Incredible Insects

Bumblebee on Flower

Explore the diversity of crawling, flying, and hopping insects with this program! Students discover insect survival mechanisms, such as mimicry and camouflage. They investigate insect life cycles and use magnification tools to examine insects up close and personal. Young entomologists develop an appreciation for the diversity of insects in our watershed habitats as they collect data and communicate their observations about insects and non-insects.

Target Virginia Standards of Learning covered during programs (other SOL apply to the before and after activities.)

Science (2018): 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7; 3.1, 3.4  English (2024): 2.C.1, 2.FFR.2, 2.RV.1 ; 3.C.1, 3.FFR.3, 3.RV.1

 

To enhance classroom connections, we have developed this lesson cluster.  Field investigations are more meaningful to students when integrated into their curriculum. This lesson cluster can be used to introduce and/or review and synthesize for a systems approach and increase depth of knowledge. Before-visit activities introduce students to the diverse world of insects and expose preconceptions. With the after-visit activities, students delve more deeply into human-insect relationships over time or explore the invertebrate biodiversity of their own school setting. Click here for the entire lesson cluster or click on the sections below for individual activities.

NOTE: hover over bolded phrases to find links to resources

Before: Insect Diversity and Preconceptions

Before-visit activities introduce students to the diverse world of insects and expose preconceptions.

Before: First Impressions (modified from Project WILD)

Before: Give Bees a Chance

During: Field Investigations 

During your field investigation at Blandy, your students will engage in several indoor and outdoor lessons where they will explore insect diversity in a myriad of ways. Students discover insect survival mechanisms, such as mimicry and camouflage. They investigate life cycles and use magnification tools to examine insects closely and personally. And they develop an appreciation for the diversity of insects in our watershed habitats.

Below is an overview of the “typical” program activities to assist you with integrating this field investigation into the classroom experiences. The activities can vary based on the number of classes and can change due to weather, the volume of students, or communication with environmental educators. Click here for a sample schedule. 

  • Insect Collection: Students seek insects in various habitats, carefully capture them, and then observe their physical characteristics, adaptations, and behavior before releasing them in their homes.
  • Insect Diversity through Microscopes: The physical characteristics and adaptations of pinned insects are observed through microscopes and other magnifiers. Students create scientific illustrations or describe their findings.
  • Sniff Trail: Information about butterfly or moth host plant, egg, larva, pupa, and adult phases is sniffed out by students in a nasal scavenger hunt.
  • Insect Modeling (Teacher Led): Students listen carefully for details about the appearance of a “mystery insect” appearing in a story read by their teacher. They then use the details to draw the insect described in the reading.

VA Standards Addressed

Science (2018): 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7; 3.1, 3.4 

English (2024): 2.C.1, 2.FFR.2, 2.RV.1 ; 3.C.1, 3.FFR.3, 3.RV.1

 

After: Humans and Insect Relationships, current and historic

With the after-visit activities, students delve more deeply into human-insect relationships over time or explore the invertebrate biodiversity of their own school setting.   

After: Historically Cultured Insects

 After: Insect Collection in the Schoolyard

Literacy

Give Bees a Chance         Non-fiction        

Author: Bethany Barton

Preschool -3rd   Lexile: AD590L  

Suggested Activities:

  • Search for bees outside. Before going out, set expectations. Observe the bees. How many different kinds of bees can be found? What are they doing? If materials are available, GENTLY capture and sort the bees by type.
  • Invite an expert to talk to your class. An Extension Agent or Master Naturalist could talk about native bees and their role in the ecosystem.
  • Have students name an insect (or other arthropod) that makes them nervous or afraid. Conduct research projects to learn all about those insects and create a poster that tells people why the scary insects are worth having around.                                               

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices           Fiction  

Author: Paul Fleischman               Illustrator: Eric Beddows

4-7          Lexile: NP           

Suggested Activities:

  • Read, practice, perform. Follow up with a mini research project investigating an insect of your choosing and create your own two-voice poem.