Plant health kid activity books

For parents and educators

The intent of this activity book is to teach young learners about the basics of plant health in Canada and how they can participate in protecting our amazing natural plant resources.

In this book, children will learn:

1. the importance and impact of plant health within their own community, and Canada as a whole
2. certain dangers to plant health, like invasive species and
3. how they can help to protect plant life

You will find answer keys and a glossary on the last page.

Your young learners may need help navigating this workbook, even if they don't, working through the book together will give you a wonderful starting point to talk about caring for our planet and its amazing natural resources.

Prompts are wonderful tools to have when you are helping little ones make their way through a work book or to check on how well they are understanding the text.

Here are some prompts to help you spark some meaningful conversations about plant health.

1. What is your favourite plant?
2. What do you think would happen if there were no plants? How would that make you feel?
3. Use the iNaturalist app or other plant identification apps to see what plants you have in your garden. Are they native to Canada?
4. Bees have been in trouble recently, so we have to protect them. What is one way we can protect bees?
5. What are we looking for when we check this tree?

Have fun!

(The iNaturalist app is a third party application and does not reflect the direct messaging of the government of Canada)

Meet Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Plant health heroes!

2020 is the international year of plant health! What does that mean? It means countries like Canada are celebrating plants and how we can protect them!

Why should we protect plants?

Plants do so many things for us!

Plants give us air to breathe. Plants are beautiful to look at.

Some animals make their homes on plants. Plants give us food to eat.

Can you think of something that you use plants for?

Can you spot the: Dog, Pumpkin, Bird, Picnic Blanket, Ball.

Plant health villains

Plant villains like insect pests and invasive plants can make our plants and trees sick. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has specially trained heroes to help fight these pests and invasive plants.

This insect pest is called the Asian longhorned beetle. It hurts maple trees. The Plant Health Hero Team kicked the Asian longhorned beetle out of Canada in 2020!

Not so fun fact: Another villain, the emerald ash borer, has killed millions of ash tress across Canada.

Ask a grown-up to help you look up a photo of the Asian longhorned beetle. What colours should you use for this insect?

Insect pests

Did you know that insects can travel to Canada from other countries? Even though foreign insects may not make plants sick in their home country, they can hurt Canadian plants.

Use these insect cards to help you spot some plant villains that might be in your area. See something suspicious? Ask a grown-up to help you take a picture and send it to: cfia.surveillance-surveillance.acia@inspection.gc.ca.

LDD moth (Lymantria dispar dispar)

• Hurts: Hardwood and soft trees
• Comes from: Europe and Asia
• Travels by: Eggs laid on vehicles, trailers, tents, outdoor furniture and firewood

Japanese beetle

• Hurts: Many fruit, vegetable and garden plants as well as grass
• Comes from: Asia
• Travels by: Roots, soil, plant leaves, or even on cars, trains or planes

Emerald ash borer

• Hurts: Ash Trees
• Comes from: east Asia
• Travels by: Firewood, hitch hiking on vehicles, infested nursery plants

Hemlock woolly adelgide

• Hurts: Hemlock Trees
• Comes from: Asia
• Travels by: Infested nursery plants, firewood

Brown spruce longhorned beetle

• Hurts: Spruce trees
• Comes from: Europe
• Travels by: Firewood, logs

Insects like to travel just like us. Most insects hitch a ride on things like firewood, car wheels and plant products. Use your insect cards. Where did each insect come from and what is its favourite way to travel?

Match each insect to the "vehicle" it uses to travel to and around Canada. Hint: Some insects have more than one!

Going on a trip with your family? Make sure you don't bring dirt, plants or wood back with you.

Invasive plants vs. native plants

Some plants can be villains too. Bringing new plants to new places can be dangerous to the plants native to that area.

Ask a grown-up to help you look up plants that are native to your province or territory. Pick your favourite four plants and draw them!

Good insects

Most insects are not bad. Pollinators like bees and butterflies play a big role in helping plants make food for us.

Pollinating is when good insects take pollen from one plant to another so the plants can create seeds.

Help the bee pollinate the flowers and get back to its hive.

