I have created this unit with a 9-week time frame in mind. There are 9 lessons to be completed.  I plan on doing 1 lesson a week.  Each lesson has vocabulary words, materials needed, lesson, writing assignment, and an activities section. In the lesson section I have labeled the sites that are appropriate for the different grade levels. In this section I have also included some links or suggested books for fun reading.  Most of the writing assignments are geared towards the upper grades.  There is a “book” that we are creating as we complete each lesson that should be appropriate for the writing part of the lower grades.  For the vocabulary section the child will need a notebook to write the vocabulary words in.  I had my children label theirs Science Vocabulary because we will use this same notebook for all our science vocabulary throughout the year.

The “book” should be done your child’s way.  In other words anyway they wish to do it.  My plan is to make a cover entitled “Backyard Bugs” and let them put pictures of the bugs we’ll be studying on it.  I plan on using metal rings to hold the pages together and reinforce the holes with those stickers you can get from Walmart or anywhere.  I’m also planning on taking pictures of their projects they complete to put on the pages.  I figure this will make portfolio time easier.  The only component is they should include information about the bug’s life cycle and other facts.  I have put some links to things they may wish to use in their book at the end of each activity section.

I have also tried to make the lessons so that they will be nearly free.  Except for some basic supplies that you will probably already have on hand.  There are a few extras that may be purchased but aren’t really necessary. They are also arranged so all grade levels can do them.  Being a mother of 4, with each child in a different grade, I know how nice it is to be able to teach them together. 

The easiest way for you to use these lessons would be to copy and paste them into a word document. 

There are some things you may wish to purchase before you begin your study.  These things are totally optional.  I just thought they may enrich and help reinforce what they are learning.

Butterfly Garden

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/catalog/special-categories/great-gift-ideas/gifts-for-ages-8-10/p_lm-bflygar.html

Ladybug Land

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/catalog/life-science-biology/insects/insect-books-kits/p_lm-lbuglnd.html

I hope you find these useful and enjoyable. 

Have a blessed day!

Lesson 1 – Introduction to insects

Vocabulary words – Species, Arthropods, exoskeleton, head, thorax, abdomen, antennae, metamorphosis, insect, classification

Materials needed – Construction paper, yarn, used margarine container, leftover food (popcorn, fruit, candy), camera, 2 handouts, vocabulary notebook

Resources- Various Internet sites (listed where needed),

Lesson –

Have students look up definitions for vocabulary words and record them in their vocabulary notebook.

Take a trip to the library and find some story books on insects. 

Have students watch the interactive introduction to insects with C. P. Ant at this site. (best for K-6^th)

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects/03.html

Then hand out this worksheet for them to fill in.  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/label/insect.shtml

Read introduction to insects at this site (best for older students) http://members.aol.com/YESedu/introbug.html

How insects grow and change forms (probably easier for younger kids to understand)

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/unit2/hoigr&cf.htm

The Insect Zoo – click on student’s page. There is a lot of useful information on insects benefits and harm to the environment.

http://insectzoo.msstate.edu/

Now have student answer these questions.

1. Is a spider an insect?

2. How many kinds of insects are there?

3. What body part are the wings and legs attached to?

4. How many types of metamorphism are there?

5. Where are the insect’s internal organs located?

6. Explain how to define if the animal is an insect.

7. List a few of the benefits of insects to the environment

Activities:

1.  Visit this website and see if you can pick out the insects

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/unit1/i&tr.htm

2. Do a Bug Hunt.  Print out the bug hunt worksheet from this website: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects/pdfs/bughunt.pdf

Then take a nature walk in the woods, your backyard, or the park and see if you can fill it up.

