|
|
It's a Bug Fest! |
|||
Links: |
SETTING THE STAGE This lesson is designed to go with my other lesson which focuses upon insects. You may wish to present this lesson first since bugs also include the group of insects. The bulk of extra activities is included with the insect lesson. To set the mood for your study of bugs, you will need to adjust your classroom. By studying bugs, you can turn your classroom into the great out doors. This can be done easily and inexpensively since by studying bugs, you can pretty much include just about anything dealing with the outdoors. You can hang green streamers from the ceiling. Hang bug poetry and pictures all over the room. Hang rubber insects from the ceiling inside net homes. You may want to set up the listening center with books featuring bugs. Also set up the reading center with some books about bugs. You may also wish to purchase several types of plastic bugs and scatter them about the room. Allow the children access to bug catchers and nets. This will allow them to capture insects and observe them. When studying insects, there is such a wide variety of sources for items that you could really go all out in decorating your classroom while keeping costs at a minimum. Oriental Trading Magazine as well as any dollar store are excellent sources. OVERVIEW This lesson will help students to begin studying bugs. This lesson will serve as an opening to an entire unit dedicated to the study of bugs. By studying bugs, you can then go on to study insects, habitats, eating habits, plants, climate and so much more. ITV SERIES Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventure- Bugs! Other suggested resources: The Very Hungry Caterpillar video Reading Rainbow- Bugs Check the audio/visual resources catalog available to all Duval County School Board employees. It has an excellent selection of multi-media technology free for teachers to use in their classrooms LEARNING OBJECTIVES The student should be able to identify what a bug is. They should be able to identify what a bug is. You will not get into insects specifically. This lesson serves to introduce further study into that area. The students should be able to: 1. Identify several bugs - for example spider, fly, centipede, beetle, ant and many more. 2. Identify why we need them - we need them because they are the basic part of the food chain. Without bugs, higher living things on the food chain would not survive. 3. Identify what attracts bugs - Food! 4. Identify camouflage as a means of protection. 5. Identify the outer covering of a bug as being an exoskeleton. 6. Identify how bugs breathe - through spiracles / trachea 7. Identify 1 basic difference between a spider and an insect - the number of legs MATERIALS Plastic Jars / Nets Magnifying Glass Legal Pads / Steno Pads Many different plastic bugs Large White construction paper Crayons Markers Colored Pencils Bug Stencils Dice Bug Pattern that requires the bug to be put together PREVIEWING ACTIVITIES Teacher: “We are going to begin our study of a very special group of animals today. To do this, we will need to go on a little excursion.” This part is optional. You may either take the children outside on a search for insects. This is quite enjoyable for the children. However, if weather conditions do not allow this, you may scatter and hide plastic bugs all around the room. Teacher: “However, before we go on this trip, we need to know what to look for. First of all, we are searching for something that is small. It also moves about outside and makes noise. It has more than 2 legs and some have wings. They live above and below the ground. Can anybody guess what we are looking for?” The students should guess bugs. If not, give them some more clues until they figure it out. Teacher: “What I want you to do outside is to walk quietly and try to capture several bugs. We shall spend about 30 minutes outside for this part. Once we have collected several bugs, we will bring them back inside and graph how many of each type we have. You will need to dig for some insects. Also, turn over rocks or leaves, and look in flowers. If it is a bug like a bee, just have your partner write down what you saw and how many of them there were.” Take the students outside. Once you are back in the classroom, have the students contribute their numbers to a class bar graph. Be sure that the graph shows the total number of bugs observed. Also, have several students go outside and release the insects. FOCUS FOR VIEWING Teacher: “Now that we have seen several bugs outside, it is time to learn a little bit more about our tiny friends. I want you to pay close attention to the video we are going to watch. I am going to stop it to ask you questions. If you see something that you feel is important, raise your hand and feel free to share. Let’s begin.” VIEWING ACTIVITIES Start at the beginning of the video. Stop:..Oh boy, it sure is peaceful out here without bugs. Question: What have you seen so far? Answer: Bugs (i.e. praying mantis, beetle, spider, centipede) Stop: Maybe he can explain what is going on with all these bugs. Question: What do you think is going on? Answer: The bugs smell the food and want it. Stop: That’s about 200 million insects per every person on earth. Question: How many insects are there? Answer: Many Question: How many per person? Answer: About 200 million per person Stop: I only saw two, now I see four. Question: Why did he only see two? Answer: