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Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

Grades 3-5

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Go to the Berkshire Backyard Gallery page

Click here for printable version of all resources listed above

Who has jaws one-third the size of their body, produces their own "lightning," and constitutes about seventy-five percent of the earth's animal population? Insects! Investigate their life cycles and unique adaptations, including the wonders of metamorphosis.

Location: Berkshire Backyard Gallery
Length: One hour
Grades: 3 - 5

Massachusetts
Science and Technology/ Engineering Strand 2

New York
Standard 4 Science The Living Environment

Introduction to Classification
Students will learn how scientists classify animals into different groups. The characteristics of arthropods are also introduced.

Arthropods
With the help of student volunteers, we will draw the body types of five major arthropods groups of students will be able to bring this back to school to use a simple classification guide.

Metamorphosis
Through demonstrations, the class explores the differences between complete and gradual metamorphosis.

The Great Arthropod Scramble
Working in groups, students will receive cards featuring the names and images of various arthropod species, which they are challenged to place in the most appropriate arthropod. A discussion of the arthropod groupings follows the activity, including a discussion of the bugs found in the Bug Out of the Box exhibit.

Live Animals
Student learn about the adaptations, behaviors, and life cycles of different types of arthropods through the observation of live animals like the tarantula, millipede, horseshoe crab, hissing cockroach, and cricket.

• Scientists group living things into categories to bring order to the study of living things.
• Insects are part of a larger group of invertebrate animals called arthropods. Spiders, crustaceans, millipedes, centipedes, mites, and ticks are examples of arthropods that are not insects. Arthropods have specialized life cycles and physical adaptations such as antennae, wings, and exoskeletons.
• Some insects go through a 3-stage life cycle called incomplete or simple metamorphosis, changing from egg to nymph to adult. Others go through a 4-stage complete metamorphosis, changing from egg to larvae to pupa to adult.

Key Terms Used During the Program

• Arthropods
  invertebrates (having no internal backbone) with segmented bodies and jointed appendages; members of this phylum include spiders, insects, and crustaceans.
• Arachnids
  a class of arthropods without antennae, whose bodies are divided into two regions, with the first region having four pairs of legs. Spiders, scorpions, ticks and mites are arachnids.
• Insects
  a class of arthropods that have three body regions head, abdomen, and thorax and three pairs of legs.
• Invertebrate
  an animal that does not have an internal backbone.
• Exoskeleton
  an external skeleton that protects the internal organs.
• Metamorphosis
  the change of an insect from one form to another as it develops into an adult. Some insects go through a 3-stage life cycle called incomplete or simple metamorphosis, changing from egg to nymph to adult. Others go through a 4-stage complete metamorphosis, changing from egg to larvae to pupa to adult.
• Entomologist
  a scientist who studies insects.

Assessment: Invent an Arthropod
Once students have learned about the adaptations of real insects, they will have fun putting their knowledge to work inventing new, imaginary species. Using old magazines, cut out pictures that show different kinds of potential habitats. Ask each student to pick a picture and then invent an insect that might live in that habitat. Students can draw a collage or picture of their insect. Make sure to label all of its body parts; give their insect a name; then write a paragraph about their insect telling what it eats, how it moves, and how it protects itself in its habitat. Then ask students to exchange habitat pictures with someone else. Ask them to consider how life would alter for their creature if some sudden change, such as a volcanic eruption, occurred in their habitat.

Collect a Spider Web
You can preserve a spider's web without harming the spider. Spiders weave webs frequently and quickly. You'll need hair spray, black construction paper, and clear contact paper. Take your class on a walk first thing in the morning to find spider webs. When you have found one, make sure the spider is gone and spray the web with hairspray a few times until it is stiff. Then cut the strands that connect the web to the surrounding environment with a pair of scissors. Have the piece of black paper ready for the web to land on. When the web lands on the black paper, spray it again so that it sticks to the paper. To preserve the web, cover it with contact paper.

Insect Safari
In the early fall or late spring, take the class on a walk outside, looking for insect life on the ground, on plants, and in the air. Ask students to try to find as many insects as they can, keeping a list of what they see. If they see an insect and they are not sure what it is, they should draw a picture and write down observations that might help to identify it like color, size, body parts, etc. Afterwards, make a class list of all of the insects (and other arthropods) you saw, and discussing any mysterious insects that students saw but could not identify. Encourage other students to share theories about what the mysterious insects might have been. Helpful field guides are in the printed resources section below.

Bugscope
Excellent site with links to various activities to do with insects in the classroom and the schoolyard. You can also send them a bug that you have collected and they will scan it using an electron scanning microscope and air it in a live session online.

All of these resources, except those noted with *, are available through the Central/Western Massachusetts (C/W MARS) library system. Use the Berkshire Athenaeum’s on-line catalogue , to search for these print resources in Western Massachusetts.


Print Materials for Students

Arnold, Caroline.  Fireflies.  NY:  Scholastic Inc., 1994.  Illustrations and
information about how and why fireflies are able to glow.

Julivert, Maria  A.  The Fascinating World of Spiders.  NY:  Barrons, 1992. 
Information about spider feeding habits, senses, community life, web-building, and interactions with their environment.  Illustrations and photos.  Other titles in the Fascinating World Of series include Bees, Ants, and Butterflies & Moths.

Lane, Margaret.  The Spider.   NY:  Penguin, 1982.  An illustrated look at
spiders-- their feeding habits, web-making, and their beneficial qualities.   

Leahy, Christopher. Peterson First Guide to Insects of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.  The concise field guide to 200 common insects of North America.

Lowestein, Frank. Bugs. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc., 1999. A large, colorful, hardcover book that details insect behaviors, physical features, and ways of life that are totally different from our own. You'll learn what is and is not an insect, how insects evolved, how they help and harm humans, and the fascinating details of their lives from birth to death.

