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Web of Life
Learners construct a web of life. In this ecosystem activity students are introduced to ecosystems and life cycles. Insects are the main focus.
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Take an Ant to Lunch
Second graders construct a model of an ant, exemplifying that ants are insects. Students gather data create a pictograph chart to show ant food preferences. Also, 2nd graders access the Internet to explore ant eating habits.
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Measuring Animal Sizes (and Relative Sizes in our Animal Environment)
Learners discover the actual size and weight of many insects and animals. For this biology lesson, students investigate animals and insects to determine their actual weight and size. In groups, learners create an animal or insect of...
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The Disappearing Honeybees: Tracking Honeybee Decline
Learners practice graphing and other math skills to track number of honeybee colonies present in United States since 1978, discuss major crops that are dependent on insect pollinators, and examine reasons for decline of United States...
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Profit From Pumpkins
Third graders cut open a pumpkin. In this math lesson plan, 3rd graders complete the worksheet "From Seed to Pumpkin" and then clean out their pumpkins to see how many seeds are in it.
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Food Chains: Integrating Science and Reading
Using a high interest science topic, like the food chain, can get students excited about reading, math, and more! A multitue of wonderful ideas that have cross-curricular connections.
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Survival of the Fittest -- Battling Beetles
Students experiment with traits. In this Science lesson, students test the strength of beetles using M&M candies in lieu of the insects. Students use the Hardy-Weinberg Equation to calculate possible offspring traits of further...
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Bugs
Students explore the wonders of bugs. In this bug lesson, students examine various types of bugs. Students make crafts, sing songs, discuss nutrition, and investigate different types of insects.
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Creepy Crawlers
Students identify the characteristics of an insect and their habitat. They read books about insects, research different types of insects, and create their own insect art. The project also includes the creation of an insect song and...
Teacher Web
Plant Reproduction—Structure of a Flower
What happened to the plant in math class? It grew square roots. Here, a set of 11 worksheets provide a review of plant reproduction. It includes the structure of a flower and each part's function, pollination, fertilization, seed...
Reading Is Fundamental
Summer Fun...
Extend learning through summer with these activity ideas! Individuals can choose one or all nine of the activities, which range from a summer reading goal to an examination of local insects (with accompanying story prompt). See the...
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Earth's Heavenly Treasures: Hummingbirds
Young ornithologists watch an informative video and use the Internet to gather data about the life, size, habitat, and migration of hummingbirds. The interdisciplinary lesson includes activities that target art, science, math, and...
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Moth or Butterfly
Students categorize butterflies and moths by identifying the unique characteristics of the two different species. In this classifying lesson, students discuss their prior knowledge about these insects before categorizing the two.
National Park Service
Biodiversity—Bee Week
If you want scholars to fall in love with bees, this is the unit for you! Celebrate bees with a full week of material—designed for the Next Generation Science Standards—that addresses the importance of pollination and fertilization....
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Backyard Bugs!
In this science and math instructional activity, 2nd graders think of different ways they can sort bugs that are given to them in a bag. They complete a graph in which they sort the bugs with stripes, spots and solid colors.
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Be A Bug Scout
Students perform outside activities to determine the amount of insects, flowers, or common weeds within an area. They predict the number of insects they will find within their square area. Using calculators, students organize the data...
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The Schoolyard Safari
Students engage in a lesson to find out more information about insects. They collect and observe different insects found on school property. They research the insects once they have been classified. Also a video is used to create a...
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Finding the Shape of a Web
Pupils examine spider webs they find as they explore outside. They make T-chart of the shapes found in two different webs and draw them on geoboard paper. Next, they measure length and width of a spider's web before checking to see if...
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Sorting and Graphing Animals
Students inquire about animals using SIRS Discoverer or eLibrary Elementary. In this organizing data lesson, students sort pictures of animals in various ways and develop graphs. Students locate a mammal, reptile, fish, insect or bird...
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Spiders! Scary or Nice?
Students participate in a variety of cross-curriculur activities in order to explore spiders.
Agriculture in the Classroom
Pumpkins... Not Just For Halloween
Celebrate fall with four pumpkin themed hands-on activities! After learning about pumpkins, scholars complete two activity sheets that reinforce estimation and word problems. They then plant pumpkin seeds and bake a pie in a bag.
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Exploration of "Pillbugs"
Fifth graders define vocabulary terms, identify the characteristics of a pillbug, and create a dichotomous key. Then they examine the pillbugs and make observations and record these observations. Finally, 5th graders observe specific...
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Reading Comprehension 1: Level 11
Here’s a reading comprehension assessment that will capture the interest of your learners. Stink bugs and the danger they pose to farmers is the subject of the passage, while the eight questions ask readers to infer, predict, summarize...
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Ladybug Identification
In this ladybug pattern identification learning exercise, students count and record the number of spots on the elytra of 13 ladybug species.