3. Make an insect collection

You can do this activity in a couple different ways.  First you could do it the traditional way by capturing and killing bugs.  You can find directions on how to do this and then how to display your collection here: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/unit1/unit1.htm

Scroll down to where it says making an insect collection

Secondly you could do it by making a photo book.  Get your camera out and go take nature photos of all the insects you can find.  You can them paste them in your book and label them.  You may wish to include a little information about each insect.  You could also find images from magazines or other sources to fill in your book. You can find a wide selection of bug images here: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/

How to make the book:  1. Gather several sheets of construction paper

2. Punch 2 holes in one end several inches apart

3. Use yarn to lace the pages together

4. Take a bug census of your backyard – dig a hole somewhere in your yard the size of a used margarine container.  Then place the used container in the hole, place some bait in it.  For bait you could use just about any type of food product – popcorn, fruit, candy, meat. Now cover the container but not completely.  The next day remove the container and see what kind of bugs you’ve caught.

5. Design your own bug.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects/newbug.html

Field Trip Idea

Our local zoo has a nice bug exhibit so we will be going to visit this exhibit.  Check out your local zoo to see if they have a similar exhibit.

Note

I would check your tv listings or the library for various shows on insects

Ants

Vocabulary – larva, pupa, colony, formic acid, parasites, incubation, queen, worker, soldier, molts

Materials – Ant anatomy worksheet: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/label/ant/label.shtml

A diagram of the ant’s life cycle and definitions:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ant/Antlifecycle.shtml

Ant life cycle sequencing cards:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ant/sequencing/

Construction paper, glue, writing paper, 4 glass jars, sifted soil, small sponge, cheesecloth, string or rubber bands, seeds, sugar, and dead insects, vocabulary notebook

Lesson

Have students look up definitions for vocabulary words and record them in their vocabulary notebooks.

Introductory short story to read to them: The Ant That Wore Wings: http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=pierson&book=meadow&story=ant

Read the basic information on ants at this website: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ant/Antcoloringpage.shtml

Read interesting facts about ants:

http://lingolex.com/ants.htm

Read Ants (make sure to enlarge the pictures for a great view of what an ant looks like)

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/ant.html

Read Go To The Ant – Ant Feats: http://home.att.net/~B-P.TRUSCIO/STRANGER.htm

Ants of Japan (just for exploring)

http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/E/index.html

Hand out The Ants Lifecycle worksheet and go over it with them.

Hand out Ant Anatomy worksheet and have students fill it in

Answer these questions

1. Name the different classes of ants and there jobs

2. How do ants breathe?

3. How do they communicate with each other?

4. Can you name 2 different species of ants and tell us something about them?

5. How many species of ant are there?

6. How do ants get their food?

7.  How do they eat?

Writing Assignment

For older students – Write a research paper on ants.

Here is a link on how to write a research paper: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/genre.html

Activities

1. Start a cumulative lap book that will cover all the insects we are going to be studying.  This will be a unique kind of book as we will do them individually and then join them together in the end to make “My Backyard Bug Book”.  Today we are going to do the ant page. 

2. Let’s observe ants by making ant farms.

You’ll need 4 clean glass jars.  Fill 3 jars 2/3 full of the sifted soil then slightly dampen the soil.  Take the sponge and cut into pieces.  Dampen the sponges and place one piece in each jar.  Now you will need to put food in the jars for the ants.  In one jar place a few seeds, in the second jar place the sugar, and the third jar place the dead insects.  Using the fourth jar you are now ready to go collect your ants from the backyard.  Place some of your captured ants in each jar and securely tie a piece of cheesecloth on the top of each jar.  The cheesecloth will keep the ants in and let them get air.  You’ll need to store your ant farms in a dark place and only bring them out to observe their behavior.   Make sure to add a little water when needed.

Now that you have your ant farms made its time to make some observations.  Do you notice a difference between the 3 farms?  Is one group of ants surviving better than the others?  If so, why?  Draw conclusions about the ants from your observations.  Make sure to record your observations.

Note: If you want your ant farms to survive longer try to locate the queen and place it in the jar.

