March Environmental Education Topic:INVERTEBRATES!
It is getting a little warmer outside and invertebrates are beginning to stir. Find them under rocks, in the landscaping, on plants and trees, and in the soil. Take a break from being inside and go look around!
What is an invertebrate?
-A creature without a backbone (vertebrae). Spiders, worms, insects, crustaceans. Invertebrates are the largest and most diverse animal group on earth. They come in many forms; slimy, winged, wiggly, six legs, eight legs, more.
What would you look like without a backbone?
-Floppy. Try it. Move around on the floor. Like a worm?
Then how do ants and spiders move?
-They have an exoskeleton. Imagine a knight in armor; hard on the outside, squishy on the inside. The exoskeleton provides structure for movement and protects internal organs.
If you were an insect (type of invertebrate) what would you be? Have you gone through complete metamorphosis or are you a larvae?
-Insects grow larger through a molting process. Some change form dramatically by complete metamorphosis; egg, larvae, pupa, adult.
-Find more information on invertebrates: www.kidport.com/RefLIb/science/Animals/AnimalIndexInv.htm
What is an invertebrate?
-A creature without a backbone (vertebrae). Spiders, worms, insects, crustaceans. Invertebrates are the largest and most diverse animal group on earth. They come in many forms; slimy, winged, wiggly, six legs, eight legs, more.
What would you look like without a backbone?
-Floppy. Try it. Move around on the floor. Like a worm?
Then how do ants and spiders move?
-They have an exoskeleton. Imagine a knight in armor; hard on the outside, squishy on the inside. The exoskeleton provides structure for movement and protects internal organs.
If you were an insect (type of invertebrate) what would you be? Have you gone through complete metamorphosis or are you a larvae?
-Insects grow larger through a molting process. Some change form dramatically by complete metamorphosis; egg, larvae, pupa, adult.
-Find more information on invertebrates: www.kidport.com/RefLIb/science/Animals/AnimalIndexInv.htm
The Woodland Park Zoo's Teacher PowerPoint on Arthropods: http://www.zoo.org/educate/tchr_school/downloads.html
Club Invertebrate Hunt
-Do a biological survey of invertebrates around your Club. Where were the most found? How many different types (diversity). How many all together (abundance)? Inspect, investigate, draw, discuss.
Up Close
-Gently view an invertebrate up close. Use a magnifying lens if possible. How many body parts does it have? How many legs? What do its eyes look like? Draw and describe the creature. Can you act out its behavior or form? Use an insect identification book or online resource http://biokids.umich.edu/guides/invert_id/ to determine what you have found.
Pollination Relay Race
-From decomposition to pollination, invertebrates are an essential and wonderful part of our environment. Bees are known for their role in pollinating plants. Line up in two teams. One person from each team races toward a cone or "flower", then races back, does a little dance, and the next bee is free to fly to the flower and back. The first team to finish wins.
Seattle Bug Safari
at Wallingford Boys & Girls Club
Activities:at Wallingford Boys & Girls Club
Club Invertebrate Hunt
-Do a biological survey of invertebrates around your Club. Where were the most found? How many different types (diversity). How many all together (abundance)? Inspect, investigate, draw, discuss.
Up Close
-Gently view an invertebrate up close. Use a magnifying lens if possible. How many body parts does it have? How many legs? What do its eyes look like? Draw and describe the creature. Can you act out its behavior or form? Use an insect identification book or online resource http://biokids.umich.edu/guides/invert_id/ to determine what you have found.
Pollination Relay Race
-From decomposition to pollination, invertebrates are an essential and wonderful part of our environment. Bees are known for their role in pollinating plants. Line up in two teams. One person from each team races toward a cone or "flower", then races back, does a little dance, and the next bee is free to fly to the flower and back. The first team to finish wins.
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