Intriguing Insects

1. Invite students to discuss their background knowledge of insects, a variety of arthropods. There are 30 million insect species, some of which have not even been named or catalogued by entomologists. Students, working in small groups, investigate the insect world. Organize a variety of text and electronic resources for students to use as they participate in this activity. Students may also be interested in researching other arthropods.
2. Once research is complete, individual students choose one insect that intrigues them, becoming an expert on that particular bug. Find out what it looks like, what size it is, where it lives, what it eats, and other details.
3. Using Crayola® Washable Markers, students draw their selected insects in natural habitat. Show details such as food sources, predators, and features of its home.
4. Students re-organize into small groups. Prepare a presentation for classmates using research. Suggest students infuse their artwork into the group representations.

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

LA: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

LA: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

SCI: Use simple models to describe that plants and animals have major internal and external structures, including organs, that support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

VA: Select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of ideas.

Possible classroom resources include: What Is an Arthropod? by Bobbie Calaman; Bugs: Beetles, Butterflies, Moths, and Other Amazing Arthropods Knowledge Cards Deck by Christopher Marley

Students select a single arthropod to research in-depth. Using Crayola Model Magic, students create a 3-D model of their arthropod choice and use a recycled shoe box to create an appropriate habitat for the arthropod. Students bring in their completed models on the day of an "Arthropod Invasion" of their school.

Organize a school grounds field trip for class members. Students will observe different soil samples to see the variety of insects living in and around their school grounds.

Students study the lifecycle of an insect through its egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Students create drawings or sculptures of each stage.

Invite a local entomologist to speak with students about his work. Prior to the visit, students compose questions for the interview. After the meeting, students post learning to a class blog.