Insects Topics for Discussion

Insects

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

Variety of:

caterpillars, aphids, flies, ants, spiders, bees, mantis, cockroaches, water beetles, dragonflies, ladybugs, centipedes, worms, termites, moths, butterflies, etc.

Characteristics of:

what is an insect? - number of legs, number of eyes, names of body parts (ie. head, thorax, abdomen, wings, antennae), colors, camouflage, size, shape, stages of growth and development (ie. egg, larvae pupae, adult), coccoons, prey, noises, food, etc.

Importance of/

Dangers of:

role in balance of nature, beneficial insects (ie. bees make honey and ladybugs eat aphids), pesky insects (ie. locusts destroy crops and mosquitos bite people and some spread disease like malaria or sleeping sickness)

Habitat:

beehives, anthills, wasp nests, trees, plants, flowers, ponds, our homes, under rocks, in the soil in the air, etc.

SETTING THE MOOD

Books:

stories of insects, butterflies, bees, encyclopedias of insects, children’s magazines (ie. Ranger Rick), gardening books and magazines

Displays:

set up an ant farm, bring in caterpillars on leaves to observe in jars (make sure there are air holes), pictures of spiders, bees, and other familiar insects put up on backgrounds of their habitat (ie. flowers, webs, ponds)

Posters/

Videos/

Trips:

videos or films on nature and insects, naturalists to speak on importance of bugs, take a walk around a park and notice different insects in their natural surroundings, take a trip to a Zoo and see their insect collection!

Insects
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
Variety of:	caterpillars, aphids, flies, ants, spiders, bees, mantis, cockroaches, water beetles, dragonflies, ladybugs, centipedes, worms, termites, moths, butterflies, etc.
Characteristics of:	what is an insect? - number of legs, number of eyes, names of body parts (ie. head, thorax, abdomen, wings, antennae), colors, camouflage, size, shape, stages of growth and development (ie. egg, larvae pupae, adult), coccoons, prey, noises, food, etc.
Importance of/ Dangers of:	role in balance of nature, beneficial insects (ie. bees make honey and ladybugs eat aphids), pesky insects (ie. locusts destroy crops and mosquitos bite people and some spread disease like malaria or sleeping sickness)
Habitat:	beehives, anthills, wasp nests, trees, plants, flowers, ponds, our homes, under rocks, in the soil in the air, etc.
SETTING THE MOOD
Books:	stories of insects, butterflies, bees, encyclopedias of insects, children’s magazines (ie. Ranger Rick), gardening books and magazines
Displays:	set up an ant farm, bring in caterpillars on leaves to observe in jars (make sure there are air holes), pictures of spiders, bees, and other familiar insects put up on backgrounds of their habitat (ie. flowers, webs, ponds)
Posters/ Videos/ Trips:	videos or films on nature and insects, naturalists to speak on importance of bugs, take a walk around a park and notice different insects in their natural surroundings, take a trip to a Zoo and see their insect collection!