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Insect Activities

Bug Zoo
Keeping a "bug zoo'' is a great way to learn about different species of insects. Help your kids make habitats for the insects they collect by covering the bottoms of clean, see-through containers (jars and plastic aquarium tanks work well) with dirt, a few small rocks, and pieces of plants or branches from the area each insect was found. Saturate a cotton ball or a few raisins in water and place them in the container to provide water for the bugs. Poke or drill small holes in the top of each cage so that the bugs can breathe, but can't escape! Or, cover the mouth of the jar with a piece of fine mesh or screen and secure with a rubber band. Insects can live for several days in these habitats, but it is best to observe them for a day and then release them. You can always go out and find new ones to look at later.

Explain to your kids that they should only capture (not kill) the insects so they can learn more about them. You might need to help younger kids catch the insects without harming them. Older kids might enjoy taking notes in a field journal or notebook. An insect net makes catching insects easier. A magnifying glass is an essential tool for every young and curious insect observer. Encourage them to look closely at features like legs, wings, and eyes. Also try our insect magnifier that has built-in magnifiers that make it great for observing insects you don't want to keep.

Insect Attraction
Pick an area of your yard where you would like to observe bugs. Get a clean, empty plastic container and dig a hole in the ground big enough to hold the container so its rim is level with the ground. Now you need some €œbait'' to attract insects. Ask your students what kinds of things most insects like to eat. Jelly, honey, and bits of soft fruit make good bait for insects because they can smell the nectar from far away. Place a small amount of one or two of those things in the bottom and on the top rim of your container and set it in the hole. Leave the area for about 30 minutes, then go back and check to see if any insects have come to taste the treat you left for them! After everyone has a chance to observe, set the insects free. To experiment more try putting the container in different spots and using different things as bait. Note: Start this experiment at the beginning of your science lesson so that you have something to keep your students busy while they wait for the insects to come!

Insect Identification Field Journal
Help your kids make a book to store all of the information they have learned about insects. This project should be on going during your insect study. Whenever your students learn something new about an insect, encourage them to write the information in their identification guide. Each page of the book will be dedicated to one insect and should include space to draw a picture, several lines to write down any information you have about the insect, and leave some room to add facts that they learn later. Look in an identification guide if you need to find out more about particular insects.

Let younger kids draw pictures and dictate to you all of the information they know about each insect for you to write on the pages. Older kids might enjoy making their identification guide more of a field journal by including date and location of observation and any other notes they want to remember.

You can print out copies of our journal template page or make your own on plain white paper. Use a ruler to draw a rectangle for the picture and make lines below for notes.

For teaching hints and more information about insects, be sure to read our Insect Investigations for Grades Pre-K-2 lesson plan.

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