The first plant health heroes

Indigenous people were the first to care for plants in Canada. Many Indigenous communities use a smart way of planting. They plant crops that will help each other, side by side. Like the three sisters!

This way of planting food is wonderful for the earth!

When you plant corn, squash and beans together, they give each other support protection and vitamins.

Colour the Three Sisters.

How to tree check

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has special scientists who help protect plants. But we need your help too!

Find a tree in your neighborhood and inspect each part to make sure it look healthy.

The whole tree, the leaves, the branches, the trunk, the roots.

Can you spot: a branch with missing leaves, a sick leaf, an insect and holes, a crack, sawdust.

Plant health hero checklist

Here are more ways you can be a plant health hero!

• Do a tree check on one tree in your neighborhood.
• Did you already look up native plants in your province or territory? Get a grown-up to help you plant one in your house or garden!
• Be kind to nature. Water your new plant regularly. Don't rip leaves off trees.
• Look for plant villains in your yard or neighborhood.
• Leave dirt and firewood at the campground when you go camping. Don't bring it home.
• Call a family member or friend and tell them one thing you learned about plants!

You've got this!

Spot a plant villain? Ask a grown-up to help you take a picture and send your photo to: cfia.surveillance-surveillance.acia@inspection.gc.ca.

Plant health hero badge

Did you complete the plant health hero checklist? Congratulations! Now you can call yourself a plant health hero!

Instructions:

1. Colour in your plant health hero self portrait.
2. Fill out your name, superpower & favourite plant.
3. Cut out along the dotted lines. Carefully cut out the circles, or use a hole punch.
4. Cut a string about 30" long. Thread the string through both holes. Tie a knot with both ends of the string.
5. Now you can wear your badge!

We want to see you wearing your finished badge! Have a grown-up take a picture and post it to social media, using the hashtag #CDNPlantHero.

Glossary

Were these words new to you?

Invasive

Things like insects and plants that are foreign to Canada and are harming our plants.

Pests

A harmful insect or other animal that attacks crops, food and animals.

Foreign

From another place. (like a country or province)

Native plants

Plants that have always grown in Canada.

Community

A group of people that live together and cooperate.

Tree check

To look closely at a tree to see if it is healthy.

Answers

Can you think of something you use plants for?

Here are some ideas:

• shade
• climbing
• food medicine
• decoration
• art
• crafts

Here are some native plants to get you started on your search:

• Nova Scotia – Mayflower
• Nunavut – Purple saxifrage
• Ontario – White trillium
• Prince Edward Island – Lady's slipper
• Quebec – Blue Flag Iris
• Saskatchewan – Western Red Lily
• Yukon – Fireweed
• Alberta – Wildrose
• British Colombia – Pacific Dogwood

For parents and educators

The intent of this activity book is to teach young learners about the basics of plant health in Canada and how they can participate in protecting our amazing natural plant resources.

In this book, children will learn:

1. the importance and impact of plant health within their own community, and Canada as a whole
2. certain dangers to plant health, like invasive species and
3. how they can help to protect plant life

You will find answer keys and a glossary on the last page.

Prompts are wonderful tools to have when you are helping learners make their way through a workbook or to check on how well the members of your small group are understanding the text.

Here are some prompts to help you spark some meaningful conversations about plant health.

1. What are some steps that you are already taking to protect plant health? Look up the United Nation's 17 sustainability goals to see if there is anything else you can add to your list.
2. What do you think a world without plants would look like? Would we be able to survive without them? Which plant do you think you would miss the most?
3. Use the iNaturalist app or other plant identification apps to see what plants you have in your garden. Are they native to Canada?
4. Bees have been in trouble recently, meaning we have to protect them. What would happen if we didn't have enough good bugs to pollinate our plants?
5. You should check you trees once or twice a year, in the spring and fall. Set a reminder on your calendar to give your local plants some attention.

Have fun!

(The iNaturalist app is a third party application and does not necessarily reflect the direct messaging of the Government of Canada)

Meet the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's plant health heroes!

2020 is the International Year of Plant Health! What does that mean? Well… Canada belongs to a group of countries that are working towards a sustainable future for all.

