These fun and easy insect lessons for elementary students are creepy and crawly in all the best ways. Also, look at my page Free Kids Insect Unit Study for more ideas. Too, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.
And these insect lessons will have your child engaged throughout their lessons.
First let me clarify for the sake of our spider craft today, spiders are not insects.
Rather, they are a different grouping called “arachnids”.
Most insects have 4 life stages and spiders have 3-egg, spiderling and adult.
Also, while we are comparing and contrasting, all bugs are insects.
But not all insects are bugs.
True bugs have a mouth shaped like straw or needle to suck juices, mostly from plants and have 3 life stages.
BOOKS ABOUT INSECTS FOR KIDS
Also, look at these books about insects.
When possible, we prefer to read living books.
11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read
Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.
Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.
This illustrated book for children asks the Have you ever seen a doodlebug? A dragon fly? A leafhopper? Find out all about bugs in this book.
Hailed by Darwin as "The Homer of Insects," famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823–1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.
Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous explorer yet he seldom left his own backyard. He spent his whole life discovering the secrets of the insect world. His home and its surroundings served as his laboratory, and his lab assistants were his wife and children. The entire family shared his passion for insects, especially his youngest son, Paul. Follow Paul as he assists his famous father uncover the secrets of his "children of summer"-insects. You'll meet the undertaker beetle that buries dead animals; the acorn elephant beetle, whose snout is so long that it must hold it straight out to keep from tripping over it; caterpillars that spin tents and roadways of silk; red ants that kidnap black ant babies and raise them as slaves; dancing scorpions; dung beetles that get their nourishment from animal droppings; male peacock moths that pay homage to their princess but don't eat a single meal as adults; and many other unusual creatures. On the way, you'll get to know a fascinating scientist widely regarded as the father of modern entomology. Through texts drawn from the beautiful written records that Fabre kept of everything he did and saw, and exquisite illustrations done in close, scientific detail, this enchanting book reaches far beyond the boundaries of its subject to engage even those who didn't know they were interested in bugs.
Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty—and the “wow!” and the “yuck!” factors—of hundreds of insects and spiders. Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up close, and personal!
Describes insects that have peculiar and strange characteristics, such as the camouflage of the walking stick, and the driver ants that prefer people to picnics.
Be immersed in the fascinating world of insects as you're taken on a journey observing and learning about the world around you.
This volume teaches about what makes an insect, the parts of a caterpillar, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and more!
From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.
In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer’s colorful illustrations. Illustrated in color throughout.
An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.
Features the beetle in huge, three-dimensional form. The book consists of an enormous center pop-up and two seven-page books, one bound into each cover, which are full of additional pop-ups, anatomical cutaways and photographs taken through electron microscopes.
In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.
One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly.
Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.
Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.
Then, let’s compare the similarities and differences of insects vs arachnids.
COMPARING INSECTS VS. ARACHNIDS
Both spiders and insects are arthropods, this means they have an exoskeleton and jointed legs.
Spiders have two body segments- the cephalothorax and the abdomen, while insects have three: the head, thorax, and abdomen.
Legs-Spiders have eight legs, and insects have six.
Wings- There are no spiders that have wings, but many insects do.
Antennae- Spiders do not have antennae, but insects do.
Eyes- Most spiders have six to eight simple eyes, but can have as few as two, while insects have two compound eyes.
The Big Book of Bugs is a must have oversized colorful book for reference for preschool through elementary students.
Next, look at these insect lessons for elementary students.
INSECT LESSONS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
- Insect Anatomy.
- Let your student create their own entomology display with this Paper Insect Collection Tutorial.
- Bugs & Insects Printable Guessing Game takes a basic game like Guess Who and turns it into a fantastic learning game.
- Thinking Tree has workbooks for all the subjects on just about every theme children like that you can think of, This All About Bugs Workbook lets them study dozens and dozens of specific bugs from all over the world but also includes geography, art, and more.
- The Art of Flying Insects.
- Insect homes.
And look at more hands-on insect activities.
MORE KIDS INSECT ACTIVITIES
- Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo
- How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture
- Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids
- 4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft
- 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft
- Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft
Additionally, look at these facts about spiders to help your kids understand the differences.
ALL ABOUT THE SPIDER
Legs
Spiders have 8 legs that are covered with tiny hairs that pick up smells and vibrations, they have 6 joints with 7 segments, giving them 48 knees.
The different legs on a spider are used for:
- Walking and moving around
- Climbing surfaces
- Spinning webs
- Catching and holding prey
- Sensing their environment
- Grooming themselves
- Defending themselves
Eyes
Spiders use their eyes to hunt, navigate, and avoid predators. They are an important part of a spider’s sensory system and help them to survive in their environment.
They have up to eight eyes, arranged in a variety of ways depending on the species. Some spiders have two large eyes at the front of their head that are used for hunting, while others have four or six smaller eyes that are used for detecting movement.
They are made up of a lens and a retina, just like human eyes. However, spider eyes are much simpler than human eyes and do not have the ability to focus. Spiders also do not have eyelids, so they cannot blink.
The number and arrangement of spider eyes varies depending on the species. Some spiders, such as jumping spiders, have four eyes that are arranged in a square. Other spiders, such as wolf spiders, have eight eyes that are arranged in two rows.
The different types of spider eyes have different functions. The large eyes at the front of the head are used for hunting.
These eyes are very sensitive to light and can detect movement from a long distance. The smaller eyes on the sides of the head are used for detecting movement and for orientation.
FUN AND EASY SPIDER CRAFT
You will need:
- Small styrofoam ball
- Medium Styrofoam ball
- 4 pipe cleaners
- Google eyes
- Craft felt/craft foam
- Hot glue gun/sticks
First paint the styrofoam balls in whatever color they like, spiders come in many colors from brown and gray to iridescent blue and green.
Set aside to dry.
While the paint is drying, cut the pipe cleaners in half to create 8 legs.
Place 6 beads along each pipe cleaner to represent the joints in a spider’s leg, bend each one slightly at the joints.
Once the paint is dry push the tip of a hot glue gun into the cephalothorax, the smaller styrofoam ball.
And add a little glue, press a leg in and hold until the glue has hardened, repeat until all 8 legs are in place.
Cut small fangs from the craft felt or foam and glue into place.
Next , attach googly eyes to your spider’s head. Use two bigger eyes for
Glue the cephalothorax to the abdomen and your spider is ready to creep and crawl.
You can also write the parts of a spider down on pieces of paper and have your child label each part, this can be as simple or as detailed as you like.
