Is It an Insect?
Summary
This activity is designed to further develop students' understanding of the characteristics of insects. Students will be sorting insects from non-insects that they themselves find in a sample of pond water.
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Learning Goals
Concepts:
Insects are living things. Insects are one of many living things living in a pond. Scientists must observe and sort living things.
Vocabulary:
Collect
Observe
Sort
Abdomen
Antennae
Thorax
Science Skills:
Students will observe and sort (classify).
Insects are living things. Insects are one of many living things living in a pond. Scientists must observe and sort living things.
Vocabulary:
Collect
Observe
Sort
Abdomen
Antennae
Thorax
Science Skills:
Students will observe and sort (classify).
Context for Use
This lesson will be taught to kindergarten students as an extension of an existing unit on insects. The lesson will take 45-60 minutes to teach.
Resource: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Pond Insect Investigation
Grade Level: K-1
Resource: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Pond Insect Investigation
Grade Level: K-1
Description and Teaching Materials
Materials:
-Picture cards of living things
-Chart paper
-Pond nets
-Large tubs
-Sorting trays (some white, some yellow)
-Plastic spoons
-Hand lenses
-Recording sheets and clipboards
-Crayons and pencils
Procedure:
1. Give students pictures of insects, arachnids, small fish, and animals. Tell students, "Look at your picture. Is it an insect?" Have students ask their neighbors the question and have them explain why they think that is true. (This will be review of lessons taught the previous two days.) Students share their answers with the whole group. Refer to a diagram/list showing the characteristics of insects created the day before.
2. Sing song learned in a previous lesson. "Head, thorax, abdomen...." (to the tune of "Head, shoulders, knees and toes...")
3. Ask students, "Where do you think insects live?" Record students' responses on chart paper. Follow up by asking students, "Do you think insects live in water?" Have students tell a partner what they think. As a class, talk about why or why not.
4. Tell students they will be visiting a pond to collect pond life. They will be looking for insects. As they observe the pond life, they must ask themselves, "Is it an insect?" Show students the pond nets, large tubs, and sorting trays. Demonstrate for students the basics of using the nets. Tell them how they will need to safely put the net in the water and collect pond life. Explain how they will be working in groups of 4, and that they will each get a turn to use the net.
Show students how they will sort in the pond life into what they believe are insects and non-insects.
5. Lead students to the pond. Put students in small groups. Give each group the equipment needed to collect and sort the pond life. Have educational aide or adult volunteer work with students at the edge of the pond. Circulate around the groups as students are placing pond life in the tubs. Allow students to begin searching for creatures. (Give them a few minutes to simply discover all they can.) Ask them, "What have you found?" "Have you found any insects?" Encourage students to begin sorting the pond life into insects and non-insects.
6. Once all students have had a chance to use the pond nets, and they have finished sorting, have students circle around the teacher in an area away from the tubs. Model for students the process of recording their findings. On the recording sheets students must draw or write about one of the insects they have found and one of the non-insects.
7. Keep a few samples of pond life to bring back to the classroom. Return to the school and have students make a circle on the floor. Share their recording sheets with a partner. Use samples brought from the pond to clarify for students their findings.
8. Ask students what questions they now have about insects of pond life. Record these questions and use them for following inquiries.
-Picture cards of living things
-Chart paper
-Pond nets
-Large tubs
-Sorting trays (some white, some yellow)
-Plastic spoons
-Hand lenses
-Recording sheets and clipboards
-Crayons and pencils
Procedure:
1. Give students pictures of insects, arachnids, small fish, and animals. Tell students, "Look at your picture. Is it an insect?" Have students ask their neighbors the question and have them explain why they think that is true. (This will be review of lessons taught the previous two days.) Students share their answers with the whole group. Refer to a diagram/list showing the characteristics of insects created the day before.
2. Sing song learned in a previous lesson. "Head, thorax, abdomen...." (to the tune of "Head, shoulders, knees and toes...")
3. Ask students, "Where do you think insects live?" Record students' responses on chart paper. Follow up by asking students, "Do you think insects live in water?" Have students tell a partner what they think. As a class, talk about why or why not.
4. Tell students they will be visiting a pond to collect pond life. They will be looking for insects. As they observe the pond life, they must ask themselves, "Is it an insect?" Show students the pond nets, large tubs, and sorting trays. Demonstrate for students the basics of using the nets. Tell them how they will need to safely put the net in the water and collect pond life. Explain how they will be working in groups of 4, and that they will each get a turn to use the net.
Show students how they will sort in the pond life into what they believe are insects and non-insects.
5. Lead students to the pond. Put students in small groups. Give each group the equipment needed to collect and sort the pond life. Have educational aide or adult volunteer work with students at the edge of the pond. Circulate around the groups as students are placing pond life in the tubs. Allow students to begin searching for creatures. (Give them a few minutes to simply discover all they can.) Ask them, "What have you found?" "Have you found any insects?" Encourage students to begin sorting the pond life into insects and non-insects.
6. Once all students have had a chance to use the pond nets, and they have finished sorting, have students circle around the teacher in an area away from the tubs. Model for students the process of recording their findings. On the recording sheets students must draw or write about one of the insects they have found and one of the non-insects.
7. Keep a few samples of pond life to bring back to the classroom. Return to the school and have students make a circle on the floor. Share their recording sheets with a partner. Use samples brought from the pond to clarify for students their findings.
8. Ask students what questions they now have about insects of pond life. Record these questions and use them for following inquiries.
Teaching Notes and Tips
Water safety!
Insect safety!
Talk about and demonstrate how to safely conduct oneself near the water and how to handle the insects.
Insect safety!
Talk about and demonstrate how to safely conduct oneself near the water and how to handle the insects.
Assessment
Informal assessment....record the students' explanations of how they grouped the living things they found in the pond water. Analyze student comments. Is the student able to use the vocabulary pertaining to insects? Is the student able to identify those parts on the creatures he/she is examining? Is the student able to articulate his/her strategy for sorting?
Standards
Math III. Patterns, Functions, and Algebra
A.Patterns and Functions.....sort, classify and compare objects based on their attributes
Life Science IV.
B.Diversity of Organisms The students will understand that there are living and nonliving things.
-The student will show simple ways that living things can be grouped.
A.Patterns and Functions.....sort, classify and compare objects based on their attributes
Life Science IV.
B.Diversity of Organisms The students will understand that there are living and nonliving things.
-The student will show simple ways that living things can be grouped.