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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bugs, Worms and Others

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore biology by conducting an outdoor research activity. In this insect identification instructional activity, students collaborate with classmates to examine organisms they find on a class field trip either in their school...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Critters Tell Us About Water Quality: A Macroinvertebrate Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore our ecosystem by investigating the quality of our water. In this aquatic insect lesson, students examine a group of random insects collected from different streams and ponds in the area. Students record their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The World of Insects and Spiders

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students identify numerous insects and their body parts.  In this insect life lesson, students practice using scientific vocabulary while comparing the different parts of spiders and insects.  Students view several videos discussing the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Am I? Insect Identification

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this science worksheet, students examine 16 detailed pictures of different insects. Students identify each insect. There is no room to write the name under the picture. It is assumed this is an oral activity, although there are no...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Bug Matching Worksheet

For Students 1st - 2nd
In this bug identification worksheet, students draw a line from each of 10 pictures of insects to the words that name them. Note: The names begin with capital letters.
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Website
Iowa State University

Iowa State University: Entomology Image Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an extensive collection of photographs of insects.
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Activity
Other

Bugbios: Class Insecta

For Students Pre-K - 1st
See pictures of many different butterfly wing patterns and read about the individual butterflies.
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Interactive
Other

Iowa State University: Bug Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's an easy to use guide for identifying insects. All you have to do is click on the image that looks like your bug, then read all about it! There's lots of information about the insect; including food, life cycle, range, and habitat.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Insectclopedia: Lesson Plans

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
A very comprehensive site from pedagonet.com that includes lesson plans on insects for all ages and grade levels. Students will enjoy learning about insects as you employ these engaging lesson plans in your own classroom.
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Handout
University of Michigan

University of Michigan Critter Catalog: Insects

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough site that provides a description of the characteristics of insects and then focuses on the insects of southeastern Michigan. Pictures, classification groupings, and sound clips of insects are included.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: A River Runs Through It

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This two-month project requires a nearby stream or river to use for testing. Students use river monitoring equipment to conduct water tests, fish observation, insect identification and to collect data related to physical properties of...
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Website
abcteach

Abcteach: Insects

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the insect world using activities and lesson plans that emphasize cross-curricular learning.
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Handout
Earth Life

Wonderful World of Insects: An Introduction to the 32 Orders of Insects

For Students 9th - 10th
A very thorough look at the world of insects. This site examines the 32 orders of insects and gives a complete explanation of the characteristics of each order. Text is supplemented with pictures.
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Activity
Other

Alphabet soup.com: Insects and Spiders

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
An extensive list of activities, songs, poems, and fingerplays are listed by alphabet-soup.com. Additional recipes, art projects, and literature connections are also included.
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Interactive
Other

Aes: Bug Identification

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive resource can be used to identify the order of an insect.
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Handout
Ed Koday

Ivy Hall: Insect Facts and Information

For Students Pre-K - 1st
General information about insects is available. Identify an insect's anatomy, understand metamorphosis and the identification system.
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Website
Other

The Butterfly Website

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Butterfly Website reveals the world of butterflies with photos, clip art, a butterfly atlas, and related resource links.
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Activity
Environmental Education for Kids

Eek!: Teacher Resources: Critter Search

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students will identify aquatic insects and animals that live in a stream or river, learn about the water quality based on the type of macroinvertebrates collected, and return the collected critters to the water.
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Handout
Environmental Education for Kids

Eek!: Cicada

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a brief but concise description of this interesting insect. Grades 4-8.
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Lesson Plan
Michigan Reach Out

Reach Out: What Is an Insect

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A thorough lesson plan site that explores the definition and characteristics of an insect. Contains several informative links. Suggests a number of hands on activities.
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Website
Other

Personal Site: The Virtual Insectary

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This colorful site not only provides images of some common insects, but includes information on the foods which they eat as well as the habitats where they can be found.