THREE BASIC LESSONS ON INSECTS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

GOALS

(1) To help children learn about and recognize the habitats and homes of insects.

(2) To help children learn where and how to look for insects.

(3) To help children experience the fun and adventure of an insect safari in their own neighborhood.

PRE-LESSON PLANNING AND PREPARATION

(1) Read and study the "Insect Facts Children Should Know" for this session. Additional detailed information is available in the resource materials listed under "Resources For Leaders and Parents" .

(2) Select your meeting activities and gather any necessary materials. You will probably want to have a small supply of clear plastic "bug bottles" to take on the insect safari.

(3) Plan for your insect safari. Select a site and get any necessary permission to use the area (if it's not your own backyard or schoolyard). You might want to do a little scouting to see what kinds of insects occur in the area.

SUGGESTED MEETING PLAN

(1) Talk about insect habitats and homes ("Insect Facts Children Should Know" #1).

(2) Take the children on a "Bug Catchers Insects Safari" in a backyard, a vacant lot or a park. Tips for running a successful safari are given under "Bug Catchers Insect Safari."

(3) If you desire, some of the insects encountered while on a safari can be used to start a temporary insect zoo. Tips for running a temporary insect zoo are given under "Bug Catchers Insect Zoo."

(4) Wrap up the meeting with the "Talk Abouts" and "Planning Ahead Together". Encourage the children to take other insect safaris at home, or to start a miniature butterfly garden with the help of their parents.

INSECT FACTS CHILDREN SHOULD KNOW

(1) Insects can be found just about anywhere you might look. They can be found in the city and the country, in deserts and in swamps, in the mountains and in the lowlands, and in wooded areas and in fields. They can also be found in and near water, in yards and parks, in crop fields and gardens, in homes and buildings and on or near animals and even pets. No matter where you live, you should have no problem locating insects to observe, catch and study.

(2) Most insects have a favorite habitat or construct special homes for themselves. Most insect species are almost always found in specific habitats because of their special needs for certain conditions - the occurrence of a particular plant, flowing water, sandy soil, lots of sunlight, or other such things. Some insects construct special homes for themselves, and these are a sure sign of the insects presence (an ant hill or wasp nest, for example). (NOTE: As you look for insects, take notice of the species you find in each different type of habitat. You will soon see that there is a definite pattern of preference. In fact, after a while you can look at an area, determine the habitat type and actually predict what types of insects you are likely to find there!)

BUG CATCHERS LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Insect Habitats and Homes Activity Sheet. You will need one activity sheet for each child and an assortment of crayons or coloring markers. The left side of the activity sheet has pictures of insects; the right side has pictures of several habitats and homes. Ask the children to help each insects find its' home. Have them draw a line from the first insect (top left) to the appropriate habitat or home. You may want to talk a little bit about each insect to help them make their decision. Continue in the same fashion with each of the remaining insects. The children will probably find it less confusing if they use a different color for each line they draw to connect an insect with their home. They may color the insects or the habitats and homes, if they like.

Bug Catchers Insect Safari. Generally you don't need any special equipment for an insect safari. You may want to take along an insect net if someone has one, a couple of magnifying glasses and a few empty "bug bottles" for holding and examining some of the insects you encounter.

Hopefully, a site for the insect safari was selected in advance. Your backyard, a vacant lot, or a nearby park will do nicely. Even though insects occur everywhere and are often very numerous, many people are unable to "see" insects because they are not looking for them. Insects are often reclusive and inconspicuous, and it takes a little practice to actually see all of the insects that are around you. When looking for insects, look up .... look down .... look all around. When you've finished looking in an area, look again (insects are always on the move)! Look under rocks, logs and debris; look in the water; look on the leaves, twigs and flowers of plants; look in the air. Look at different times of the day (and night) and you will see different insects.

You can easily collect for observation or study most of the insects you find. As a general rule most insects can be safely held in your hand for a closer look. Avoid holding centipedes, large spiders, spiny caterpillars, bees and wasps, and earwigs. All insects can be safely observed in a "bug bottle" - any type of clear plastic container in which you can temporarily place your insect(s). If you wish to have the children observe any of the previously mentioned hazardous insects, this can be accomplished by using an insect net or forceps to handle the insects and get them safely into the "bug bottle".

Here are some pointers on using "bug bottles" to temporarily house insects: (1) For safety sake, use plastic containers instead of glass. (2) Some insects will run or fly up into your bottle if you place it over them; others will drop into it if you place it under them. A little practice will help you determine which method works best for the bugs you find in your neighborhood. (3) If you find the insect feeding on a certain type of plant, try to include some of that plant in your bottle. (4) Keep the bottle out of direct sunlight: the heat will kill your insects. (5) If you can, try to put the bugs back in the proper habitat when you are done watching them.