3. Take this online quiz: http://www.kwiznet.com/p/takeQuiz.php?ChapterID=2010

4. Read these 2 short stories and tell or write about you learned from these stories.

The Ant and the Dove

http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheAntandtheDove&&antdove.ram

The Ant and The Grasshopper

http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheAntandtheGrasshopper&&antgrass.ram

If you would like you can get some worksheets to go with The Ant and The Grasshopper here: http://www.schoolexpress.com/fws/cat.php?id=2524

SUGGESTION – This would be a good week to do this Bible Class Lesson

Consider The Ant

http://daniellesplace.com/html/freeantlesson.html

Honeybee

Vocabulary – brood, forage, beeswax, hive, drone, defense, nectar, ventilate, enzymes, pheromones, secrete, social

Materials – Construction paper, brass fasteners, crayons or colored pencils, scissors, beeswax candle making kit, different flavors of honey, bread, writing paper, glue, vocabulary notebook, magnifying glass or microscope

Honey bee printout (best for lower grades)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/bee/Honeybeecoloring.shtml

Label me bee printout

http://www.zoomdinosaurs.com/subjects/insects/label/bee.shtml

Lesson

First have students find the definitions to the vocabulary words and write them in their vocabulary notebook.

Then have students investigate the following sites.  For younger students do it with them.

Make sure to have plenty of discussion with your student on what they are reading.

Read these interesting facts on honeybees

http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/ic/trivia.html

Read anatomy of a hive

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/hive.html

Fascinating facts about bees

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/buzz.html

Dances with bees, watch bees dance

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/dances.html

Interactive online view of the anatomy of a bee

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/alienempire/multimedia/bee.html

Information on the honeybee and different types of bees

http://www.gpnc.org/honeybee.htm

Biology of the Honeybee (best for upper grades)

http://koning.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/Plants_Human/bees/bees.html

Read these 3 stories to your students

The Bees, The Drones, and The Wasps

http://www.mythfolklore.net/aesopica/oxford/178.htm

Bees in the Hive

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=buckley&book=fairyland&story=bees

A Swarm Leaves a Bee Tree

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=pierson&book=forest&story=swarm

Have students fill in the bee anatomy chart

At this site you can view some close-up images of the honeybee

http://pollinator.com/gallery/gallery.htm

Have students answer these questions

1. What are the 3 types of bees in any colony?

2. What does each bee do?

3. How long do the different types of bees live?

4. Tell us something interesting you learned that you didn’t know before.

5. How do bees benefit humans?

6. How do bees benefit the environment?

7. How do bees communicate with each other?

8. Name the 4 stages of a bee’s life cycle.

9. What can we learn from bees?

Writing Assignment

Write a short report on how bees gather and produce honey.  Use the following form for your report.

Bee Report Form

http://www.abcteach.com/Themeunits/Bees/beereport.htm

For Further Investigation (best for older students)

Research another type of bee, explain it’s life and how it differs from the honeybee.

You can find several great links at the following site for this project.

http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Insects/ants.html#BEE

Activities

1. Bee Word search

http://www.abcteach.com/wordpuzzles/WordSearches/beesearch.htm

2. Bee’s life cycle wheel

You will need to make 2 circles about 3 inches in diameter out of construction paper.  Now you’ll need to punch out a hole in the center of each.  Make sure the holes line up.  On one circle cut out a “window”, about ¼ of the circle and then write “ The Honeybee’s Life Cycle” on it. They can decorate it if they wish with flowers and bees. This will be the top of the wheel.  On the other circle divide it into 4 equal parts and have the student draw the four life stages of the honeybee.  Place the other wheel on top and fasten together with a brass fastener.

3. Have students make up a bee dance to communicate something to another person.

4. Get a beeswax candle making kit from your local craft store and let students make their own beeswax candle.

5. You could also purchase different flavored honey and let the student sample the different flavors on some toast.

6. Capture a bee and view it under a microscope or a magnifying glass. (Our local Lowe’s sells bee traps at a reasonable price)

7. Make your bee page for your backyard bug book.

Beehive pattern for book

http://www.abcteach.com/AnimalShapes/beehiveshape.htm

Field trip idea (if your brave enough) Take the student to visit a local beekeeper.

