Incredible Insects!By: Callie Stevens

1 Week Thematic Unit for Kindergarten Science

Table of Contents Table of ContentsUnit Questions

WV CSO’s & National Standards

Unit Summary

Assessments

Time Frames, Materials,

& Resources

Learning Outcomes

Unit QuestionsEssential Question: What are Insects?

Unit Questions: What types of habitats do insects live in?How are insects different from other bugs?How can insects be harmful or helpful?

Content Questions:What is a thorax? An Abdomen?Which insects are harmful?Which insects are helpful?What is a pupa?

WV CSO’s SC.O.K.1.1 ask questions about themselves and their world.

S.C.O.K.1.3 demonstrate curiosity, initiative and creativity by asking questions about the environment noting patterns and variations of natural objects (e.g., trees, leaves, or animal structures).

S.C.O.K.2.1 using the five senses, identify living and non-living things.

S.C.O.K.2.3 observe and describe models of plants and animals in different environments (e.g., terrariums, aquariums, animals and plants in a forest, pond, or field).

National StandardsAs a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop understanding

of:

•The characteristics of organisms •Life cycles of organisms

•Organisms and environments

Learning Outcomes•Students will gain a better understanding of the fascinating characteristics of insects, their habitats, and life cycles.

•Students will also be able to classify insects apart from other bugs and similar creatures, anatomically.

•Students will be able to recognize many common types of insects

•Students will understand the difference between insects that harm and insect that are helpful

•Students will be able to effectively describe insects

Unit Summary

Day 1 Day 21. Introduce Lesson on Insects

2. Take a poll of who likes/dislikes insects

3. Large group discussion and

sharing about insects we have seen with reference to photographs

and real specimen

5. PPT Presentation on insects on classroom SMART Board

4. KWL chart on students’

knowledge of insects on SMARTBoard

1. All About Insects film about

insect anatomy, life cycles, and habitats

classifies insects according to anatomy

2. Interactive PPT game on computers that

3. Classification Activity: classify

(Station 1)

creatures as insect & not an insect

(Station 2)

different bugs, insects, and similar

4. Life cycle booklets/Read The Very

Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Station3)5. Insect Curriculum Pg.-Parents assist at home for enrichment

NEXT PAGE

Unit Summary

Day 3 Day 41. “Insects are…” sentences: Studentswill learn to describe insects

with adj2. Insect Drawings: Students willcreate their own insects which will be displayed in the room all week!3. Re-read unit story I Like Bugs4. Insect Anatomy Puzzles!-

divide insect bodies into head, thorax, and abdomen.

5. Homework Enrichment: Parents

assist with insect curriculum page

1. Large group discussion of helpfulinsects to humans & the environment2. Students watch short movie makermovie called What Are Insects? on the classroom SMART Board

4. Computer Lab: Kidspiration insect habitat classification activity5. Homework Enrichment:

Parents assist with insect curriculum page

NEXT PAGE

Unit Summary

Day 51. Review KWL Chart on SMART

2. Final reading of I Like Bugs

3. Take a poll of who likes/dislikes

Board

insects and compare it to Day 1

6. Homework Enrichment: Parents assist with insect

curriculum page

4. Closure: review of what we learned this week

5. Unit Test on Insects

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Time FramesDay 1- 45 minutes: •Introduce Lesson on Insects-5 minutes•Poll-5 minutes•Large group discussion-5 minutes•KWL chart on SMART Board-10 minutes•Insect PPT Presentation-10 minutes•I Like Bugs & Discussion-10 minutesMaterials: Insect photographs & real specimenResources: SMART Board, PPT Presentation ready, & I Like BugsDay 2-60 minutes:•All About Insects film-15 minutes•3 Stations-45 minutesMaterials: Plastic insects, bugs, and similar creatures and life cycle bookletsResources : All About Insects , story, HW Curriculum PgDay 3-45 minutes:•“Insects are…” Sentences-10 minutes•Insect Drawings-10 minutes•I Like Bugs-10 minutes•Puzzles-15 minutesMaterials: Writing papers, drawing paper, and puzzlesResources: I Like Bugs & Homework Curriculum Page

Time FramesDay 4-45 minutes:•Helpful/harmful insects discussion-10 minutes•Watch What Are Insects ? on SMART Board•Kidspiration Habitat Activity-25 minutes in computer labMaterials: SMART Board & Computer LabResources: What Are Insects?, Kidspiration Activity, & Homework Curriculum PageDay 5-60 minutes:•Review KWL Chart-10 minutes•Final reading of I Like Bugs-10 minutes•Poll & discussion of changes-10 minutes•Closure & discussion-5 minutes•Unit Test on insects-25 minutesMaterials: KWL chart, 1st poll, unit testsResources: I Like Bugs & Homework Curriculum Page

Assessment• Diagnostic Assessment:• KWL Chart on the students knowledge of insects.• Poll of students likes/dislikes of insects• Large group discussion of insects

Day 1

• Formative Assessment:• Interactive PPT game (Objectives 1 & 2)• Insect Classification Activity• Life cycle booklet (Objective 1)

Day 2

• Formative Assessment:• “Insects are...” Sentences (Objective 5)• Insect Jigsaw Anatomy Puzzles (Objective 2)Day 3

• Formative Assessment:• Large group discussion of helpful and harmful insects (Objective 2)• Kidspiration Activity (Objectives 1&3) RUBRICDay 4

• Summative Assessment:• Review KWL Chart (Objectives 1-5)• Unit Test on insects (Objectives 1-4) RUBRIC Day 5

Kidspiration Activity RubricCriteria Yes No Comments

All insects were correctly classified with habitats.Student classified at least 10 different types of insects.Each habitat matched at least 1 insect.Student was able to apply the information learned from the film All About Insects.Student was able to correctly use and manipulate a computer in order to complete the assignment.Assignment was completed.

Insect Unit Test Rubric

Criteria/Test Sections 1-5 Comments

Insect Anatomy & Terminology

Insect Life Cycles & Terminology

Insect Habitats

Insect Classification

Helpful/Harmful Insects

Creditshttp://urbanext.illinois.edu/insects/01.htmlhttp://www.bugsed.com/fact_sheets/index.htmlhttp://www.orkin.com/learningcenter/kids_and_teachers.aspxhttp://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsphttp://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jspGoogle ImagesMicrosoft PPT