KIDS, BUGS, AND FUN!

by Gary A. Dunn, M.S., F.R.E.S., Director of Education

Introduction

Insects have been described as the little creatures that run the world, and there's a lot of truth to this seemingly simple statement. Insects are the principle pollinators of plants, and we would not have many of the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy if it were not for insects. Insects are food for many types of animals: birds, fish, small mammals (mice, shrews, bats and others), reptiles and amphibians, and spiders. Without insects these animals would starve to death. Insects are also the original recyclers, and they keep our planet clean by recycling natural wastes like leaves, stumps and logs, animal carcasses, and manure. Our planet would be a very different kind of place if it were not for all the activities of insects.

Insects can be distinguished from other small animals by their six legs, three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen), antennae, compound eye, and wings (usually, but not always). Furthermore, they have some absolutely amazing abilities. Grasshoppers can jump 40 times the length of their body; ants can carry objects that weight 100 times the weight of their own body. Insects live everywhere: forests, jungles, grasslands, deserts, swamps, ponds, and streams - even inside the bodies of other animals! And, there are lots of them too. By current estimates there may be as many as 10 million different kinds. The most common groups of insects are the beetles, butterflies and moths, ants, bees and wasps, flies, grasshoppers and crickets, and true bugs.

Because of their abundant and prominence, insects make the perfect project for introducing young people to science. Let's face it, kids are naturally curious about "bugs" and you can use this enthusiasm to fuel countless hours of science learning. You can help children develop a healthy attitude about insects; after all, not all insects are bad. It's easy to integrate insect projects with other activities such as photography, environmental education, gardening, arts and crafts, reading, movement games, computers, civics and history, and more. Here are some project and activity ideas to get you started.

ACTIVITIES FOR 5 to 8 YEAR OLDS

Some activities you may wish to consider for 5 to 8 year olds include: have the children make their own insect models out of paper mache, styrofoam balls and shapes, pom-poms, cotton balls, walnut shells, clothes pins, felt, construction paper, bottle caps, pipe cleaners, buttons, or glitter. make simple collecting equipment like a net and bug "barn"; make insect models using household materials; make insect puppets; make a scrapbook about insects; make and decorate homemade bug cages out of old pop bottles, milk jugs, tuna cans and rolled screening, etc.; make flash cards of insect pictures; draw and color pictures of insects and make an insect art gallery; try the insect "alphabet" - name an insect for each letter of the alphabet (a great group activity); try some songs, rhymes, or tongue twisters; try acting out some stories, skits or plays about insects; read (and talk about) an insect or spider story; discuss topics such as "If I were an insect...";"What would it be like if there were no insects...";"What kind of insect would I like to be..."; and,"How am I different from an insect..."; try some movement games and activities (caterpillar race, busy bee, etc.); have children act out different kinds of insect behavior, like the bee dance, pheromone trails (ants), communication (cricket songs and firefly flashes), social colonies (wasps or termites), or food selection; keep an insect as a "pet" for a couple of weeks; or, take a walk to look and listen for insects.

ACTIVITIES FOR 9 to 12 YEAR OLDS

Some activities you may wish to consider for pre adolescents and early adolescents include: build bug cages, spreading boards, collection boxes, nets, or other homemade entomology equipment; play "bug bingo" (available at the Spineless Explorations Outfitters in the Minibeast Merchandise Mall) to help children learn the names of common insects; make flash cards of insect pictures; make a poster bulletin board or display of insect pictures or insect artifacts highlighting insect colors, shapes, life cycles, behavior, habitats or other themes; make and use a quiz board; learn how to make collections (collect adult insects, immatures, or non-insects; as an alternative to collecting, observe live insects and keep a checklist of insects seen on school grounds, recording the date of the observation, name of the insects, what the insect was doing, and observer's names); collect and rear gall-producing insects; collect a variety of aquatic insects (and plants) and place them into an aquarium that is set up to resemble a natural aquatic habitat; collect stamps with insect pictures on them; collect (actual or photographs) of insect nests or homes; visit a large entomological collection; observe a flower plant, beehive or ant hill (take notes or photographs of the activity observed); rear an insect (mealworms, caterpillars, mosquitoes, flour beetles, or others) and observe and record their life cycle; set up an insect zoo of native insects; design and plant a butterfly garden (or study the plants that attract butterflies in your area); make insect life cycle mobiles; explore the use of insects as objects of art, music, literature, religion, and folklore; discuss topics such as "Where can I see insects...", "What kinds of insects build houses...", or "How many different kinds of insects live in our community..."; put together a list of trivia questions on insects; or, create crossword puzzles, wordfinds or other puzzles using entomological terms.

ACTIVITIES FOR 13 to 17 YEAR OLDS

Some activities that you may want to suggest to older students include: learn to take your own pictures of insects; make a photographic collection (slides or pictures) of local insects; make a video about insect collecting, identification, rearing, or any other aspect of entomology; use a computer to make insect illustrations; try your hand at insect cartooning; make a collection of insect damaged plants, pest or beneficial insects, a specific insect order (beetles, butterflies, etc.) or spider webs; participate in a butterfly or insect count; have an insect film festival; monitor both beneficial and pest insects in a garden, orchard or crop field (observe the interactions between harmful and beneficial insects, chart their distribution and abundance in the field through the growing season); study the possibilities of using insects as human food (conduct a survey of people to see what their acceptance of the idea would be); study insect camouflage and mimicry and prepare a display or report on how insects use crypsis and mimicry to avoid their enemies or sneak up on their prey; research the role insects have played in our nation's (the world's) history, especially as it relates to agriculture; study local insect pests and make a calendar of their seasonal appearances and activity; conduct a life history study of one or more insects; study the history behind prominent introduced pests (show their spread on a map); study the effects of cold temperatures on insects (vary the temperature and the exposure time in a refrigerator or freezer and keep notes on survival abilities); find out more about insect species that are rare, threatened, or endangered. (What can be done to help these insects?)

GETTING IT TOGETHER

How can you organize all of these varied projects and activities into an effective insect unit? The following three lesson plans are included here to give you some concrete examples of ways to plan and implement insect instruction. If you seek additional ideas, I suggest you consult Project B.U.G.S. and Organizing Bug Days and Insect Fairs  (click here for information) for hundreds of additional activity and instructional ideas.

NEED RESOURCES OR ADVICE?

Help is closer than you think! Many resources are available to help with planning and running insect study projects and activities. There are many excellent books, videos, and educational materials on insects (and spiders) that you can use. Don't forget to check the many bibliographies and resources located at the Reference Desk in the Library and Resource Center. If you need help locating resources or have questions about insects or insect instruction, feel free to contact the Young Entomologists' Society (YESbugs@aol.com) for assistance. We have been working with young insect enthusiasts and teachers since 1965, and we have plenty of great ideas and resource materials to offer.

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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!