Butterfly/ Moths

Vocabulary –  *eclosion, *chorion, chrysalis, *cremaster, compound, carnivorous, migrate, scales, cocoon, cuticle, hibernate

*for upper grades 7-12^th

Materials – Vocabulary notebook, construction paper, pencil, scissors, yarn, glue stick, sturdy paper plate, markers, crayons, or paints, stapler or tape, toilet paper tube, tongue depressor or ice cream stick, pipe cleaner

Butterfly anatomy worksheet (I chose this one over enchanted learning because it is more life like and I though the students may be able to relate better)

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/activitykit/unit3-e.html

Butterfly life cycle printout

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/label/lifecycle/label.shtml

Lesson plan

First have students look up the definitions for the vocabulary words and write them in their vocabulary notebook.

Read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

Then read “The Butterfly that Went Calling”

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=pierson&book=meadow&story=butterfly

Next explore these different websites to find out about butterflies and moths.

Find out all about butterflies and moths (best for K-6)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/

The Monarch Butterfly - view photos of the different stages of its life cycle and photos of the butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. (all)

http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/monarch_butterfly.htm

Butterfly and moth life cycle images and information (all)

http://www.acnatsci.org/education/L2L/Anatomy.html

Butterfly and Moth FAQ’s (all)

http://www.acnatsci.org/education/L2L/ButterflyFAQs.html

Some wonderful pictures of butterflies and moths

http://www.150.si.edu/150trav/discover/bfly.htm

More photos of different butterflies

http://www.thais.it/entomologia/farfalle/indici/ind1_uk.htm

A student’s guide to butterflies (best for 7^th-12th)

http://www.butterflyfarm.co.cr/ed/index.htm

Butterfly basics (all)

http://www.fieldmuseum.org/butterfly/basics.htm

Now have students answer these questions

1. How many different species of butterflies are there?

2. What are some of the butterfly’s defense mechanisms?

3. How do butterflies and moths survive the winter months?

4. What stage of the life cycle is the caterpillar?

5. Name 2 differences between moths and butterflies?

6. What do they use for sensing if their eyesight is poor? Explain how they do this.

7. Tell what butterflies eat at the different stages of development.

8. What is the typical life span of a butterfly? A moth?

Writing Assignment

Pick 2 different species of butterfly or moth and research them.  Record your notes on this sheet.

Collecting data sheet

http://www.education.umd.edu/Depts/EDCI/edci385/webquests3/Webquest2/thinksheet4.html

Here are some tips on taking notes for a research paper.

http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/notes.html

Now write a paper comparing and contrasting the 2 species.

Activities

1. Butterfly Lifecycle Mobile you can find the directions here.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/butterfly/lifecyclemobile/

2. Make a mini-book - Is a butterfly an insect? (K-3)

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/activitykit/unit3-g.html

3. Make a butterfly garden in your yard. A special recipe for planting butterfly flowers

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/activitykit/unit5.html

4. Moth Math (note you will have to fill in your own math problems)

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/activitykit/unit4-g.html

You can find sample problems here

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/activitykit/unit4-g2.html

5. Where do butterflies come from? (craft)

http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/butterfly/index.html

6.Butterfly word scramble

http://www.foremostbutterflies.com/butterfly_activities/word_scramble.htm

7.Easy butterfly word search

http://www.foremostbutterflies.com/butterfly_activities/wordsearch1.htm

More difficult word search

http://www.foremostbutterflies.com/butterfly_activities/wordsearch2.htm

8. Butterfly page for Backyard Bugs Book

Butterfly shape for lap book

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/activitykit/unit2-d.html

Butterfly paper to write on

http://www.abcteach.com/paper/butterfly.htm

Houseflies

Vocabulary – maggot, feces, transparent, enemies, sponging, generations, diseases, regurgitates, pathogenic*, longitudinal*, progenitors*,

Materials – toilet paper tube, tape, glue, scissors, crayons, markers, pipe cleaners, egg carton, sequins, flyswatters, paint, paper, drinking straw, clean thick piece of sponge, child’s favorite juice

Lesson –

The common housefly (K-6^th)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/fly/Houseflyprintout.shtml

The housefly (all – younger ones will have to be read to)

