Season: Spring, summer Grade: Cycle 2, years 1 and 2 (3rd and 4th year) Duration: 60 minutes. Introduction: Guiding Questions:

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1 Introduction: Insects have existed for millions of years! In fact, the first insects are dated to about 400 million years ago, and they were the first group to develop flight. Since they have been around for such a long time and in so many different parts of the world, they have had plenty of time to change and adapt. They play essential roles in the functioning of the planet, and agriculture in particular. They can be very helpful or harmful to us, depending on who they are and what they do. But what is an insect exactly, and how do we interact with them? The following module will help students determine this, and will guide them in making decisions on the kind of insects they want in the garden. Guiding Questions: Preparation: What body parts make up an insect? Development: How do different types of legs and mouths help insects, and what do you think decides if an insect is "good" or "bad"? Integration: What actions can you take in your garden at school/home to keep "good" insects around, and "bad" insects away? Season: Spring, summer Grade: Cycle 2, years 1 and 2 (3rd and 4th year) Duration: 60 minutes Broad Area of Learning: Environmental awareness and consumer rights and responsibilities. Educational Aim: To encourage students to develop an active relationship with their environment while maintaining a critical attitude towards exploitation of the environment and consumer goods. Focus of development: Awareness of his/her environment. 1

Insect Body Parts Abdomen Thorax Antennae: Each insect has a pair of antennae (2). They are primarily used for feeling and smelling. Head Thorax: This is the midsection of the insect's body.

2 Insect Body Parts Abdomen Thorax Antennae: Each insect has a pair of antennae (2). They are primarily used for feeling and smelling. Head Thorax: This is the midsection of the insect's body. The 6 legs and wings (if the insect has them) are attached to the thorax. Legs Antennae Head: The head contains the eyes, antennae and mouth parts. Abdomen: The third section of the insect body, attached to the thorax. Legs: Insects have 6 legs that they use to move, usually walking or crawling or rarely, swimming. Many insects also have wings, but not all. Two examples of helpful and harmful insects are bees and grasshoppers. Bees transport pollen between flowers (pollination), which helps farmers to grow their crops. In the 2000's in Australia, grasshoppers formed large groups of 50 grasshoppers per square meter. These groups resembled clouds and traveled across the land eating and destroying all the crops. These groups of grasshoppers can be devastating to agriculture. **Note- in the illustration, and in some caught specimens, it may seem that the legs are coming out of the abdomen. If you were to flip the insect over, you would see that the legs are clearly attached to the thorax. 2

3 MELS Progression of Learning Living Things A. Matter 2. Organization of Living Things d. Lists animals according to their classification (mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, amphibians) g. Associates the parts and systems of the anatomy of animals with their general functions h. Explains the sensorial functions of certain parts of the anatomy (skin, eyes, mouth, ears, nose) C. Forces and Motion 1. How animals move a. Describes the different ways animals move (walking, creeping, flying, jumping) b. Names other ways animals move and why (e.g. defense, mating ritual) D. Systems and interaction 1. Interaction between living organisms and their environment e. Describes relationships between living things (parasitism, predation) E. Techniques and instrumentation 1. Use of simple observational instruments a. Appropriately uses simple observational instruments (e.g. magnifying glass, binoculars) Background Information: Insects are part of the class Insecta. They can look very different from each other, depending on where they live and what they eat.. However, they do have the same basic body parts: two antennae, six legs, and a head, abdomen and thorax (see below). Insects directly affect their environment as they carry out their life functions. They play parts in decomposition, the aeration of soils (allowing air to circulate), pollination, and just as a general part of the food chain. Their anatomy is is directly linked to things such as habitat, their reproductive cycle, and how they obtain their food. Can you think of some insect characteristics that help them survive? Some examples include size, wings, and their exoskeleton ("outer" skeleton of insects, which provides protection and support). 3

