Insectos

Since earthworms have made a big appearance in the playground and we have lots of Darkling Beetles larvae in the classroom bugs have been a point of interest for the children. We focused on learning about insects this week. We made a little chart with what we knew about insects and a new one with what we learned about them after reading the book Insectos. We learned that insects have their bodies divided into three sections: cabeza, tórax y abdomen. Insects have 6 patas and some have wings, alas, and others don't. We did a classifying exercise where we used this information and sorted bug models to determine if they were insects or not insects. 

Credit: picture from Google

Here is a copy of the full lesson plan: 

Theme: Insects 

Grade Level: Preschool/ Pre K 

Provocation: Bring out mealworms and present them to the children. Write down their questions: what are these? are these worms? what do they eat? how do they poop? Invite them to hold them gently and prompt them to describe and talk about what they see.  

After the excitement settles, explain to the children that this is not a worm, even though it looks like one. This is a larvae of a Darkling Beetle, and show them the flashcards or pictures.  

Lesson I: What is an Insect? 

Materials:  

• whiteboard and whiteboard markers 
• Book: Insectos 
• 2 pieces of construction paper of different colors or something else that can be used for sorting each labeled: INSECTS and NOT INSECTS 
• plastic bugs from the crafts store (with accurate details) 

Steps: 

• Using the whiteboard and a marker write down the work INSECT. Then ask the children what do they know about insects? Write their ideas down. 
• Introduce the book and read it. As I am reading the book, using a marker of a different color I will write down the new information that we are learning on insects.  
• At the end we would review the facts about insects: they have their bodies divided in 3 parts (head, thorax and abdomen); they have 6 legs; most of them have antennas; some of them have 2 sets of wings while others do not.  
• Then explain to the children that now that we know what an insect is we will use that information to sort. Provide each student with a couple of bugs and pull out the sorting bins or papers.  
• Model how to observe a bug, count the legs, look for the parts and determine if it is an insect or not. Then sort them out. Guide them in this process, and encourage conversation and for them to explain their thoughts.  

Closing: bring out the mealworms again and take one out. Point out this mealworm is not an adult insect yet but if you turn them around you can see that they walk on six legs that are all crowded at the front. Ask them if they think they are an insect or not. Remind them that if this has 6 legs then it must be an insect.