IPM is a scientific, ecological approach to managing all types of "pests", from deer in your fruit trees, to "bugs" in your basement, to diseases in crop plants and weeds in your lawn. Even head lice in schools can be handled using an IPM approach!

Figure 1. Pyramid of IPM tactics for inside buildings.

Figure 1. Pyramid of IPM tactics for inside buildings.

IPM Checklist for Teachers

  • Be familiar with IPM in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. IPM is found under Subject Area 4: Environment and Ecology, and Subject Area 4.5: Humans and the Environment.
  • Be familiar with the PA School IPM Manual.
  • Recognize that IPM has elements of many different subjects including biology, social studies, math, chemistry, so teaching IPM across the curriculum is the best approach.
  • Work with your colleagues & administrators to integrate IPM into the existing curriculum.
  • Review curriculum resources on PA IPM Web site.
  • Attend an IPM training session.
  • Contact PA IPM for help with any training or curricular needs.
  • Look for service learning opportunities for your students.

How Can IPM Be Used in Teaching?

As an educator, being expected to teach something you may be unfamiliar with can be intimidating, difficult and overwhelming. As Pennsylvania adopts new education standards, many educators are being put in this type of situation, especially when asked to teach Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a scientifically-based decision-making process that incorporates a variety of technological and management tactics to achieve long-term, environmentally sound pest suppression. Basically, it's common-sense pest control. Although IPM is usually taught in the science classroom, it lends itself very well to other disciplines including social studies, reading, math, history, and economics. Having a basic understanding of IPM and how to incorporate it into a learning environment can benefit all educators regardless of the discipline taught.

Service Learning

Service-learning projects can teach students IPM tactics through real-world, hands-on practice within their school or community. Students can work with a school IPM coordinator or facility manager to develop and implement an IPM plan for their school building, grounds or playing fields.

Educational Opportunities & Resources for Educators

PA IPM Program staff are working together with students and teachers in PA to help them learn about IPM and how to use IPM concepts effectively in class by giving talks, workshops and short courses.

An Exploration Into IPM

To begin understanding IPM, consider each term individually, "Integrate" means to bring multiple parts together into a unified whole. A "pest" is an organism that humans feel is an undesirable location. "Management" refers to controlling or handling a pest problem, not necessarily exterminating the pest population. So, IPM involves using a variety of tactics to keep a pest organism at an acceptable population level, at a specific location.

      Six steps of Integrated Pest Management:
      1. Properly identify the pest.
      2. Understand the biology of the pest and the host.
      3. Monitor the environment to determine pest levels.
      4. Determine the action threshold.
      5. Choose tactics.
      6. Evaluate the results.


When a pest is sighted, it doesn't automatically mean treatment is necessary. The six steps of the IPM help determine if there is truly a pest problem, and if so, the pyramid of tactics provides insight on how to treat the problem.

In the pyramid (Fig. 1), the colors green and dark green indicate the safer levels of treatment and the tactics that should be tried first before advancing up the pyramid. As you move up the pyramid the color becomes red indicating you should stop and evaluate the tactic that's going to be used, read all labels properly, and have adult supervision if applicable. Additionally, there are two arrows on the left of the pyramid. The one closest to the pyramid indicates the label of toxicity, which increases while moving up the pyramid. The conventional chemicals are the most toxic tactics available when combating pests, while the cultural tactics are not toxic. The second arrow along the left side shows prevention versus intervention. As you move up the pyramid and the tactics increase in the toxicity, the pest situation is oftentimes to the point of intervention, not prevention. A key component to Integrated Pest Management is to incorporate tactics that will prevent pests from becoming a problem.

IPM is not a difficult concept to understand, and it relates to everyone. Every person has had experience at one time or another with some sort of pest. Many people already use IPM to prevent or manage pests and don't even realize it. Whether it's cleaning up crumbs on the counter, removing water sources, using a fly swatter, setting a mousetrap, or closing the screen door, it's all IPM. Using science and technological advancements to find safer, less toxic ways to prevent and manage pests is vital to maintaining human and environmental health. Individuals have the responsibility to make wise, educated decisions when managing pests because the decision of one person will affect many.

Glossary
Elementary Resources
Middle School Resources
High School Lesson Plans