4 Materials - Prepared Insect Puzzles (annexe 1) - Different insect specimens (collected with students). Try to obtain a variety, focusing on garden pests and helpful bugs. See annexe 2 for a table of common ones. - Small containers with lids to temporarily house the insects such a petri dishes, or other containers. - Microscopes and/ or magnifying glasses If some of the insects you found are not part of the Good Bug, Bad Bug sheet (annexe 4) or you're unsure what kind of insects they are, students can try to research and find out, then share with the class. Preparation Insect Puzzles 1. Print out copies of the Insect Puzzles- annexe (1 per small group). Have the students cut them up into their puzzle pieces, keeping all the parts of each insect together Insect Encyclopedia 1. Print out enough copies of the Insect Encyclopedia (annexe 3). Each student should have 1-3 depending on the amount of specimens and time available. 2. Print out annexe 2, and a few copies of the images referenced in annexe 2 : Legs and Mouths. 3. Ensure you have enough specimens for the class. If there aren't enough live specimens, find images online or in books for students to observe. 4

5 Bee Facts A single bee can visit and pollinate a total of 5,000 flowers in a single day. Working together, a bee colony can pollinate up to 300 million flowers in a single day! Activity: Insect Encyclopedia 1. Allow students to observe the collected specimens. 2. Using a microscope (if available) to observe dead specimens, and magnifying glasses for live specimens, students will construct their own insect encyclopedia using the template (annexe 3). If possible, compare the type of mouth and legs that the insect has. Do this by referencing with annexe 2 and by looking at the images and articles from Britannica Online for Kids. 3. Brainstorm with children what are some ways of coping with pests. Present concept of companion plants. Pre-activity: Insect Puzzles 1. Show students an image of a prehistoric insect, and a present day one. Discuss some physical differences between the two types of insects. Using the background information and annexe 2 provided in the module, discuss insect biology, and the differences that allow insects to live in diverse habitats. 2. Discuss the importance of insects, and their roles. 3. Split up the class into groups small groups and have them put together the insect puzzles (annexe 1) Students should identify and label the different parts of insect anatomy: head, thorax, abdomen, antennas, legs, eyes, wings, and mouth. Companion plants are plants that are beneficial to each other. These plants will complement each other based on attractive or repulsive qualities towards themselves, and insects. Before collecting the insects, ensure that the children are not likely to try to collect dangerous specimens. For example: bees or wasps, poisonous insects etc. These samples can be demonstrated with pictures. 5

6 Ant Puzzle Annexe 1

7 Fly Puzzle Annexe 1

8 Grasshopper Puzzle Annexe 1

9 Legs and Mouths! Leg Types 1. Cursorial legs: These legs are long and narrow, and allow the insect to walk very quickly. 2. Saltatorial legs: Insects with these kinds of legs are able to jump very well! The legs are strong and muscular, and are usually the back legs. Annexe 2 3. Raptorial legs: Do they make you thing of a Velociraptor dinosaur? These legs are appropriately named. Insects with raptorial legs are great hunters, and use them to hold onto their prey. Raptorial legs are usually front legs. 4. Natatorial legs: These are swimming legs. They are usually flat and have hairs on them. They increase surface area, in the same way that seal flippers do. 3 Most Common Mouth Types 1. Sucking: This mouth has a long thin tube that is used by some insects to suck up their food source, such as nectar and plant sap. Examples of insects: butterflies, mosquitoes, aphids, squash bugs. 2. Lapping: Insects with lapping mouths have a "sponge-like" mouth part that they use to lap up liquid food. If the food is not liquid, these insects will produce liquids from their mouth (like saliva) to break down the solid food and liquify it. Examples of insects: bee, flies, 3. Chewing : This is one of the most common mouthparts. Insects that have these mouth parts to chew plants or animals use them much in the same way we use ours, with one difference: While we chew up and down, insects chew side to side. Examples: grasshoppers, caterpillars (both herbivores and predators), ants, praying mantis and beetles. **For a collection of insect mouths, please visit the following encyclopedia Britannica article from Britannica Online for Kids: mouth: insects Found at: < For legs, please visit The Dragonfly Woman's Friday 5: Five types of Insect Legs, found at < 9

10 I ns ec t Enc y c l opedi a Type of Legs: Insect Name: Annexe 3 Type of Mouth: Stay Go Away Why? If a pest, what can I do? Draw what you see! Type of Legs: Taking it home: Use your bug encyclopedia to investigate your plants or garden at home. Try to identify the insect, determine if it's helpful or harmful, and decide what to do. Type of Mouth: Insect Name: Stay Go Away Why? If a pest, what can I do? Draw what you see! 10

Bon Bug, Bad Bug! Annexe 4 Insect What do they do? What should I do? Insect What do they do? What should I do? Lady beetle Most ladybeetles are predators, preferring soft insects, particularly aphids.

