This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
A fun and lighthearted study of the insect world. We will learn about insect types, habitats, sounds, and some yummy recipes (really!). Pests, workers, artists—the intrepid insects of the world fascinate, annoy, and benefit humankind. From butterflies to bees to the lowly cockroach, insects are an integral part of the natural environment, making their mark on culture through rhyme and lore. What causes fireflies to blink? Did you ever wonder about the origin of “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”? Let’s delve into the insect world and see what we can learn.
Total classes: 8
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade
Suggested credit: ½ semester Entomology or Science
Description
A fun and lighthearted study of the insect world. We will learn about insect types, habitats, sounds, and some yummy recipes (really!). Pests, workers, artists—the intrepid insects of the world fascinate, annoy, and benefit humankind. From butterflies to bees to the lowly cockroach, insects are an integral part of the natural environment, making their mark on culture through rhyme and lore. What causes fireflies to blink? Did you ever wonder about the origin of “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”? Let’s delve into the insect world and see what we can learn.
Outline
Day 1: Fastest
Day 2: Largest
Day 3: Longest
Day 4: Most Numerous
Day 5: Most Spectacular
Day 6: Smallest
Day 7: Misc. (Bioluminescence, loudest, most toxic)
Day 8: Recipes (crunchy, chewy)
Materials and Homework
Course materials: Everything will be provided FREE by the instructor. Optional Further Reading: Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever (National Geographic Kids) National Geographic Kids, Murawski, Darlyne, Honovich, Nancy, National Geographic Children’s Books, ISBN 978-1426313769 (https://amzn.to/2YcieTs)
Homework: Research an insect of your choice for a report during class. “What’s Outside My Window?” Pick a window in your house that gets sunlight and watch the activity outside! There could be ants, a preying mantis, dragonfly, ladybug, common housefly, beetles, etc. Choose a bug and write 3 paragraphs about it. What is it doing? Where does it normally live? What does it eat? What colors are they? How big do they get? Are they common in other parts of the country/world? Do they do anything unusual? The report will be given orally during the last 2 classes. Hope you have a microphone!
