Educators and Teachers

It’s important for children to learn about the fascinating world of insects and the vital role they play, and to understand how to keep themselves, their family, and homes safe from the risks that pests pose.

In this section, educators and teachers can access training materials, lessons, and activities on pests and pest control. Get educational resources on determining toxicity, poison prevention, and pesticide education.

Pests and Pesticides Lesson Plans and Educational Activities

When you teach children about pests, viruses such as West Nile Virus, and pesticides, you’re helping to protect their health through increased awareness. Penn State Extension has a comprehensive range of educational resources, lesson plans, and activities to help educators from kindergarten through sixth and beyond.

Here are some examples:

• The Controlling Mosquito Breeding Hotspots Activity: Teaches young people and adults that mosquitoes can be a pest and how to identify areas where they might breed and lay eggs. With this knowledge, they can take action to eliminate these areas and consider other practices to help them stay safe.
• When is a Pest Activity: This activity encourages discussion and questions in a group setting about what constitutes a pest.
• Lessons From Labels Activity: Helps students learn about making informed decisions about the use of pesticides.
• Invisible Allies Activity: Introduces students to the vast number of nematode species and how they can be an important component of many IPM programs.
• Spotted Lanternfly Kids Activity Sheet: Get young people involved in learning about this invasive pest.
• Spinning Wheel Educational Exhibit: Provides questions and answers about pests and pest control for all ages, from kids right through to adults.
• Conservation of Insect Natural Enemies Activity: Introduces the idea of biological controls, a key element for Integrated Pest Management.

Poison Prevention

You can introduce a poison prevention program to help students learn about ways to control pests while promoting safety in the home. Objectives of such a program include learning what pests are, how to manage them, and safe practices for using chemicals around the home and in the garden.

An excellent place to start if you want to introduce such a program is a lesson that promotes the poison prevention message.

Pesticides Around Children

Children are at a higher risk of health effects from exposure to pesticides than adults because their internal organs are still developing and maturing. They can come into contact with pesticides stored or applied in their homes, yards, child care centers, schools, parks, or on pets.

Anyone using pesticides should understand the importance of protecting themselves and be aware of how to store them securely; for example, keeping them out of the reach of children and preferably in a locked cabinet at least 5 feet above the ground.

Understanding the information given on a pesticide label is important because then you know how to mix, apply, store, and dispose of a pesticide product. Pesticide labels are also excellent sources of information in the case of a pesticide exposure emergency.

Pest Management Practices in Schools

Using Integrated Pest Management in schools and childcare facilities has many benefits. It is more effective than routine pesticide treatments, costs less in the long term, and can reduce children's exposure to pesticides.

In Pennsylvania and many other states, it is now required by law to have a school IPM program. If you want to develop an IPM policy and plan for your school district, there are recommendations you can follow. A trained IPM professional should conduct regular inspections of inside and outside areas. Parents have to be informed that the school district uses an Integrated Pest Management approach for managing insects, rodents, and weeds.

There are many examples across the state of communities and educators working together to empower individuals to manage pests safely. The Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership is one example.