There are several ways to make insects come to you! All you have to do is provide special attractions, such as certain types of flowers, food baits, or lights. In the case of mosquitoes and other biting flies, you become the attraction and you will have no problem attracting these insects. (1) Flowers: many species of butterflies, bees, flies and beetles are attracted to flowers. You can attract these insects by planting New England aster, bergamot, coneflowers, ox-eye daisy, milkweed, butterfly weed, phlox, chrysanthemum, marigold, zinnia, dahlia, geranium, goldenrods, impatiens, violets, fireweed, thistle, and/or yarrow in a window box, old wash tub, or flower garden. (2) Food baits: many types of food will attract insects. Over-ripe fruit, spoiled meat and fish or cereal grains will each attract different types of insects. (3) Lights: many kinds of insects are attracted to lights. Look for insects attracted to porch lights, lighted signs, lanterns, and street lights. (Note: get permission for this type of collecting/observing if you're not on your own property.)

Bug Catchers Insect Zoo. You may want to start your own temporary insect zoo with some of the insects you catch on your safari. You will need some large see-through containers (gallon jars, terraria, etc.) for housing your critters. You will also need some soil or sand, stones, wood or branches (for the insects to crawl on) and some vegetation (if the insect was feeding on a certain plant you will need to supply some of this plant for food). Most insects will need a little drinking water, so a shallow water dish can be made from a jar lid.

The length of time you plan to keep your critters will determine how much effort you must put into the design and construction of your bug housing. If you plan to keep the critters for a matter of a few hours, then little needs to be done - a plain jar with a little soil or vegetation will do nicely. If you plan to keep the critters for a long period of time, then you will need to design a miniature habitat that fulfills all of the needs of the insects (food, water, shelter, temperature, humidity and light).

Insects that do very well in captivity include: praying mantids, ground beetles, leaf beetles, ladybird beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, wood roaches, many caterpillars, stink bugs, ants, and earwigs. Also, don't forget about non-insect arthropods such as spiders, sowbugs, centipedes, millipedes, and daddy-long-legs.

TALK ABOUTS

(1) Name some of the places insects may be found. (city, country, deserts, mountains, lowlands, swamps, fields, woods, water, yards, parks, gardens, crop fields, houses and buildings and animal nests)

(2) How can you find insects? (look up, look down, look all around ... then look again; look under things and look in the air; look in water; look on plants; and look around animals)

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS

Publications:

Danks, Hugh. The Bug Book. New York: Workman Publishing. 1987.

Dunn, Gary A. A Beginner's Guide to Observing and Collecting Insects. Young Entomologists' Society. Lansing, MI. 1994.

Dunn, Gary A. Caring for Insect Livestock. An Insect Rearing Manual. Young Entomologists' Society. Lansing, MI. 1994.

Stokes, Donald W. A Guide to Observing Insect Lives. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. 1983

Tekulsky, Matthew. The Butterfly Garden. Boston: Harvard Common Press. 1985

Click here if you want to see what books are currently available from Y.E.S.

Click here if you want to see what videos are currently available from Y.E.S.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR HOME AND SCHOOL

Mini butterfly garden. Butterflies are attracted to many different types of flowering plants. You can attract butterflies (and other insects such as bees, flies and beetles) by planting a special flower garden. A butterfly garden need not be big - it could be planted in a window box, an old wash tub or any other suitable container. You can also create one in your yard at home. Choose from any of the following flowers: asters, bergamot, coneflowers, ox-eye daisy, milkweed, butterfly weed, phlox, chrysanthemum, marigold, zinnia, dahlia, geranium, goldenrods, impatiens, violets, fireweed, thistle, or yarrow. Sow the seeds according to the package directions. Place the garden or garden container in a sunny spot. More butterflies will be attracted if you put out a butterfly table - a platform on which you put pieces of sliced fruit (apples, pears, plums, peaches or banana).

Waterscope For Aquatic Insects. You will need a half gallon milk carton or a large fruit drink can, a plastic bag or piece of plastic big enough to cover the end of the carton or can, scissors or a can opener and two elastic bands. Remove both the top and bottom of the milk carton or juice can. Put the plastic over one end of the container and smooth it over the sides. Put the two elastic bands over the plastic, one near the top and one near the end of the plastic, to hold it in place. To use the waterscope, place the end of the container with the plastic in the water. The plastic will act as a lens to help you see beneath the water's surface.

Ant Farming. Ant communities are fascinating to watch and you can study them at home with the aid of an ant farm. Ant farms are easy to make and maintain. You will need a large glass jar, a piece of cardboard (bigger than the mouth of the jar), a pan, soil and ants. Fill the jar with a damp sand/soil mixture and place the jar in the pan. Fill the pan with 1/2 to 1 inch of water. The water-filled pan acts as a moat to keep the ants from wandering away from the farm. To populate the farm, gather several dozen ants from a local ant nest. Try to include a queen or some other reproductive ants (those with wings) if you can, or the farm won't last too long. Cut a small hole in the center of the piece of cardboard and set it on top of the jar. Feed the ants honey, pieces of fruit, egg, or peanut butter. Don't overfeed, and periodically remove any excess food.

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This educational resource was prepared by the Young Entomologists Society, 6907 West Grand River Ave., Lansing MI 48906-9131, phone/fax 517-886-0630, e-mail YESbugs@aol.com.  Support minibeast youth education - join Y.E.S. today!