Insect Unit by
Jayne Fowler
Anderson Academy
Objectives: Read and discuss a piece of literature,
Reading comprehension, writing about S own experiences, facts about cockroaches
and ants,
Materials: Crickwing, by Janell Cannon
Day 1: Read and discuss story aloud with class, discuss
ideas and concepts: bullies, bullying, revenge, acts of kindness, courage,
sculpture, creativity.
Day 2: Reread including scientific facts on cockroaches,
ants at end of book, discuss scientific facts with class.
Day 3: Brainstorm ideas for their own story about
some or all ideas discussed in day one. Begin rough draft of story
using some of their own
experiences
but using insects as characters. Insect characters not limited to ants and
roaches. Insects are personified but insect facts in the story must be realistic,
from
their own prior knowledge, or research, (the roach really has wings and could
fly, the leaf cutter ants cannot, but they do cut leaves.)
Days 4 & 5: Peer edit, edit, complete final draft.
Having the real insects in my classroom really helps get the student's interest
for writing.