Together we are focused on keeping plants and animals healthy so we can fight global warming and hunger and protect our plants.

Why is plant health so important?

There are so many things that would be impossible without plants!

Plants provide homes and food for animals and insects. Farmers depend on having healthy crops to make money and support their families.

Plants contribute 98% of the oxygen we breathe. Plants create beautiful scenery for walks and hikes.

Plants are also very important to the Canadian economy. Farmers and businesses sell plant products and food grown in Canada to people all around the world.

Can you spot: an animal making its home, a pumpkin, a source of clean energy, someone enjoying the shade, eco-friendly transportation, someone painting nature?

Plant health villains

Plant health villains such as insect pests and invasive plants can damage or kill our plants and trees. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has specially trained heroes to help fight these damaging species.

This invasive insect is called the Asian longhorned beetle. It attacks and kills maple trees. The plant health hero team kicked the Asian longhorned beetle out of Canada in 2020!

Not so fun fact: Another villain, the emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees across Canada.

Look up a photo of the Asian longhorned beetle. What colours should you use for this insect?

Insect pests

Even though foreign insects may not be invasive in their home country, they can cause damage to Canadian plants.

Did you know? Not all plant pests are insects!

Use these insect cards to help you spot some plant villains that might be in your area. See something suspicious? Ask a grown-up to help you take a picture and send it to cfia.surveillance-surveillance.acia@inspection.gc.ca.

LDD moth (Lymantria dispar dispar)

• Hurts: Hardwood and soft trees
• Comes from: Europe and Asia
• Travels by: Eggs laid on vehicles, trailers, tents, outdoor furniture and firewood

Japanese beetle

• Hurts: Many fruit, vegetable and garden plants as well as grass
• Comes from: Asia
• Travels by: Roots, soil, plant leaves, or even on cars, trains or planes

Emerald ash borer

• Hurts: Ash Trees
• Comes from: east Asia
• Travels by: Firewood, hitch hiking on vehicles, infested nursery plants

Hemlock woolly adelgide

• Hurts: Hemlock Trees
• Comes from: Asia
• Travels by: Infested nursery plants, firewood

Brown spruce longhorned beetle

• Hurts: Spruce trees
• Comes from: Europe
• Travels by: Firewood, logs

Insects like to travel just like us. Most insects hitch a ride on things like firewood, car wheels and plant products. Use your pest cards . Where did each insect come from and what is its favourite way to travel?

Match each insect to the "vehicle" it uses to travel to and around Canada. Hint: Some insects have more than one!

We can do our part as plant health heroes by making sure we don't bring these pests with us on our travels.

Invasive plants vs. native plants

Some plants can be villains too.

Bringing plant across Canada or from other countries to areas where they don't grow naturally can be dangerous to our plants. That's why it is important to do your research when creating a garden and choose plants that are not invasive.

Look up plants that are native to your area. Pick your favourite four plants and draw them!

Good insects

Most insects are not bad. In fact, less than 1% insects cause damage to our plants by chewing or eating leaves and stems. Pollinators are so important to plant health in Canada that the CFIA carefully controls the import of bees to ensure they are free from pests and diseases.

Pollinating is when good insets take pollen from one plant to another so the plants can create seeds.

Pollination is very important to plant health, which makes good insects like butterflies and bees some of our plant health heroes.

Help the bee pollinate the flowers and get back to its hive.

The original plant health heroes

Long before Canada was a country, Indigenous people have used their respect for nature and knowledge of plants, to thrive in the country's diverse environments.

Did you know: Japanese beetles, spotted lanternflies and brown marmorated stink bugs are invasive species that can damage these important plants.

In a number of Indigenous communities, corn, squash and beans are called the "Three sisters."

When planted side by side, these three crops help each other grow, and provide each other with important nutrients. This is called companion planting.

Companion planting is a sustainable form of agriculture.

Squash

The protector sister shades and cools the soil, keeping it moist. She prevents weeds and keeps pests away.

Corn

The eldest sister stands in the middle and offers support.

Beans

The giving sister pulls nutrients from the air into the soil. As the beans grow, they pull the sisters close together.

