Camouflage and Non-Insects

Camouflage and Non-Insects

TEKS:

K (5) Properties and Patterns – Organisms, Objects, and Events

a. : Properties of objects and characteristics of organisms

K (9) Living Organisms – Basic Needs

b. : Give examples of how organisms depend on each other

Overview:

· Introduce camouflage

· Create a camouflage insect

· Play a camouflage game

· Make a compost garden

· Discuss non-insects

· Make a spider hat

· Collect insects for Bug Barn (whenever time allows)

· Learn Spider and Worm Songs

Materials:

2 Liter Bottles ½ cup of rotten veggies

shredded newspaper red worms

water and watering can small seeds to sprout

glue construction paper

soil stapler

crayons/markers

Activities:

Activity 1: Introducing Camouflage Insects

“You've told us about how easy/hard it was to find the insects that were hidden in the garden. The term we use for this is called camouflage. That is when something

blends in with things around it. It is hidden so well that you must look really closely to find it. “

“Why do you think insects use camouflage? (various responses are given) Not only insects use camouflage… people do too. “

Examples:

* army men or women in the field

* hunters in the forest

* children when eating spaghetti

* weather man (can't wear green)

Activity 2: Camouflage Hide-N-Go-Seek

This game is played similar to Hide-N-Go-Seek. Choose one student to be the seeker while the other students hide in a camouflaging way. The seeker is blindfolded while the other students hide. When hiding the students should have a part of them showing. For example, if hiding behind a tree they should have at least their leg showing. Once everyone is hidden remove the blind fold from the seeker. The seeker will then point out the students that they have found without moving their feet. Those students will then sit by the seeker. Re-blindfold the seeker and have the students not found move in closer and hide in a camouflage way.

Activity 3: Camouflage Insects

While outside, discuss with the students ways they could create a camouflage insect of their own. Tell them to look around to find a place they would like to have their insect camouflaged to. Then take the students back inside to create a camouflage insect making sure they use all the correct insect parts. They can use construction paper, crayons, markers, etc. to create their insect. Once everyone has completed his or her insects take him or her outside and have them hide them for their classmates to find.

Activity 4: Insect Review and Introduction of Non-Insects

Review the parts of the insects and tell the students that today we will talk about creatures you may think are insects but they are not. Non-insects do not have three body parts, they have two body parts or several body segments. Discuss worms and spiders.

Activity 5: Garbage Garden (adapted from Sam Hambly)

"Now we are going to make a garbage garden to observe the worms in their environment."

"First, we will mix 1 T of soil, 1/2 cup chopped vegetable waste, and moist shredded newspaper in a bowl."

"Place the worms in first, then the moist ingredients that you just mixed, and lastly the seeds on top in the bottle."

"Place the bottle top back on the bottle to reduce loss of moisture and to let in air."

"We must keep light away from the worms, so tape this dark construction paper around the bottle. Worms like it dark. Later, you can take the dark paper off when you want to observe your worms."

"You may take your worms home to observe them. We will send home instructions to your parents for care of your new pets!"

Activity 6: Spiders

"Now that we have learned so much about worms and how they are not insects, we are going to talk about another non-insect. This non-insect is the spider.

Does anyone know how many body parts a spider has? A spider has two body parts: a cephalothorax and an abdomen. What else do you know about spiders? Did you know that most spiders have EIGHT eyes?”

Sing the following song to the children pointing to the appropriate body parts:

Cephalothorax, abdomen...abdomen

Six or eight eyes

Eight legs

Two Pedipalps

Don't forget the spinerettes

Spinerettes!

"We are going to read a book called The Very Busy Spider by a man named Eric Carle. Have any of you have read this book before? What do you think the story is about. Well, let's read the book and find out why this spider is sooo busy."

Read the book to the class.

Stop throughout the book and point out certain feature about the spider (body parts, eyes, actions such as spinning a web and chasing its prey).

Discuss the book in a circle and allow the children to make comments about the spider.

"Do any of you remember how many legs spiders have? Eight! That's correct."

"Do any of you remember how many eyes most of them have? Eight! Right again."

"Well, today we are going to make a spider hat!" Show them one that you have already made." This will help you to remember that they have...how many legs? And how many eyes? Let's count them together. Great! Then let's begin."

Give the children half of a strip of construction paper (long ways) to fit around their heads and eight long, thin strips to use for the legs.

Staple the large piece together. Be sure to measure it on the child's head first.

Show the children how to fold the long, thin strips back and forth like an accordion.

Have the children glue each leg to the spider body(show them your own spider hat again).