Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies

Class Description

This artful approach to science motivates students to learn about insects, including physiology, adaptations, metamorphosis, and the role insects play in our daily lives. As a final activity, students create a colorful art project to take home.

State Standards, Benchmarks, and GLEs

Pre-Kindergarten

Ask questions about objects and events in the environment (e.g., plants, rocks, storms) (PK-CS-I1) (SI-E-A1)

Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations and scientific knowledge (PK-CS-I1) (SI-E-A1)

Give examples of different kinds of plants and different kinds of animals (PK-CS-L1) (LS-E-A4)

Describe plants and animals in the schoolyard or home environments (PK-CS-L1) (LS-E-C1)

Kindergarten

Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations and scientific knowledge (SI-E-A1)

Identify easily observable variations within types of plants and animals (e.g., features of classmates, varieties of trees, breeds of dogs) (LS-E-A):

Observe life cycles and describe changes (e.g., humans, dogs, insects)( LS-E-B1)

Students will draw on imagination, individual experiences, and group activities to generate ideas for visual expression. (VA-CE-E5)

Grade 1

Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations and scientific knowledge (SI-E-A1)

Describe features of some animals that benefit them in their environments (LS-E-C1)

Describe basic functions of parts of the body (e.g., lungs, heart, bones, muscles) (LS-E-A3)

Students will draw on imagination, individual experiences, and group activities to generate ideas for visual expression. (VA-CE-E5)

Grade 2

Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations, scientific knowledge, and testable scientific investigations (SI-E-A1)

Identify physical characteristics of selected organisms (e.g., worms, amphibians, plants) (LS-E-A4)

Compare the life cycles of selected organisms (e.g., mealworm, caterpillar, tadpole) ( LS-E-B1)

Describe inherited characteristics of living things (LS-E-B3)

Students will draw on imagination, individual experiences, and group activities to generate ideas for visual expression. (VA-CE-E5)

Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies Vocabulary List

Classroom Activity 1

Classroom Activity 2

Classroom Activity 3