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Insects in Our Surroundings
Studying about insects in our surroundings

 

OBJECTIVE | INTRODUCTION | MATERIALS | PROCEDURE
ASSESSMENT | FOLLOW-UP | LEARNING STANDARDS | INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS

  

Adapted from lesson plan "Backyard Creatures" by The Art and Science Connection: Hands-on Activities for Intermediate Students by Kimberly Tolley.

OBJECTIVE
To observe the structures of insects in order to create drawings or models of these animals and insects.

INTRODUCTION
 What variations in structure can we observe in the insects that inhabit our surroundings? In this activity, students get a firsthand look at the incredible diversity of insect life. They compare the external structure insects. As artists, they use various materials to create representations of the insects.

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MATERIALS
Small, clear, covered and ventilated containers for the insects
Paper plates
Insect logs sheet (The Insect Log Sheet is a .pdf file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it.)
Hand lenses
Drawing paper
Colored Pencils

Optional: Newspapers to cover work areas, modeling clay (or other building material), jumbo paper clips, thin wire, scissors, construction paper rectangles approx. 4½" x 6"

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PROCEDURE
 Before the lesson, enlist your students help in collecting insect from areas surrounding their homes or the school. You may also take a trip to a local garden or park to find insects. You may use a dead specimen, if it is intact.

Begin by having students share their knowledge of the various small animals that live in backyards and fields. List their responses on a chart or the chalkboard. What characteristics do they share?

Distribute the insects in their containers, several children may share the same insect but they should work independently on filling in observations on their log sheets, but may discuss and confer with others in their group. Hand lenses may be used to for more detailed observation. When each group is finished filling in the log of their insect, they trade insects with another group to allow them to look at another insect.

When they have finished filling in the log sheets, they may start doing drawing observations of the insects.

Optional activity using modeling clay:
Divide the modeling clay into egg-sized lumps. You will need one or more per student. Cut a 6 inch length of wire for each student. Organize the modeling clay, jumbo paper clips, wire segments, scissors and construction paper rectangles for easy distribution later. Cover work areas with newspaper. After filling in the log sheets, the class can use the clay to sculpt representations of the insect that were studying.

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ASSESSMENT
 The completed log sheets and finished drawings will provide a good assessment of the activity. Have the class present on each of the insects that they observed.

FOLLOW-UP
 Discussions on the structure of insects, the environment that they live in and what they have in common.
Use the drawings of insects as resources for designing patterns or drawings in art.

LEARNING STANDARDS
Information about state and national Learning Standards is available at http://www.topicseducation.com/links.htm. Please note: selecting this link will open a new browser window on your computer.

INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS
 Art
Science

 
 
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