visitors also can download another new publication, "IPM for Pennsylvania Schools, A How-To Manual." In addition, the site offers an interactive database to assist teachers with IPM background information, lesson plans and support materials from throughout the United States.
For more information on 4-H, see Web site http://pa4h.cas.psu.edu
The Pennsylvania IPM Program is a collaboration between Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting IPM in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations. For more information, call (814) 865-2839, or visit the program's Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu.