Butterfly Camouflage

Grades: 1-3

*This is a lesson I taught to first, second, and third grade students as part of an afterschool science program.

1. Start by showing students three colored flowers and three colored butterflies. Put a butterfly on each flower and ask the students to observe what they notice. Now move the butterflies to another flower and ask the students to observe what they notice. Do this a third time so that the color of butterflies matches the color of flowers.

2. Discuss the students observations, guiding them into the discussion of camouflage.

3. Now show the students a picture of a butterfly.

4. Have the students color the butterfly in their books to match the pattern and coloring on the butterfly (Integrating Art). Ask the students to predict what type of environment the butterfly could camouflage into.

5. Next, show a picture of that butterfly hiding in the environment. Discuss the environment and have students write the information discussed under the ‘About this Butterfly’ part on the page in the butterfly books.

6. Repeat the above two steps according to time.

7. Next, allow students time to scan through book with butterflies. Have them pick their favorite butterfly. Give the students a large, white paper butterfly and instruct the students to color their butterfly like the one they chose in the books.

8. Have the students share their butterfly with the class, identifying what environment the butterfly would best camouflage into.

9. Discuss and review today's lesson. Then send home outreach letter.

A Bug’s Life: Eating

Grades: 1-6

* This is a lesson I taught to first through sixth grade students as part of a weeklong science camp.

1. Discuss that insects have various mouths in order to consume food. Show pictures as possible or look at using a microscope or magnifying glass and various insects.

• sucker – straw or needle (Mosquito)
• chewer – clothespin (Beetle, Ants)
• absorber – sponge (End of butterfly proboscis)
• proboscis – party blower (Butterfly)

2. Have stations set up that the students will rotate through in order to try to consume food as different insects do.

• Clothespins, beans
• Sponges, small glasses of water
• straws, small glasses of water
• party blowers with Velcro on end, paper flowers with Velcro

3. Have the students pick their favorite insect. Allow them time to explore the internet (integrating technology) to discover what kind of mouth that insect has. I have a page that has a list of a few website they may visit to find the information.

4. Have the students use various art supplies to create the insect on a sheet of black construction paper (integrating art). Their insect must have the correct mouth.

A Bug’s Life : Eyes

Grades: 1-6

*This is a lesson I taught to first through sixth grade students as part of a weeklong science camp.

1. Use a microscope or magnifying glass to view insect eyes. Discuss how there are many lenses, usually more than two eyes, and discuss how some insects have their eyes in different places on their head so they can see behind and to the sides of their body.

2. Allow students to look at a picture through a bundle of straws. This is like looking though many lenses like an insect.

3. Split students into groups. Designate one student in the group to be the insect. Have the other group members try to sneak up on the insect.

4. Now give one student in each group a pair of glasses that have mirrors attached so that they have see behind themselves (like rear-view mirrors). Tell them that the insect is going to wear these while the other group members try to sneak up on the insect. Have them predict what will happen.

5. Instruct the other students in the group to try to sneak up on the insect with their glasses on. Discuss the results.

6. Give each student a turn to be the insect.

7. Have students record their predictions on the worksheet. Also, have them describe what it’s like to be able to see behind their body.