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/KKhp/1insects/fly.html

Facts about the housefly (7-12^th)

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/flies/house_fly.htm

Interesting article on how to rear houseflies (all)

http://www.adcham.com/html/insects/insects-fly-rearing.html

At the insect zoo click on student’s page then scroll until you see flies and mosquitoes then click on that link (7^th-12^th)

http://insectzoo.msstate.edu/

Here is a neat image of a housefly’s foot.  Click on image gallery then on foot of a housefly. (all)

http://www.proteacher.com/cgi-bin/outsidesite.cgi?id=98&external=http://www.mos.org/sln/sem/&original=http://www.proteacher.com/110002.shtml&title=Scanning%20Electron%20Microscope

Answer these questions

1. What is the habitat for a fly?

2. What is the life cycle of a housefly?

3. What are some of the natural enemies of the housefly?

4. Name one thing good about flies and one bad thing.

5. How does the housefly taste?

6. How many generations of housefly can be produced in one year?

7. How long to adult flies live?

8.  What are the black specks left behind by flies?

Activities

1. Color this image of a housefly for your housefly page.

http://thecoloringspot.com/images/insects/housefly.jpg

Or this one

http://www.west-ext.com/pdf/fly.pdf

Picture of a fly eating that they can color

http://www.orkin.com/media/cp5.gif

2. Make a fly mask

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/dragonflycrafts/a/blflyeyes.htm

3. Flyswatter painting

http://familycrafts.about.com/library/projects/blflyswpaint.htm

4. The Art of Flying – it is a pdf file so it takes a little while to load – I had the children do the craft to illustrate flying and had them decorate it.  Then I hung our flies from the ceiling.

http://www.orkin.com/media/downloads/art_of_flying.pdf

5. Try eating like a fly.

You’ll need a clean thick piece of sponge and a drinking straw.  Cut a whole partially through the sponge and insert the straw.  Now try and drink through the straw.  This is how a fly’s mouth works.

6. Make your housefly bug page for your book.

The Grasshopper

Vocabulary – herbivores, habitat, pest, folklore, nymph,

Materials – 3 grasshopper patterns, natural materials such as grass, rock, soil, sand, twigs, and flowers, 3 glass dishes, crayons or markers, scissors, construction paper, glue, egg carton, pipe cleaner, paint, vocabulary notebook

Grasshopper label me anatomy printout

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/orthoptera/labelgrasshopper/

Lesson

Have the student find the definitions of the vocabulary words and write them in their vocabulary notebook.

Then have the student read the following websites before answering the questions.

Short Facts page on grasshoppers and anatomy description (K-6)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/orthoptera/Grasshopperprintout.shtml

Here you’ll find facts about the grasshopper and some really good images of the grasshopper.  Make sure to click on the drawing of the grasshopper to go to the facts page.

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/grasshopper.html

Here you can find different images of grasshoppers and the damage they can cause to crops.

http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/orthoptera/

Grasshoppers and Katydids

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/grasshoppers/grasshoppers.htm

Learn about the grasshopper.  Click on student page then scroll down until you see grasshopper.  You can listen to grasshopper sounds here and view an image of a grasshopper from every angle. (reading best for older students)

http://insectzoo.msstate.edu/

Answer these questions

1. What are the three main families of grasshoppers? *

2. Where do grasshoppers lay their eggs?

3. Why do grasshoppers chirp?

4. Can you name some of the things grasshoppers eat?

5. How do you think Katydids got their name?

6. What is special about the pygmy grasshopper?

7. How did grasshoppers get their name?

8.  What is the life cycle of a grasshopper?

9.  Why do you think they call it incomplete metamorphosis?*

10. How many species of grasshopper are there in the United States?*

11.  What is a swarm of grasshoppers called?

12. Name some of the natural enemies of the grasshopper.

Writing Assignment

Many people consider the grasshopper a pest.  Do some research and form a conclusion on why you believe this to be true or untrue.  Make sure to give some facts as to why you formed your opinion. This paper should be at least 3 paragraphs long.  1^st should be the introduction. 2^nd should give facts and supporting reasons for your opinion.

