OVERVIEW

When scientists collect measurement data over time and graph the changes, it can help them understand something new about the world. In this project, students collect arthropods and other small critters over time and from different locations and then classify them. A scientist that studies “bugs” is called an entomologist. They record findings and observations in their booklets. They graph their data and interpret results. They learn to identify arthropods, their preferred habitats and how populations change with the seasons.

For more information on long term project, click on the Teacher Button.

DOCENT LESSONS AT A GLANCE

The introductory video/PowerPoint for the class will cover the long-term project and an overview of arthropod classifications. The 6 docent lessons support the long-term project and cover the topics lessons in depth. For detailed lessons click on the Docent Button.

Lesson 1. LIFE CYCLE OF ORGANISMS
Students learn key characteristics of arthropods and how to identify them. They learn about arthropod life cycles, including complete and incomplete metamorphosis. Activities include completing arthropod body part worksheets, sorting models of arthropods into categories, examining samples of real arthropods and studying in detail the life cycle of mosquitoes using models.

Lesson 2. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
Students learn about butterfly and moth metamorphosis and how they are similar and different. Activities include students reading a story about butterflies, examining models of butterfly and moth life cycles, observing cocoons and chrysalises and filling in a Venn diagram to compare butterflies and moths.

Lesson 3. BEETLES AND TRUE BUGS 
Students learn about beetles and true bugs and look for similarities and differences between them. Activities include observing models of each as well as live examples of ladybugs (beetles) and milkweed bugs (true bugs).

Lesson 4. ANTS  
Students learn the importance of ants to the ecosystem and the importance of social interactions within an ant colony. Activities include examining ant life cycles with models and real ants in petri dishes and under the microscope.

Lesson 5. BEES, FLIES AND MIMICRY
Students learn about bees and their importance to pollination. They also learn that many fly species look like bees (mimic) to take advantage of predators' wariness of getting stung. Activities include using UV light to see how flowers and pollen look to bees and playing a game to see if they can use clues about flies and bees to figure out which are real bees and which are mimics.

Lesson 6. ENGINEERING HIVES
Students learn about beehives and the importance of the hexagonal structure they use. Activities include students designing their own bee habitats and testing them out using hex bugs nano bots.