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Project Based Learning – Insects |
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| Project Goals | Materials | Background | Task | Resources | Process | Homework |
This is meant to be a spring project that can go on for a couple of weeks. Every day the students will do a class project. Sometimes the teacher will read a story or do an art project related to caterpillars and/or butterflies. This topic can easily be integrated into everyday class learning such as spelling, language arts, math and science.
Project Goals: The students will learn…
all about butterflies and how they come to be.
research skills.
listening skills.
creative writing
creative art work
how to compare/contrast.
critical thinking.
how to use technology.
Materials:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligmam
Where Does The Butterfly Go When It Rains? by May Garelick
Computer station
Various types of pasta, glue, paper and paint to create a butterfly using pasta.
Colorful construction paper, crayons, pen or pencil and stapler to create the
insect book.
Various food supplies, depending on the insect snack the class agrees to make
Background:
Children will be introduced to the concepts of insect life. This unit will
offer opportunities for the children to observe insects in their natural
habitat. Students will engage in activities that involve demonstrating and
explaining the life cycle of a butterfly. They will also make scientific
observations and identify insects that live in their area.
Task:
The children will demonstrate and explain the life cycle of a butterfly. They
will identify different insects in their area. Students will also compare
the appearance of insects' and spiders' color, size, legs, wings, eyes, and
other features. Children will help identify helpful insects.
Resources:
This area is to list web links, technological and non-technological resources.
Metamorphosis - http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/m/metamorphosis/metamorphosis.html
Butterfly Ideas - http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/985.html
Butterfly Unit (Pasta) - http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/87.html
Monarch Butterflies - http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/393.html
Insect Activities (Elementary Level) - http://www.miamisci.org/avocado/insects/
Yucky Email Card - http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/
Related Literature - http://www.wside.k12.il.us/pes/rellit.html
Butterflies and Moths Photos - http://butterflywebsite.com/Gallery/gallery5.htm
Using
Insects in the Classroom –
http://www.uky.edu./Agriculture/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/teacher/teacher1.htm
Insect Recipes - http://www.wside.k12.il.us/pes/recipes.html
Bug
Food - http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/bugfood1.htm
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Unit - http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/carle/carletg.html
Process:
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As a whole class activity, brainstorm what the students already know and would
like to find out about insects. Create a list on poster board.
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Identify through pictures the difference between an insect and a bug.
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Students will learn through class discussion and pictures the life cycle of
a butterfly.
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Students will collect pictures or draw pictures of bugs and insects to include
in the books they create.
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Each student will be instructed on creating an email message.
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Students will be exposed to poetry and songs about bugs and insects.
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Students will brainstorm the items needed to create insect snacks.
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As a whole class activity, brainstorm what the students have learned. Create
a list on poster board and compare it to the list made at the beginning of
the unit of what the students already know and would like to find out about
insects.
Student Projects:
Using the given resources, students will perform activities and produce the
following projects in class:
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Students will create the stages of a butterfly using pasta.
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Students will develop print awareness by learning poetry and songs about bugs
and insects.
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As a class project the students will create insect snacks.
Homework Assignments:
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In the continued development of writing, students will create a "Yucky
E-Card" to send to his/her reading Buddy.
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Each student will create a book of favorite bugs and insects.