3^rd should be your conclusion.

Activities

1.  Let’s learn about the grasshopper’s ability to blend in with its environment.

You’ll need 3 grasshopper patterns.  Color one grass green, one tan like sand, and one brown like soil. Then in your glass dishes arrange your nature materials all in the same color range as your grasshoppers and place the grasshopper in their dish, doing your best to make it blend in with its environment.  Remember to try and make each display as close to a real environment as possible.  When you are done add a sign that says, “Find the Hidden Grasshopper” and invite someone to try and find it.

2.  Make Grasshopper pie

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=40843

Or Grasshopper guts

http://parentingteens.about.com/od/recipesforkids/r/kids_recipes67.htm

3. Why not keep some crickets as pets to observe.

You’ll need a see thru container with a lid.  Make sure there are air holes for the crickets to breathe.  In the container place a wet cotton ball, a small container of cornmeal, and a few grass blades.  Now all you need to do is go catch some crickets. 

4. Make an egg carton grasshopper

http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/YS/CRAFTS/CRTNCRIT.HTM

5. Make a grasshopper out of pipe cleaners.

http://www.aokcorral.com/projects/grassinstructions.htm

6. For fun watch “ A Bug’s Life” or read the book or read this story about the Ant and The Grasshopper

http://www.dltk-teach.com/fables/grasshopper/mstory.htm

Then have your child color these pages and make his own story book about it.

http://www.dltk-teach.com/fables/grasshopper/coloring.htm

7. See how many interesting facts you can list about the grasshopper.

8.  Make your grasshopper page for your “Backyard Bugs" book.

Ladybugs

Vocabulary –  mandibles, symmetry, circulation, elytra, convex, nuisance

Materials – Large brown grocery bag, scissors, red and black paint, paint brushes, small circles cut out of sponges, round sugar cookies, red icing, chocolate chips, black licorice, 1-2 cups flour, water, newspaper strips, small and large margarine containers, black pipe cleaners,

Ladybug sequencing cards

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ladybug/sequencing/

Ladybug anatomy

http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/ladybugs/anatomy.htm

Lesson –

Get this book from the library to read to the kids “The Grouchy Ladybug” by Eric Carle

General information on the ladybug (K-6^th)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ladybug/Ladybugcoloring.shtml

Information on the diet, habitat, anatomy, and the life cycle of the ladybug (K-6^th)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ladybug/Ladybug.shtml

Here you’ll find some general information on the ladybug and images.

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/fldcrops/ef105.htm

Information on the ladybug (5^th-12^th)

http://www.ladybuglady.com/ScienceFair.htm

Some nice images of ladybugs

http://www.ladybuglady.com/ladybugweb9.htm

Here you’ll find legends of the ladybug.  They also have a list of the name of the ladybugs in different languages.

http://www.celticbug.com/Legends/Lore.html

Answer these questions

1. What kind of eyes does the ladybug have?

2. How does the blood of a ladybug move through its body?

3. How many species of ladybugs live in North America?

4. Why is it beneficial to have ladybugs in your garden?

5. How many times do they flap their wings per minute?

6. How do they identify the different types of ladybugs?

7. What is the main predator of the ladybug?

8. Which are larger females or males?

9. What are the life stages of the ladybug?

Have the children fill in the anatomy diagram.

Writing Assignment –

Creative writing assignment

http://www.abcteach.com/Themeunits/Ladybugs/lbwriting.htm

Activities –

1. Make a ladybug costume

http://www.caosclub.org/nsw/funstuff/activity6/activity6.html

2. Make ladybug cookies

Bake some round sugar cookies.  Ice with red icing and decorate with choc. chips for spots and black licorice for antennae.

