Characteristics, Life Cycles, and Management of Insects, 3rd Grade

This program consists of three 80-minute lessons:

1) Insect Characteristics and Structures,

2) Insect Life Cycles / 2-Week Observation of Complete Metamorphosis,     

3) Mosquito Life History and Management.   

1) Insect Characteristics and Structures:

Learning Objective:  Students will learn to identify the characteristics of insects and relate insect structures to their function in a particular habitat. Students will practice making a claim about an insect’s lifestyle based on evidence observed in its structures.

Lesson Summary: Through observation of insect replicas and preserved specimens, students will identify 6 characteristics shared by ALL insects and 3 characteristics shared by ONLY insects and see how the various forms of their structures relate to function in a specific habitat. They will make claims about a particular insect’s lifestyle based on evidence observed in its specialized structures.

Cross Cutting Concepts:  Patterns, Structure and Function

Disciplinary Core Ideas:  LS4.C-Adaptation: For any particular environment, some kinds of organisms survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

Practices of Science:  Developing and Using Models, Construct an Argument with Evidence

Vocabulary: Pest, Exoskeleton, Antennae, Thorax, Abdomen, Adaptation, Habitat, Nocturnal, Diurnal, Predator, Prey, Camouflage, Segments, Ovipositor, Proboscis

2) Insect Life Cycles / 2-Week Observation of Complete Metamorphosis:

Learning Objective:  Students will learn how to distinguish insects from other arthropods and the two common insect life cycles. They will prepare to investigate the life cycle of a mystery insect.

Lesson Summary: Students will play a game to assess their ability to differentiate insects from other arthropods. They will learn about the two common insect life cycles and compare/contrast these cycles. They will prepare to observe a complete metamorphosis life cycle over the next two weeks and record observations in a lab notebook.

Cross Cutting Concepts:  Patterns

Disciplinary Core Ideas:  LS1.B-Growth and Development of Organisms: Reproduction is essential to the continued existence of every kind of organism. Plants and animals have unique and diverse life cycles.

Practices of Science:  Developing and Using Models, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Vocabulary:  Arthropod, Life Cycle, Seed, egg, Seedling, Nymph, Larva, Instar, Molt, Pupa, Complete Metamorphosis, Incomplete Metamorphosis, Reproduction

3) Mosquito Life History and Management:

Learning Objective:  Students will learn about the life history of the mosquito and why it is considered the most dangerous animal on the planet. They will see why TCWP chooses to reduce the populations of native insects that humans consider “pests” rather than attempting to exterminate them all. They will apply their new knowledge of the mosquito life cycle to determine the best way to reduce mosquito populations without harming other living things, and see what behavior changes they can make to avoid being bitten.

 Lesson Summary:  Students will watch a presentation on the life history of the mosquito, its ecological importance, and its role in spreading diseases like West Nile Virus. Students will then work in groups to apply their new knowledge and experience with the mosquito life cycle to determine the best way to reduce the mosquito population without harming other living things. The lesson ends with acknowledging that some mosquitoes will always be present in the summer, and that there are ways we can change our own behavior to avoid being bitten.

Cross Cutting Concepts:  Structure and Function

Disciplinary Core Ideas:  LS1.B-Growth and Development of Organisms: Reproduction is essential to the continued existence of every kind of organism. Plants and animals have unique and diverse life cycles.

Practices of Science:  Construct and Argument with Evidence; Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem, citing relevant evidence about how it meets criteria and constraints of the problem

Applications of Science, Technology and Engineering :  Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem

Vocabulary: Siphon, West Nile Virus, Food web, Eye Spots, Native, Insecticide, Paddle

Science Standards This Program Meets

About Teton County Weed & Pest District

TCWP has developed science education programs for grades 2, 3 and 5 that address NGSS while teaching students about invasive species and pests. Each program consists of 3 lessons that build on each other and involve students in practices of science as they learn Disciplinary Core Ideas in the Life Sciences framed in the real-world context of invasive species and pests. Program content follows a flow through the grade levels, starting with plant reproduction and seed dispersal in 2nd grade and ending with the impact of invasive species on ecosystems in 5th grade. Programs are available from Sept 1 – May 15 and are best scheduled at the beginning of the school year. All lessons are free of charge

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Who	Teton County Weed and Pest District
What	Science programs for grades 2, 3 and 5, including 3 lessons per grade level, offered by TCWP staff in classrooms, most materials provided by TCWP, programs address Disciplinary Core Ideas, Cross Cutting Concepts, and Practices of Science from NGSS while teaching students about the real environment issues around invasive species and pests.
When	Sep 1 - May 15 each year
Where	In your classroom
Why	To meet mission of Teton County Weed & Pest and the Wyoming Alliance for Environmental Education while helping teachers address NGSS and giving elementary students access to hands-on science and exposing them to future career opportunities.