Curated OER
Insect Anatomy
A wonderful lesson plan on the many benefits of having spiders and bugs around us. Learners discover how important these bugs are to our ecosystem. The lesson helps young biologists see the differences between spiders and caterpillars,...
PBS
The Caterpillar or Larva
The larval stage of the butterfly life cycle is quite exciting. Start a discussion about the specially designed body parts unique to caterpillars. After examining images of caterpillars, learners use plastic soda bottles, string, and...
Curated OER
Caterpillars and Climate: How Temperature Affects Feeding Rate In Insects
Do you eat more when you are hot or when you are cold? Young scientists observe the eating pace of two caterpillars at different temperatures. The differences in endotherm and ecotherm animals' ability to adjust to temperature change...
University of Minnesota
Manduca sexta: Caterpillar Dissection
Caterpillars have an amazing, yet tough job to perform in their short lives — eat much, avoid predators, and try not to let all those comments about being the unattractive stage of the life cycle get to them. How do they handle it all?...
Curated OER
Beautiful Butterflies
Students discover the changes a caterpillar goes through in order to become a butterfly. In this early childhood lesson plan, students identify the various parts of the anatomy of a caterpillar and butterfly, as well as the changes...
Curated OER
Insect Vocabulary Quiz
In this insect vocabulary worksheet, students draw lines to match ten words pertaining to insect anatomy to their definitions.
Curated OER
Insects
Students study the characteristics and basic needs of insects. They compare and describe similarities among insects. They examine the body structure, covering, and movement of insects and also, examine insect life cycles in this unit of...
Cornell University
Insect IPM
Find out the characteristics that makes a bug an insect with a workbook designed to inform scholars about the crawly creatures that live around us. Scholars complete an ant-themed word search, answer questions using a solution key, and...
Curated OER
Butterfly Lesson
Learners identify that Idaho is a home to 168 species of butterflies and they are an important part of many habitats. They also identify how to use the Digital Atlas of Idaho and write a report regarding information of their assigned...
Curated OER
Living Things Experience Diverse Life Cycles
Second graders will study and explain the meaning of growth, development, and life cycle. They describe how plants grow and develop and observe an animal to show how it grows, changes, and reproduces throughout its life.
PBS
Pbs: Nature: Alien Empire
Outstanding site that compliments an insect series on PBS. Interactive presentations include bee anatomy and honeybee hives. Includes interactive puzzles, teacher's guides, and formats for making insect masks.
PBS
Pbs Critter Guide: Butterfly
Can you name the four parts of the life cycle of the butterfly? This site features a brief but detailed description of the life cycle of a butterfly and some other fun facts about this interesting insect.
Other
Monarch Watch
This is an excellent resource for information about the monarch butterfly that includes information about life cycle, migration, observation, conservation, classroom activities, butterfly gardening, butterfly rearing, and the like.
Iowa State University
Iowa State University: Entomology Image Gallery
This site provides an extensive collection of photographs of insects.
Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota: Metamorphosis
A very simple, interactive, and informative explanation of things students can do to learn more about butterflies. Elementary appropriate.
Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota: Butterfly Collection
Site full of beautiful butterfly photographs including the emerging of a butterfly. One link also provides detailed information on the life cycle of a butterfly as well as a quiz to complete when finished.
Other
Insectclopedia: Lesson Plans
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.