3. Ladybug crossword puzzle

http://www.abcteach.com/wordpuzzles/Crosswords/ladybug.html

4. Ladybug game

http://sv.berkeley.edu/showcase/flash/ladybug.html

5. Ladybug Breakdown – online game

http://ecokids.earthday.ca/pub/fun_n_games/games/ladybug/index.cfm

6. Make a paper mache’ ladybug

http://bright-ideas-software.com/Sugarbush/Craft/craftladybug.html#Ladybug

7. Ladybug dot to dot

http://www.kidsrcrafty.com/ladybug_a-h.htm

8. Make your ladybug page for your back yard book.

Use the life cycle sequencing cards in your book.

Ladybug coloring pages

http://www.coloring.ws/ladybugs1.htm

Ladybug printed-paper

http://www.abcteach.com/paper/ladybugs.htm

Fireflies

Vocabulary – illuminating, bioluminescence*, Luciferin*, nocturnal,

Materials – 3”flashlight, low temp glue gun, wiggle eyes, “AA” battery, one yarn cord, glow in the dark pony beads, permanent marker, yellow craft foam, scissors,

You may wish to get a glow stick to use as a visual aid. 

Lesson –

This is a story about a lightning bug that was saved.

http://www.backyardnature.net/r/reddog07.htm

Here are some photos of fireflies in different stages of development.

http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?sub=4302

On this site you’ll find answers to questions like; what are they? How many are there? Where do they occur? (7^th-12^th)

http://www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology/outreach/firefly/ffinfo

Firefly or Lightning bug information (K-6^th)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/beetles/Fireflyprintout.shtml

Great site for older students to learn all about the firefly

http://www.fireflyscience.org/

Here they can learn some general information about fireflies (K-6^th) also includes an activity for them.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/insect/firefly.htm

Answer these questions –

1. Which firefly flashes? The male of the female

2. Where do fireflies live until they are adults?

3. What do they eat?

4. How many species of fireflies are there?

5. Where does the name “glowworm” come from?

6. What is the common name for fireflies?

7. Where is the one place on Earth where fireflies are not found?

Writing Assignment –

Write a brief report explaining why and how a firefly flashes.  Below are some links to help you out.

http://ase.tufts.edu/biology/firefly/index.html

Activities –

1. Fireflies in the night sky craft

http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/printcraft.cfm?CraftID=125

2. Make a firefly flashlight

http://www.makingfriends.com/flashlight_firefly.htm

3. Try attracting more fireflies to yard using these suggestions.

http://iris.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/FFiles/frfun.html

4. Here is an activity that could be adapted for a smaller group.  Mom and dad may need to play along.  http://www.bugs.org/Activities/Activity_M-06%20Firefly%20Finders.pdf

Coloring page

http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/field_guide/insects/assets/firefly.pdf

Finishing up

Use this week to finish any uncompleted projects or writing assignments.  You may also wish to do some further research on insects.  Basically this week will be having fun and reinforcing what they have learned.

Learn more about insect flight at this link

http://hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca//insects/flight/flight.html

Here you can see some cool up close images of insects like the mouthpart of a moth or the eye of a praying mantis.  They also list some general facts about the insects.

http://education.denniskunkel.com/Wanted-Mugs-Index.php

Learn how insects breathe

http://www.saburchill.com/chapters/chap0021.html

Learn information on insects and view different photos of insects

http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/bugs/life/locomotion.aspx

Activities

1. Unscramble the words (easy)

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_easy_scr.pdf

Unscramble the words (harder)

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_hard_scr.pdf

2. Quiz their knowledge

Grades 1-2

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_1-2_quiz.pdf

Grades 3-5

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_3-5_quiz.pdf

3. Word search

Hard

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_hard_wf.pdf

Medium

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_med_wf.pdf

Easy

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_easy_wf.pdf

4. Insects what good are they anyway?

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/education/kids/insects_test.aspx

5. Monarch butterfly jigsaw butterfly

http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/butterfly-js.htm

6. Insect name match up. (Probably easier for older children)

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/pdf/bugs_match.pdf

7. Check out these interactive activities

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bugs/

8. Insect themed songs and poems

http://www.dltk-kids.com/Crafts/insects/songs.htm

9. Online insects games

http://www.terminix.com/information/fun/

10. Try your hand at some origami insects

http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/insectam/visitor/classactivities.html