Mound, Laurence. Eyewitness Books: Insects. London, Dorling Kindersley, 2000. A spectacular and informative guide to the extraordinary world of insects. Superb color photographs of beetles, bugs, bees, and butterflies give the reader a unique "eyewitness" insight into the variety and complexity of insects, their structure, life cycles and behavior.

Needham, Karen and Launi Lucas.  Strange Beginnings.  Boston: 
Tradewind Books, Ltd., 2001.  Illustrations and brief text show the larva and adult versions of several insects.

Snedden, Robert.  What Is An Insect?  San Francisco, CA:  Sierra Club
Books for Children., 1997.  Large color photos and informative text about characteristics that distinguish insects from their relatives, life cycles, senses, locomotion, defenses, and habitats.

Opler, Paul A. Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Describes and illustrates 183 butterflies and moths of North America, and includes advice on butterfly-watching and butterfly conservation.

Wright, Amy Bartlett. Caterpillars of North America (Peterson First Guides).
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998. Simple, factual text and illustrations. The images not only show the caterpillars, but also pupae and adults, as well as the plants they feed on.  It also includes an easy-to-use identification key.

Whalley, Paul Ernest Sutton. Eyewitness Books: Butterfly & Moth. London, Dorling Kindersley, 2000. An original and exciting look at the natural history of butterflies and moths. Stunning photographs provide a unique view of the behavior of these complex and vividly beautiful insects, their structure and life cycles, habitats, feeding habits, and modes of self-protection. Wright,

Amy Bartlett. Caterpillars of North America (Peterson First Guides). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998. This First Guide is filled with simple, factual text and superb artistic illustrations. The images are particularly valuable because they not only show the caterpillars, but also pupae (chrysalides and cocoons) and adults, as well as the plants they feed on. It also includes an easy-to-use identification key.

Print Materials For Educators

Alvin Silverstein and Virginia Silverstein. Life in a Bucket of Soil. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 1972. The soil in forests, meadows, and fields swarms with countless tiny creatures. In fact, you can find a rich sampling of organisms simply by filling a bucket with soil. The small animals you're likely to find are vividly described in this fascinating, easy-to-read book, designed to acquaint you with the vast, living world beneath your feet.

National Wildlife Federation. Incredible Insects. New York: Learning Triangle Press, 1998. This book will have even the most bug-shy child impressed with incredible insect feats and facts. It includes reproducible "Copycat Pages," ready-to-use activities, essays, case studies, a glossary and bibliography.

Doris, Ellen. Entomology (Real Kids/Real Science Series). New York: Thames and Hudson, 1993. This book presents lots of information on methods for studying insects through a wide variety of investigative activities including observing metamorphosis, exploring a pond, raising insects, developing a collection, and more. While the book is project-oriented, it also provides a great deal of background information on insects.

Hickman, Pamela. Bug Wise. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison - Wesley Publishing Company, 1990. Learn about insects, arachnids and other arthropods with this easy to use book. Explanations, identification, and fun facts are included along with 30 activities to do with children.

Richard E. White. A Field Guide to Insects : America North of Mexico, A Peterson Field Guide. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Detailed descriptions of insect orders, families, and many individual species are illustrated with 1,300 drawings and 142 superb color paintings. Illustrations - which use the unique Peterson Identification System to distinguish one insect from another - include size lines to show the actual length of each insect. A helpful glossary explains the technical terms of insect anatomy.

Web Materials for Students

The AES Bug Club for Young Entomologists
Do you want to cuddle a Cockroach, stroke a Stick Insect or hug a Harvestman? Do you find earthworms, beetles, bus and other creepy crawlies fascinating or even exciting? If so then the Bug Club is for you.

BioKIDS
This link will take you directly to the insect page in this University of Michigan web site. From there, students can also search for other topics of interest, like arachnids. These pages have lots of images and kid-friendly information, as well as classification info, and sounds!

Young Entomologists' Society
The mission of the Young Entomologist's Society is "To provide young people with a combination of programs, publications, and educational materials that enrich their insect and spider studies through dynamic, innovative, and enjoyable learning experiences.

All About Butterflies
All About Butterflies is a comprehensive on-line hypertext book about butterflies. It is designed for students of all ages and levels of comprehension and has an easy-to-use structure that allows readers to start at a basic level on each topic, and then to progress to much more advanced information as desired by clicking on links.

Web Materials for Educators

Bugscope
Excellent site with links to various activities to do with insects in the classroom and the schoolyard. You can also send them a bug that you have collected and they will scan it using an electron scanning microscope and air it in a live session online.

City Bugs
Although this site is set up for schools in San Francisco, it is a great resource for lessons, identification and links.

Discovery School Lesson Plan Library
Lesson plans for K - 5 including animals, ecology, earth science and more.

Enature
A fantastic resource for studying and identifying plants and animals, including insects and other arthropods. The insect pages are well-organized and easy to navigate, and the pictures make identification easy. Another feature of this site includes a zip code search function, which allows you to gather pictures of the plants and animals to be found in your own neighborhood.

Montana State University: Butterflies and Moths of North America
This fabulous site allows you to search for images and information on butterflies and moths that live in your region. Information on each species includes life history, habitat, range, food for caterpillars and adults (good information for planning a butterfly garden), and conservation status.

The North American Butterfly Association
This web site provides information about this organization for butterfly enthusiasts, including an online store, information on the NABA chat list, the NABA park, and butterfly counts.

Texas A & M University, Entomology Department: Insects in the Classroom
A wealth of insect lesson plans for K - 8, organized by grade level and topic.

 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent Federal grant- making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities supports the Berkshire Museum.

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