He saw only two because they blended in with the branch. Question: Does anyone know what this is called when something blends with its surroundings? Answer: Camouflage Stop: Their looks actually protect them. Question: How does their looks protect them? Answer: They protect the bugs because they blend in and are harder to see. Stop: Its no wonder we are amazed by them. Question: How many species of insects are there? Answer: Over 1 million Stop: We probably couldn’t grow our food. Question: Do we need bugs? Answer: Yes Question: Why? Answer: They help us to grow our food. Stop: ..an outer shell Question: What is the outer shell of an insect called? Answer: An exoskeleton Stop: ..direct contact between every little cell in the Katydid’s body. Question: How do insects breath? Answer: Through holes in the side of their body called spiracles. The spiracles are connected to the trachea which branches to each and every cell in the insect to provide it with oxygen. Stop: That’s called warning coloration. Question: Why? Answer: It is called that because the colors warn other insects and predators to stay away. Stop: ..how is a tarantula different? Question: How do you think a tarantula is different from other insects? Answer: It has eight legs. Stop: .. and all the way up to the top. Question: So why are bugs so important? Answer: It is because they are the lowest life form on the food chain. Without bugs, the next level would starve and so on and so forth all the way to the top of the food chain. POST VIEWING ACTIVITIES Science Activity: Discuss what you observed in the video. Be sure to include in your discussion the following: 1. Identify several bugs - for example spider, fly, centipede, beetle, ant and many more. 2. Identify why we need them - we need them because they are the basic part of the food chain. Without bugs, higher living things on the food chain would not survive. 3. Identify what attracts bugs - Food! 4. Identify camouflage as a means of protection. 5. Identify the outer covering of a bug as being an exoskeleton. 6. Identify how bugs breathe - through spiracles / trachea 7. Identify 1 basic difference between a spider and an insect - the number of legs You can discuss in the form of a game. The class is divided into teams, Draw a large dartboard on the board like the one below. Ask the children various questions about what they saw in the video. If they get the answer correct, they may throw a dart (It can be a ball or even a rubber insect). Be sure to have a spotter help you determine where the bug lands. The team with the most points wins. Next, you have the children remain in teams. Pass out crayons, markers, paper, stencils and so on. Next, have the children create their own book about bugs based on what they observed in the video. Allow the children to create the books mostly on their own. Be sure to have them illustrate the book. Once completed, put the book together with some string or yarn. Put the books on display Math Activity: Pass out the bug that needs to be assembled (included at the end of the lesson). Have the students then color and cut it out. Do not have them put it together. Now, divide the children into groups. Have them take turns rolling the dice to determine who goes first. Once they have decided, hand them a sheet telling them what each roll of the dice is worth. 1 = main body 2 = left wing 3 = right wing 4 = head 5 = left antenna 6 = right antenna They must roll that specific number in order to assemble their bug. The first one with a complete bug wins Variations: For older children, have them assemble 12 pieces and have them roll two dice. Also, draw a variety of insects and have the children use those. ACTION PLAN Plan to go on a nature walk or picnic to and capture some insects to study. Allow the children access to the Internet. Invest in an ant farm and document their activities. Invite an entomologist into the classroom. Have them discuss insect and how they became an entomologist. Visit the local museum. Go on a field trip to various nature sites such as Pelotes Island, Carey State Park, UNF Nature Trail etc. EXTENSIONS Language Arts: MIX ‘EM UP CHIPS Using the word tiles included in this lesson, have the children cut out the tiles. They are to them place them in some recycled and cleaned pringles cans. They are to then unscramble the letters to form various bug words. If the have a difficult time, you may include a word list to assist them. Here are some sample words: insect wing scale bug fly caterpillar mosquito cockroach tick bee butterfly hive firefly ant beetle egg grasshopper metamorphosis ladybug larva termite swarm nymph wasp pupa maggots cocoon flea adult dragonfly praying mantis mantids head moth cricket drone antennae thorax habitat entomologist nectar gnat BUG BINGO: Create your own bug bingo by using several of the words listed above. Included with this lesson is a blank bingo sheet. You may also wish to use pictures COMPOUND WORDS Have the children brainstorm as many compound bug words that they can think of. You may even take this a step further and make your own cards where you have to match the words up to form compounds. Sample Words: butter fly spider web egg sack dragon fly horse fly fire fly house fly silk worm lady bug grass hopper inch worm honey bee glow worm earth worm Take it a step farther and have the children choose one to draw creatively. For example, have them draw a house with wings for house fly.