Make sure there are milkweed plants around! This is the only food Monarch caterpillars will eat.

They are not harmful in small numbers. Praying Mantis These insects eat a variety of bugs, as they are very good predators. Most of their prey are garden pests.

Their burrowing and casings (waste) are essential to plant growth. Adding compost and other organic matter and keeping the soil moist keeps your earthworms happy!

11 Bon Bug, Bad Bug! Annexe 4 Insect What do they do? What should I do? Insect What do they do? What should I do? Lady beetle Most ladybeetles are predators, preferring soft insects, particularly aphids. Lady beetles also use pollen as a food source. Plant flat flowers and trap plants for their prey. Monarch Butterfly Monarch butterflies are important pollinators for a variety of plants. Make sure there are milkweed plants around! This is the only food Monarch caterpillars will eat. Earwig Earwigs can be helpful or troublesome, as they are omnivores (eat both plants and other insects). Earwigs will feed on aphids and other pests, but may also attack plants. They are not harmful in small numbers. Praying Mantis These insects eat a variety of bugs, as they are very good predators. Most of their prey are garden pests. Praying mantis will be present so long there is food and shelter (like shrubbery). Be careful as they can also eat beneficial insects. Earthworm* Earthworms are not insects but worms (Lombric). Their burrowing and casings (waste) are essential to plant growth. Adding compost and other organic matter and keeping the soil moist keeps your earthworms happy! Green Lacewing Like ladybugs, they are non picky predators. There is not much to do to attract them. If there is prey to have, there will be predators. Bee Bees are key pollinators for a variety of garden plants. Plant a variety of native flowers to attract the bees. *Please note that though neither earthworms nor slugs are insects. they have been included in the table because of their symbiotic relationship with the other insects shown here. Ground beetle Ground beetles prey on soft bodied creatures, including slugs, caterpillars and aphids. These insect are very sensitive to pesticides. They like to rest on flat rocks and perennial plants.

Bon Bug, Bad Bug! Insect What do they do? What should I do? Insect What do they do? What should I do? Aphids They will eat most plants in your garden.

Squash bug Feed on pumpkins, cucumbers and other kinds of squash Pick them off by hand from the leaves.

They tend to come out at night and prefer tender leaves. Introduce diatomaceous earth and eggshells (rough on body).

Use row covers, and till the crops to eliminate overwintering eggs.

Trap plants (like a kale plant) can be used to draw them away from other crops.

12 Bon Bug, Bad Bug! Insect What do they do? What should I do? Insect What do they do? What should I do? Aphids They will eat most plants in your garden. Introduce ladybeetles, green lacewing. Spray with cold water on sturdier plants. Squash bug Feed on pumpkins, cucumbers and other kinds of squash Pick them off by hand from the leaves. Companion planting with a repellent plant. Slug* Slugs love moist environments and will eat almost anything. They tend to come out at night and prefer tender leaves. Introduce diatomaceous earth and eggshells (rough on body). Try to remove moist areas. Grasshopper Because of their strong jaws, grasshoppers can eat a range of plants, from not so tough to tough. Use row covers, and till the crops to eliminate overwintering eggs. Flea beetle Feed on the Brassicaceae family: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, radish... Use diatomaceous earth. Trap plants (like a kale plant) can be used to draw them away from other crops. Japanese beetle They will eat roses, and vine plants such as grapes, beans and several others. Introduce diatomaceous earth. Potato beetle Feed on the nightshade family: pota toes, tomatoes, eggplants... Crop rotation. Larvae will overwinter in the soil, and so if the same type of crop is planted there, it will be attacked. Herbivorous Caterpillars Voracious eaters, they will go for most leaves. Introduce predators like ground beetles.

13 Module Resources 1. Insects mouth: mouth: insects. Art. Britannica Online for Kids. Web. 12 Sept < 2. Insect mouth types: Steve Souder presentation 3. Online insect identification tool. Type in the insect characteristics to obtain possible results. Available for the US and Canada Adaptation of Insects text: Texas Agrilife Extension 5. Friday 5: Five Types of Insect Legs 6. Squash Bugs 7. Natural Slug Control 8. Flea Beetles 9. Diatomic earth brand Insectigone, 200g. Company: Chemfree. Sold in various locations around Québec. 13

Incredible Invertebrates

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