The Amazing Sagebrush Sea

Kindergarten - 5th Grade Lesson 

Weed Wheel  

Students will be introduced to how plants disperse using a “weed wheel”.  Knowing how seeds disperse helps determine the best ways to prevent or manage infestations 

K - 2nd Grade Lessons

3rd - 5th Grade Lessons

Literacy Connections

K - 2 Literature 

• 1. “The Great Kapok Tree” by Lynne Cherry

Set in the Amazon rainforest, this book highlights the connections of species and the impact of human activity on ecosystems. It can be used to discuss the importance of managing ecosystems, like the sagebrush steppe, and understanding the consequences of introducing invasive species.

• “A Seed is Sleepy” by Dianna Hutts Aston

This book explores the different methods seeds use to disperse and grow, directly connecting to the lesson’s focus on seed adaptations and plant dispersal.

• “Weeds Find a Way” by Cindy Jenson-Elliott

This book poetically describes how weeds, often considered undesirable plants, are incredibly resilient and adaptable. It provides a perspective on how these plants spread and survive in various environments, which ties directly into the lesson on seed dispersal and invasive species.

3 - 5 Literature 

Art Project

Local Contacts 

Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center 

Petrina White

• • • (541) 589 - 2225

    • petrina.white@oregonstate.edu

    • https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/eoarc 

Additonal Resources 

• The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center facilitates an annual 2nd-grade field trip.