RHYMING MADNESS Copy the poem below onto chart paper. Little Miss Muffet Little Miss Muffet Sat on her tuffet Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider; Who sat down beside her, And frightened Miss Muffet away. Have the children identify the words that rhyme. Also have them identify the nouns and the verbs. You may even have them try to write their own poem about bugs that rhymes. Mathematics: GRAPHING GALORE Have the children graph their favorite bugs, favorite color bugs and much more. You may even enlarge the patterns included with this lesson and have the children color those for the graph. Cooking: CATERPILLAR SURPRISE APHIDS ON A LOG (substitute sunflower seeds) Slice stalks of celery, and spread peanut butter in the groove. Add some raisins onto the celery and tada, you have caterpillar surprise. Use sunflower seeds for aphids. ANT TREATS Use cinnamon twists (glazed donut-like pastries formed into the number eight) as the insect body. Stick bendable plastic straws in the sides (three on each side) to be the legs, and they should look like giant ants. Use 'donut holes' for ant eggs. BEE BREAD 1 cup corn syrup 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1 cup peanut butter 1 1/4 cup powdered milk Combine ingredients, then roll into 1-2" balls, then roll the balls in powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together. FLY-IN-THE-BATTER DESSERTS 1) Fly-in-the-batter cookies: Make chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies, adding raisins (flies) or chocolate sprinkles (gnats). 2) Fly-in-the-batter pudding: Vanilla pudding with raisins. 3) Cow Pies: Chocolate pudding with slivered almonds or coconut sprinkles (maggots). Place a few plastic fly adults on top. BUGBLOOD or BUG JUICE Mix a yellow drink (citrus pop or lemonade) with a blue one (kool-aid). You'll end up with a bright shade of green just like bug blood. You may also use various colors of koolaid because bug blood is different colors. BUTTERFLY SNACKS Use pretzels as butterfly wing frames, and stick them together with softened caramel candy or peanut butter. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW SPIDER 1 Bag Giant Marshmallows Chow mein noodles M & M’s Meltable Chocolate Wax Paper First, have the children stick 4 chowmein noodles in each side of the marshmallow to form legs. Next, melt the chocolate. Carefully cover the top of the marshmallow. Do not use to much chocolate since it will melt the marshmallow. Place 2 M & M’s on top for eyes. Allow to dry on wax paper. CHOCOLATE PRETZEL SPIDER Stick two oreo cookies together with chocolate frosting. Make 8 curved legs by breaking bow-tied pretzels, and attach them around the middle of the spider by sticking them into the chocolate frosting. Use M & M's for eyes on the front, 'glued' with frosting. SPIDERS Peanut Butter Cinnamon Cocoa Powdered Sugar Chow mein noodles M & M’s First, mix the powdered sugar and cocoa. Take one large spoonful of peanut butter and roll it into the mixture. Take a smaller scoop of peanut butter and roll it into the mixture. Roll both balls into the cinnamon mixture and place the small ball onto the larger one. Insert 4 chow mein noodles on each side of the large ball. Place 2 M & M’s onto the head and you have made spiders. Warning: This one is messy but the kids love it!!!! SPIDER CAKE 1 cake mix Chocolate Frosting 1 box green jello 8 black licorice sticks 8 gumdrops, M & M's or other round candy for eyes Prepare any cake mix. Bake it in 2 metal bowls, 1 bigger than the other. Once out of the pan,, cut the bigger one (the “body") in half, horizontally. CAREFULLY scoop out an adequate cavity in each half. FILL with well-whipped set green Jello, and reattach the halves. Frost both cakes chocolate. Use licorice sticks as legs. Use 2 BIG green gumdrops and 6 little ones as eyes. When the cake is cut into, it spurts green goo, just like a real spider when stepped on. Variations: 1) Add a red hourglass to the back for a Black Widow. 2) Substitute pistachio pudding instead of green jello. "DIRT" CAKE 1 20-oz. pkg. chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed 1/2 stick margarine 1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar 3-1/2 c. milk 2 pkg. instant chocolate pudding 1 12-oz. tub whipped topping 1/4 c. mini marshmallows (beetle grubs) 1 plastic flower pot 1 plastic flower plastic ants/beetles gummy worms Cream margarine, sugar, cream cheese. In another bowl mix milk and pudding. Let sit until thick. Stir in cool whip, mix with cream cheese mixture. Make sure pot holes are plugged. Put 1/3 of cookie crumbs in bottom of pot. Add 1/2 of cream cheese mixture. Repeat cookie crumbs and cream cheese mixture, adding some gummy worms and the mini marshmallows. Add extra crumbs on top (to look like dirt). Refrigerate over night. Add flower(s), bugs, and the rest of the worms on top. Use a trowel to serve. Variations: Chocolate Pudding Crushed Oreo Cookies 1 chocolate cake Gummy Worms Confectionery sugar Marshmallows 1 Flower pot 1 Plastic Flower First, bake the cake. It doesn’t need to be any specific shape since you will be tearing it up. Next, place a layer of crumpled cake at the bottom of the pot. Throw in some marshmallows, worms, and sprinkle some confectionery sugar. Next, put a layer of pudding into the pot. Gently stir in some more marshmallows, worms, and cookie crumbs. Continue alternating layers. Once you are 3/4 from the top, be sure your last layer is pudding. Sprinkle oreo cookie crumbs on the top so that it looks like dirt. Have a worm or two poking their heads out. Put the flower in the pot and refrigerate. Enjoy!
|
|||
