Bugs Are Awesome!

By Joette M. St. George

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INTRODUCTION:

The bugs are missing! Oh no! The first grade kids lost their Science projects. Now bugs are roaming the school. What do they look like? Can the kids find them? Do the bugs like kid’s food? Where do they live? How will the kids let the rest of the school know they’re loose? Will they bite the principal?

 

Would you like to help the children find the bugs and learn about where they live, what they eat, what they look like, and if they will bite you?

This is a two-person job, so pick a partner. It will be your job to hunt them down. You will learn a lot more about bugs as you explore this Web Quest. You must be quick so they don’t get squashed. Good Hunting.

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THE TASK

You are the PET DETECTIVE. Your job is to investigate one of the lost bugs. Pick one of these bugs - mealworm, millipede, or sowbug.

Answer the following questions about your insect on the worksheet:

What do these bugs like to eat?

Where do they live?

How long do they live?

What do they look like?

Do they bite?

Create a "Missing Bug" poster for your insect. At the end of the Web Quest, you will have everything you need to find your insect. Post your posters in your school. Good hunting.

 

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RESOURCES

Bug worksheet:

bug worksheet.htm

Mealworm information and pictures:

Web mealworms.htm

http://insected.arl.arizona.edu/mealinfo.htm

http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/insects/beetles/mealworm/mealwormlifecycle.shtml

 

Millipede information and pictures – Click here

Web millipedes.htm

http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/arthropod/Millipede.shtml

Sowbug information and pictures – Click here

Web sowbugs.htm

http://insected.arl.arizona.edu/isoinfo.htm

http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/isopod/Pillbugprintout.shtml

Ultimate First A – Z Encyclopedia by Kingfisher

More pictures of bugs – Click here Web pictures.htm

View a movie on insects - Click here http://www.brainpop.com/science/plantsandanimals/insects/index.weml?&tried_cookie=true

Partner Score Sheet – Click here Partner Score Sheet.htm

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THE PROCESS

1. Our organisms, called bugs, come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. All organisms have one thing that is the same. They are living things. Work with your partner to investigate.

  1. Pick one of these bugs:

Mealworm Web mealworms.htm

Sowbug Web sowbugs.htm

Millipede Web millipedes.htm

 

3. Answer these questions:

What do these bugs like to eat?

Where do they live?

What do they look like?

Do they bite?

Do they have enemies?
  1. Pick a partner. You will decide who will be the recorder and who will be the computer operator. The recorder will fill out the bug worksheet while the computer operator will search the sites listed. With your partner, click on the insect you want to investigate. There are a few sites you should go to. Print a copy of the bug worksheet bug worksheet.htm and fill in the information. Using poster board, make a "missing bug" poster with all the things that you’ve learned.
  3. Draw a picture on your poster of your bug, what it eats, and where it lives. Tell us about its enemies and anything else that you learned.

 

 

 

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EVALUATION

Your work will be checked in two ways:

1. A "partner" score sheet Partner Score Sheet.htm (print this out).

2. A "teacher" rubric (take a look) Teacher's Rubric.htm

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CONCLUSION

You’re awesome too just like the bugs. Your quest is done, but your investigation to find those missing bugs will go on until the bugs are found.

Here is a reward, click here Web award.htm and then print. Have fun exploring.

 

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TEACHER RESOURCES

This unit was created for first grade students to help them understand there are different kinds of organisms. Some of the links may be too hard for first grade students to read independently, therefore, older buddies, parents, and teacher assistance should be available.

Standards

The following curriculum standards are from the Massachusetts Department of Education are met in this quest.

Life Sciences/Biology

# 1 Recognize that animals (including humans) and plants are living things that grow, reproduce, and need food, air, and water.

#8 Identify the ways in which an organism’s habitat provides for its basic needs (plants require air, water, nutrients, and light; animals require food, water, air, and shelter).

English Language Arts

13.5 Restate main ideas and important facts from a text heard or read.

19.3 Draw pictures and/or use letters or phonetically spelled words to give others information.

Background and Tools to Complete WebQuest

This WebQuest would be completed toward the end of the unit on organisms. Children should have an understanding of the different types of organisms.

Technology:

The children should have had experience in accessing the Internet and basic keyboarding.