BACKGROUND:
In this exercise the students will write a
report on an arthropod of their choice. The example, of the butterfly and
moth, below can be used to show the students how you can use library books to
evolve a story. You may want students to give an oral report on their
findings.
Moths and butterflies belong to the group
called the Lepidoptera. They are medium to large sized insects with mouthparts
reduced to form a coiled tube for sucking liquid food. They have antennae that
are long and often feathery. They have large compound eyes with two pairs of
large and showy wings. Wings have overlapping scales and moths are often
hairy. The abdomen or stomach parts have ten segments. Butterflies which sleep
at night, have slim bodies and clubbed antennae and rest with wings folded
over their back, the hind wings almost covering the forewings. Moths, which
are awake at night, never have clubbed antennae and rest with the wings in
various positions.
Metamorphosis is a rapid transformation of
life that some animals undergo from juvenile stage to the adult form.
Metamorphosis is characteristic of amphibians but butterflies and moths also
undergo change due to hormonal control. The life of a butterfly is a little
different than that of a moth. Moths and butterflies go through four life
stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. The length of the life cycle varies
from species to species.
Butterflies and moths both lay eggs which
hatch into caterpillars of different shapes and sizes depending on the
species. The caterpillar feeds usually on leaves and grows very rapidly. It
molts (sheds) its skin and develops a new one as the body grows. The
metamorphosis begins when the caterpillar uses silk to attach to a plant. The
skin hardens to form a chrysalis (for a butterfly) a cocoon for a moth. Within
the chrysalis and the cocoon the caterpillar changes to the butterfly and moth
respectively. In the adult stage the main purpose is to eat and to lay eggs.
Butterflies and moths usually only live for several weeks.
PROCEDURE:
- Have the students decide what puppet
they would like to find out more about. Have the students work in teams. If
you have Internet access have them do a search.
- Instruct students to write a report
after they do some research
- Have each of the teams give an oral
report. Let them use the puppets to provide drama on the presentations.
