+
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Interesting Insects

For Teachers 2nd
Students discover the characteristics of insects. They explore insects through cooperative learning, group projects, hands on activities, and poetry. They gain knowledge of insect life cycles, habitat, and physical characteristics.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insects?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students classify animals. In this insects and bugs lesson, students discuss the characteristics of insects and other closely related animals such as spiders, ticks and centipedes. Students talk about the differences between insects and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spot Identification of Some of the Most Common Insect Orders

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate the basic characteristics of insect orders and develop short-cut techniques to identify insects into twelve of the most common orders. They use captured specimens and photographs to practice identification and then...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction To Insect & Spider Body Parts

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils inspect several different specimens of insects and spiders to determine characteristics that are similar and different between the two groups. They identify the basic body structure of spiders and insects and then predict where...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is An Insect?

For Teachers K
Students investigate the concept of an insect. They conduct research about six different insects and identify the different body parts. Students look at the life cycle of the developing monarch butterfly. They also use the library to...
+
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Wonderful World of Wasps

For Students 6th - 12th
Shockingly, wasps sometimes challenge lions as the king of predators! Learners explore the life of a wasp in an interactive online lesson. They read about the characteristics of wasps and then complete activities to learn about their lives.
+
Handout
Cornell University

Weed IPM

For Students 4th - 5th
Go on a weed hunt! Scholars gain insight into the characteristics of plants and examine the outdoor environment in order to identify five different types of weeds. Learners then show what they know with a one-page reflection.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

INSECTS AROUND US

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students identify characteristics of insects and if insects help or harm us. They describe the stages of metamorphosis.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spiders Have Special Characteristics

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students state reasons why spiders are grouped in specific categories, including what distinguishes a spider from an insect. They report on their observations of the spiders. They illustrate their report with drawings in their journals.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Bugs Life: Diary of an Insect's Metamorphosis

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students play games to learn about the life stages and metamorphosis of different insects. In this insects lesson plan, students discuss the life of insects, and then play matching, vocabulary, and memory games.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Kind of Insect is That?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders characterize insects and classify insects according to the Linnaean system. They use hand lenses or microscopes to examine insect body parts.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day in the life of...

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners read about and study insects--their distinguishing characteristics, habitats, camouflage methods, defense mechanisms, etc. They draw pictures and write a story from the viewpoint of an insect and share their pictures and stories...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You One Of Us?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars discover how to classify things based on their similarities and differences. Students give the characteristics of insects and create a classification list. Given examples of various types of insects, young scholars...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You One of Us?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students compare and contrast insects and arthropods, identifying characteristics of each. In groups, they sort pictures of arthropods into the five different classes of arthropods. They also sort pictures into insect and non-insect piles.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going Buggy: Lesson 3: Bees

For Teachers K
Students review the characteristics of insects they have already been introduced to. As a class, they are introduced to the characteristics of bees and what it can do instead of sting. To end the lesson, they discuss how plants and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Bug's Journey

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the artwork of John Baldessari that was inspired by a 16th century drawing of a beetle. They analyze a drawing of a beetle, discuss the insect's characteristics, and write a story from the perspective of a bug. Also,...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creepy Crawlies

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students participate in several insect-themed activities. They read stories on bugs, write stories about insects with student-made illustrations, sing bug-themed songs, design creepy crawlies with typical insect characteristics and make...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Buzzing is BEE-lieving

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate insects. In this insect lesson, students explore various insect models and identify the characteristics of each. Students observe insects outside and tally how many insects they observe.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creepy, Crawly Critters

For Teachers K - 4th
Students study characteristics of insects by creating models from an assortment of materials. They create rubrics showing what an insect must have and create an insect, using a bag of materials. They cut out the puzzle insects included...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Little Bees, Big Potential

For Teachers 6th - 9th
After reading an article on the alfalfa leafcutting bee, learners chart its characteristics alongside those of the honeybee. Then they draw the leafcutter lifecycle. The article provides fascinating reading when studying the role of...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insect Introduction

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate insects and non-insects by creating their own definitions. They complete a series of activities relating to insects.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals Around the World

For Teachers K
Students study different kinds of animals and what group they belong to.  In this animal classification lesson students view different animals and sort them by what group they belong to, for example a snake is in the reptile group. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Insects: Grasshoppers

For Teachers K
Students examine grasshoppers as they practice following instructions. In this biology lesson plan, students identify the characteristics of grasshoppers and the functions of grasshoppers' external body parts.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Insects in the Classroom

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners identify and interpret the importance and diversity of the insect world. Students organize various insects into a classification system based on their characteristics. Learners create tree or window ornaments utilizing their...