Students should start by devouring everything Wendell has to say at Bug World. Later, they'll devise controlled experiments to find out, using that insect everyone loves to hate. See the complete lesson plan for more details. Have plenty of illustrated trade books about insects available for your students, and make sure to check out our resources and related Web sites . Have everyone pick a favorite insect as the focus of a short research report.
Students can also search for information and illustrations of their insect on the Internet.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of different varieties as students present their reports. Insects in Literature Fiction and non-fiction books about insects abound on the children's market. Older students can present book talks and written book reports about the insect literature they read. 3-D Bugs Challenge students to create realistic insect models using the most imaginative combination of materials they can find. Start them off with raisins, soaked dried beans, Play-Doh, tooth picks and craft glue, and see what else they come up with.