Topics:
Project Description
Orders of Insects (Adoption List)
Project Procedures
Resource Boxes
Unit Objectives & Standards (aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards)

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A message from the creator:

I created this school-wide project to allow Havana Junior High School students to investigate the world of insects. I am fortunate to work with an excellent group of educators who were willing to join with me for this project. Our students will be able to get a first hand view of entomology over the course of their time with us to provide them with a wealth of knowledge to take with them to high school and beyond. Working together, we will be able to make this a fantastic project filled with great lessons, insect specimens, and informative resources.

Project Description:

The goal of the Adopt-An-Insect project is to create a school-wide insect collection to allow Havana Junior High School students to investigate the insect world. For this project, each grade level will “adopt” specific orders of insects, collect specimens, create classroom collections, and complete related activities. From lessons on life cycles to the basic anatomy of insects, students will discover the amazing world of these "minibeasts".

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Adopted Orders of Insects:

5th Grade:
Odonata - Damselfly, Dragonfly, and Darner
Orthopetera - Crickets, Grasshoppers, & Katydids
6th Grade:
Neuroptera - Lacewing, Fishflies, and Mantid flies
Hemiptera/Homoptera - Water bug, Stinkbug, Bed bug, Aphid, and Cicada
7th Grade:
Diptera - Deer fly, House fly, Horse fly, Mosquito
Lepidoptera - Moths and Butterflies
8th Grade:
Coleoptera - Lady beetle, Stag beetle, Junebug, and Tiger beetle
Hymenoptera - Wasp, Bumble bee, Ant, and Hornet

NOTE: If your school is not able to use grade-level adoptions, you may assign specific orders to different classes or student teams within one grade-level or classroom.

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Project Procedures:

During this project, our students will:
1st: Complete the basic lessons related to insect anatomy, life cycles, and general topics.
2nd: Collect and preserve specimens from "adopted" orders. Visit the Insect Collection Idea page!
3rd: Create a classroom collection with specimens labeled and organized by class or family.
4th: Complete an Adopt-An-Insect Report for an insect from a specific order. Have each student choose one insect from their collection and complete an Adopt-An-Insect Report worksheet. A variety of internet sources (on The Science Spot), reference materials, and field guides will assist them in finding the information they need.
5th: Students may further investigate the insect world through the optional extension lessons provided.

General Collection Procedures:
(1) Prepare for collecting the insects by studying the best methods for trapping, killing, and storing the insect specimens. Collect containers and plastic bags in which to keep the specimens when caught.

(2) Discuss the procedure for making field notes and have the students record where they find the insects. Stress the importance of good notes to make the process of labeling and identification easier.

3) Discuss basic safety precautions that should be used when dealing with insects. Have your students brainstorm a list of safety rules. Consult online resources and field guides for more ideas.

(4) Take a trip to a nature area or other local garden to do the collecting of specimens from your “adopted” orders. Divide the class into groups and have them go to different areas.
NOTE: If time is not available for collection, require students to search for insects at home or host an evening "Bug Night" at your school. For the Havana Junior High Bug Festival, several teachers and students create a variety of insect traps on the schoolyard. We invite local bug experts to help the students catch and identify their insects.

(5) When specimens have been gathered, return to the classroom and begin the identification process using the resources available through books, magazines, and the Internet. The labels should include the common name, scientific name, their name, date collected, and location for each insect. They should use BLACK ink and print the information neatly.

Adopt-An-Insect Resource Boxes

In addition to an assortment of lesson ideas and activities, teachers received resource boxes with the following materials:
Insect related videos
Posters
Field Identification Guides (such as Peterson's and Golden Guides)
Butterfly Nets
Killing Jars (Directions available at the Insect Collection Idea page!)
Pins
Styrofoam sheets

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Unit Objectives/Standards:

During this project, students will:
1. Identify the insects collected using available reference materials.
2. Learn the proper methods for collecting various species of insects.
3. Learn the proper methods for recording specimens in a field journal.
4. Learn the proper methods for mounting insect specimens and mount the insect specimens collected.
5. Identify the habitats of the insects collected.
6. Label and describe the parts of an insect.
7. Identify the various adaptive and defensive structures of insects.
8. Create a food chain/web to illustrate the importance of insects in the environment.
9. Describe the life cycles of various insects to illustrate incomplete and complete metamorphosis.

IL State Learning Standards for Science:
Late Elementary Standards
11.A.2b. Collect data using scientific process skills including observing, estimating, and measuring.
12.A.2a. Describe simple life cycles of insects and the similarities and differences of their offspring.
12.B.2a. Describe relationships among various insects in their environment (such as predator/prey, parasite/host, food chains, and food webs.)
12.B.2b. Identify physical features of insects that help them live in different environments.
13.A.2a. Demonstrate ways to avoid injury during the collection of insect specimens.
13.A.2c. Explain why keeping accurate and detailed records is important.
13.B.2f. Analyze how specific personal and societal choice that humans make affect local,regional, and global ecosystems (e.g., lawn and garden care.)

Middle/Junior High Standards
11.A.3c. Collect and record data accurately using consistent measuring and recording techniques and Media.
12.A.3a Compare characteristics of organisms produced from a single parent with those produced by two parents.
12.B.3c. Compare and contrast how different forms and structures reflect different functions (e.g., similarities and differences between insects that walk, fly, or swim.)
12.B.3a. Identify and classify biotic and abiotic factors in an environment that affect
population density, habitat, and placement of insects in an energy pyramid.
12.B.3b. Compare and assess features of insects for their adaptive, competitive, and survival potential (e.g., appendages, reproductive rates, camouflage, defensive structures.)
13.A.3a. Identify and reduce potential hazards in the collection of insect specimens.
13.B.3b. Analyze advantages and disadvantages of natural resource conservation and management programs.
13.B.3d. Analyze the interaction of resource acquisition, technological development, and ecosystem impact (e.g. deforestation, destruction of wetlands).

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