Before the lesson, place wood bugs in the habitats for the Where do wood bugs like to live? activity. Also place a wood bug in a dish for each student for the close observation activity.
If doing three activities (1.25hr lesson, best for grade 1s and up), skip 'What do wood bugs like to eat' activity, and discussion only on their food:
Show a real wood bug, with discussion of whether students have seen them before, and the different names they have. There are many different species of wood bugs, living all over the world.
Tell students that they will be keeping wood bugs in their classroom, so they need to know what kind of habitat they need. Direct students to their table groups for Where do wood bugs like to live?. Remove parts of the habitat not needed (rock).
Show students how to use magnifiers, before distributing wood bugs to each student for the looking closely at wood bugs activity. Relate their body parts to how they live and eat.
Ask students where they have seen wood bugs, and reiterate where they like to live and what they eat (rotting plant matter, as well as young fresh leaves if they can find them).
Ask students to tip the wood bug they have been observing into the habitat, while adding appropriate food to the habitat.
If doing two activities (about an hour lesson; best format for Ks), do the close observation of wood bugs and draw them, before putting them in one classroom habitat:
Show a real wood bug, with discussion of whether students have seen them before, and the different names they have. There are many different species of wood bugs, living all over the world.
Tell students that they will be looking closely at wood bugs and drawing them.
Show students how to use magnifiers, before distributing wood bugs to each student for the looking closely at wood bugs activity. Relate their body parts to how they live and eat.
Ask students where they have seen wood bugs, and reiterate where they like to live (in damp, dark places) and what they eat (rotting plant matter, as well as young fresh leaves if they can find them).
Ask students to tip the wood bug they have been observing into the classroom habitat, and add food and more wood bugs to the habitat.
If doing all four activities (at least a 1.5hr lesson):
Show a real wood bug, with discussion of whether students have seen them before, and the different names they have. There are many different species of wood bugs, living all over the world.
Show students how to use magnifiers, before distributing wood bugs to each student for the looking closely at wood bugs activity. Relate their body parts to how they live. At the end of the activity ask students to tip their wood bugs into the food choice dishes (for the What do wood bugs like to eat? activity). Cover the food choice dishes to make them dark, and leave undisturbed for the next little while.
Tell students that they will be keeping wood bugs in their classroom, so they need to know what kind of habitat they need. Do the Where do wood bugs like to live? activity. Ask students where they have seen wood bugs, and reinforce that wood bugs like dark, damp places.
Then return to the food choice dishes for the What do wood bugs like to eat? activity. Add the appropriate food to the habitats.
Review lesson: we experimented with wood bugs to find out their needs. We found out what kind of shelter they like, and we found out what kind of food they prefer. Then we made them habitats to satisfy these needs. You are now their guardians and can take care of them, before we release them outside.
For an outdoor lesson:
Go outside on a wood bug hunt to find out where wood bugs like to live - make sure to include on your list under rotting wood, and in damp places. Collect wood bugs to Look at closely then set up a habitat. Add appropriate shelter (e.g. rotting wood) and food (moist leaves), given what is known about wood bugs and where they were found.
