Enlightened by Lichen

A research to action investigation of one of nature’s most

incredible bio-indicators
Essence: Air pollution can be a difficult concept to grasp
because unlike trash on the street or floating plastic, pollution in
the air we breathe cannot be as easily seen. One of our clues, or
indicators of air pollution is about as hidden as the pollution
itself…at least to the untrained eye. This week is about training
your eye not only to SEE but also to ID this pollution indicator:
Lichen! But it doesn’t stop there! We’ll discover, uncover, and ID
lichens at various sites around the community AND we’ll learn
how to use them as tools to monitor air quality in our own
community spaces!
Parameters:
• Students will learn about lichens as a biological indicator of air pollution
through a 4-phase, week-long lesson.
• Students will work with a partner “grow” through the cycle of lichen itself,
entering 4 different life cycle stages through the completion of 4 challenge
phases.
• The last challenge (and stage of development) will be the Fruticose stage,
which will include a final presentation/action item.
• Each phase is presented as a challenge and partner pairs will compete against
one another to complete each phase.
Stage of Development
Phase 1: Observation Phase CRUSTOSE LICHEN

Phase 2: Identification Phase SQUAMULOSE LICHEN

Phase 3: Experimentation FOLIOS LICHEN

Phase 4: Presentation Phase FRUTICOSE LICHEN

 Lichen Metamorphosis!
This is a variation of “Rock, Paper,
Scissors…Shoot!”
1. Everyone starts as Crustose lichen
2. Partner up and play ONE round of “rock,
papers, scissors, shoot!” The winner moves
on to be
 Stage of Development:
CRUSTOSE LICHEN

Challenge: Draw a map and take

pictures at each of your three
observation sites to indicate
where you found different types
of lichen and what types of lichen
you are choosing to study.
 Stage of Development:
SQUAMULOSE

Challenge: Record the abundance

of lichen at each site. Analyze and
interpret data.
 Stage of Development:
FOLIOS LICHEN

Materials:
(per individual)
1. Magnifying glass or lens,
preferably 8-20x
2. Guidebook or key to lichen
identification
3. Ruler and long tape measure
4. Compass Challenge: Identify the different
5. Datasheets to record types of lichen you will be using to
information
6. Clipboard and pencil
monitor air quality at each site.
 Stage of Development:
FRUTICOSE LICHEN

Challenge: Present your findings

through a presentation that
includes an action item. Use the
Challenge Board for this phase.
 Lichen Challenge Board
Plan of Action!
The Good Samaritan: The Lab Scientist: Invite The Artist: Present your
Present your findings to a us into a your “lichen findings through an
town committee to laboratory” for an creative Lichen ID and
educate your community information session. information pamphlet.
about pollution What are you studying
solutions! and why is it important?
The Citizen Scientist: The Actor: Present your The Politician: Create a
Lead a community trip or lichen project data in the campaign around air
class field trip to teach form of a skit and pollution based on
others how to monitor preform for the class. evidence you gathered
air pollution using and knowledge you
lichens. gained from this project.
The Activist: If you truly The Lorax: Speak for the The Entrepreneur:
have been “enlichened” trees! Present your data Choose your own
by this bioindicator, make and discoveries from the adventure!
it known! Lead a rally to perspective of the trees
decrease air pollution & you observed.
increase lichen
populations!