How to tree check

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency helps protect our plants and trees by searching for pests and diseases. Our plant health heroes team up with partners across the country to trap insects, test plants and soil and search the environment for invasive species.

Find a tree in your neighborhood and inspect each part to make sure it looks healthy.

The whole tree, the leaves, the branches, the trunk, the roots.

Can you spot: dieback (branches missing leaves), discoloured leaves, insects, holes, cracks and tunnels caused by insects, sawdust.

Plant health hero checklist

Everyone has a part to play in protecting Canada's plants. That means you!

• Plant one native plant in your garden or in a pot to keep in your home.
• Find some insects and inspect them to see if they are invasive species. Use the pest cards or an app to help you identify them.
• Be kind to nature. Water your plants regularly. Don't rip off trees.
• Leave dirt and firewood where you found it.
• Do a tree check on one tree in your neighborhood.
• Tell one other person about how important plant health is!

You've got this!

Spot an invasive species? Take a picture and send your findings to: cfia.surveillance-sureveillance.acia@canada.ca.

Plant health hero badge

Did you complete the plant health hero checklist? Congratulations! Now you can call yourself a plant health hero!

Instructions:

1. Colour in your plant health hero self portrait.
2. Fill out your name, superpower & favourite plant.
3. Cut out along the dotted lines. Carefully cut out the circles, or use a hole punch.
4. Cut a string about 30" long. Thread the string through both holes. Tie a knot with both ends of the string.
5. Now you can wear your badge!

We want to see you wearing your finished badge! Have a grown-up take a picture and post it to social media, using the hashtag #CDNPlantHero.

Glossary

Were these words new to you?

Sustainable

A way of living that does not damage the earth, allowing us to keep the earth healthy for generations to come.

Clean energy

Power that comes from sources that won't run out. For example, wind turbines use the wind.

Economy

How money is made and used within a region. A region's economy depends on things like how many goods and services are produced and how much people spend on things.

Invasive species

Insects or plants that are foreign to Canada and that are harming our ecosystem.

Native plants

Plant that have always grown in Canada.

Import

To bring something into a country from another country.

Answers

• An animal making its home – image of a bird in its nest.
• A pumpkin – image of a pumpkin from the stand
• Eco-friendly transportation – image of a girl riding a bike
• A source of clean energy – image of wind turbines
• Someone enjoying shade – image of a couple on a picnic in the shade
• Someone painting nature – image of a woman painting a picture of trees

You are the inspector. Can you find the beetle?

Life Cycle

1. Eggs are laid in clusters on bark
2. Larva hatches and bores into tree
3. Larva becomes pupa under bark
4. Adult beetle emerges from tree

Did you know?

The emerald ash borer:

• has already killed millions of ash trees in North America
• probably came into Canada from Asia by hitching a ride on wood packing material
• is delicious to a woodpecker
• can lay up to 275 eggs

Crossword Puzzle

Actual Size

8.5 - 14 mm

1. The emerald ash borer munches on ash trees under the bark when it is in this stage of life, before it becomes a pupa. (Hint: look at the life cycle!)
2. The emerald ash borer is a tasty meal to this bird. (Hint: Look for the answer hidden on this page!)
3. Typically, in what month does the emerald ash borer begin to emerge from the tree?
4. Ash wood can be used to make furniture, baseball bats and hockey __________.
5. Which continent is the emerald ash borer from? (Hint: Look for the answer hidden on the page!)
6. The emerald ash borer has been found in this French-speaking province. (Hint: It is also Canada's largest province.)
7. The emerald ash borer lays these on the bark of ash trees, which eventually hatch larvae. (Hint: Look at the life cycle!)
8. The emerald ash borer has been found in cities across Ontario, including this city. (Hint: It's Canada's capital!)
9. What tree species does the emerald ash borer attack?

What colour am I?

Colour the beetle.

All insects have six legs!

Tell your family not to move firewood.
It is how the beetle spreads!

Answers to the Crossword Puzzle:

1. larva;
2. woodpecker;
3. May;
4. sticks;
5. Asia;
6. Quebec;
7. eggs;
8. Ottawa;
9. ash