Teacher Resource Guide for Rangeland Principles
Rangelands are vast landscapes that cover most of western North America and half of Idaho. These grasslands, shrublands, woodlands and deserts offer great opportunities for students and teachers to explore ecological principles and develop land management skills.

This Teacher Resource Guide for Rangelands and Rangeland Management was recently created through a cooperative endeavor of the Range Ecology and Management and the Agricultural and Extension Education Departments at the University of Idaho.

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Questions? Email 4range@uidaho.edu.

Module 1: Rangelands Overview
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
Objective 1: Define rangeland and specify how much rangeland is in the world, U.S., and Idaho
  What is Range?     Presentation |  Noteguide  |  Quiz  | Quiz Key
   
Objective 2: Define multiple use and explain the values of rangelands; Describe individual preferences for specific rangeland uses. 
  Values of Rangelands     Presentation
 

Can You Have It All?    Activity (classroom)  |  Student Handout | Graphing Activity & Excel Spreadsheet

   
Objective 3: Define rangeland management
  What is Rangeland Management?    Presentation
  Idaho Rangeland Timeline    Activity (classroom)  |  Student Handout  |  Handout Key
   
Objective 4: Identify and describe different biomes and ecoregions of Idaho
  Rangeland Ecosystems of Idaho    Presentation
  Idaho Ecoregions Quiz    Quiz   | Quiz Key
  Take a Virtual Tour of Idaho Rangelands    Activity (internet)
   
MODULE 2 -Rangeland Plants
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
  What is an Invasive Plant?   Student Reading
  Ingestion of Toxic Plants by Herbivores  Student Reading
   
Objective 1: Identify characteristics of plants
  Morphology of Range Plants   Presentation  |  Student Noteguide  |  Noteguide Key
   
Objective 2: Categorize plants according to type
  Types and Categories of Range Plants   Presentation  |  Student Noteguide
  Life Cycle of Range Plants     Student Noteguide  |  Noteguide Key
  Range Plant Types   Handout  
  Important Range Plant Group Characteristics   Handout
   
Objective 3: Identify and describe 50 major rangeland plants of Idaho
  Grass Identification   Presentation
  Grass-Like Plant Identification   Presentation
  Forb Identification   Presentation
  Woody Plant Identification   Presentation
  Noxious Weed Identification   Presentation
  Plant Identification Overview   Student Noteguide  |  Noteguide Key
  Constructing a Dichotomous Key   Activity (classroom)  |  Handout
  Dichotomous Key for Grasses   Activity (classroom) |  Glossary of Terms Handout  |  Handout of Key
  Collecting and Mounting Rangeland Plants   Handout
  Range Plant Pictionary   Activity (classroom)
  Rangeland Pursuit   Activity (classroom)  |  Handout
   
MODULE 3 - Rangeland Animals
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
  Stocking Rate Guidelines   Student Reading
   
Objective 1: Identify and describe types of animals that inhabit rangelands
  Overview of Rangeland Animals and Habitat   Presentation
  Identify the Grazer   Activity (classroom)  |  Handout  
  Rangeland Herbivores   Activity (internet)  |  Handout  |   Activity Key
   
Objective 2: Identify and describe habitat elements for rangeland animals
  Rangeland Habitats Noteguide   Student Noteguide
  Please Pass the Wheatgrass   Activity (classroom)
   
Objective 3: Determine stocking rate based on animal demand and forage supply
  Setting Stocking Rate -Overview    Presentation
  Calculating Stocking Rate -Step by Step   Presentation
  Practice Problem (Mollie Texan) Questions Key Presentation with answers
  Daydreamer’s Ranch   Activity (classroom)  |  Student Handout  |  Handout Key
  Stocking Rate Scenarios   Activity (classroom)  |  Student Handout  | Key to Scenarios
   
Objective 4: Describe positive and negative interactions between livestock and wildlife; determine stocking rates for multi-species grazing
  Livestock & Wildlife Interactions   Presentation  |  Activity (classroom)  |  Handout
   
MODULE 4 - Describing and Monitoring Rangelands
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
Objective 1: Define watersheds and explain their hydrological and ecological function
  Overview of Watershed Systems  Presentation   (requires internet connection for proper display)
 

                Download this file in the same folder as the presentation above
  Find Your Watershed   Activity (internet)  |  Handout
   
Objective 2: Describe fundamental soil characteristics and how soils differentiate ecological sites
  Soil Types and Textures   Presentation
  Primer on Rangeland Ecological Sites   Presentation
  How Much Soil is There   Activity (classroom)
  Texture This   Activity (classroom)
  The Soil Triangle   Handout
  Filtering Soils Qualities Lab   Activity (lab)
   
Objective 3: Explain the important site characteristics for monitoring rangeland plant communities and use Web Soil Survey to estimate biomass and composition on rangelands
  Rangeland Site Description    Activity (field)  |  Handout
  Estimating Rangeland and Pastureland Biomass   Activity (field)  |   Student Reading  |  Handout
  Using Web Soil Survey to Estimate Biomass & Composition   Presentation  |  Activity (internet)  |  Handout
 
Objective 4: Use GPS to inventory and map weed infestations
Weed Mapping and Inventory   Activity (field and classroom)
     
MODULE 5 - Rangeland Ecology and Forces of Change
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
Objective 1: Recognize basic terms and principles of ecology on rangelands.
  Principles of Rangeland Ecology   Presentation
  Food Chains and Biomass Pyrramids   Presentation
  Principles of Succession on Rangeland   Presentation
     
Objective 2: Explain causes of rangeland change over time
  Overview or Forces of Change on the Range   Presentation
  Changes to Rangelands Over Time - Shadscale   Presentation
  Changes to Rangelands Over Time - Wheatgrass   Presentation
     
Objective 3: Explain the impact of invasive species on rangelands and rangeland management; develop skills to create an integrated weed management plan
  Integrated Weed Management   Presentation
  We Need a Strategy!   Activity (field/classroom)
  Weed Management Planning   Handout
 
MODULE 6 - Integrated Rangeland Management -- The Human Element
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION...coming soon!  
Objective 1: Develop skills to accomplish land management in light of multiple resources and use preferences
  Big Meadow Creek Land Use   Activity (classroom)  |  Handout  |  Map (.ppt)
  Demands on the Land   Activity (classroom)
   
Objective 2: Describe and explore appropriate and ethical land management options
  Rangeland Responsibilities…Rat, Retreat, or Respond?   Activity (classroom)
   
This resource guide was made possible by the David Little Livestock Range Management Endowment.
Updated 04-Sep-2012