Category: insects (Page 29 of 89)

Explore Insects with The Bug Book by Sue Fliess

Sue Fliess‘s newest picture book, The Bug Book, starts with text that really reflects the best way to teach science to kids:

“Grab a bucket. Check your guide.
Let’s go find some bugs outside!

As you can see from the quote, the text is written in lively rhyming verse. The illustrations are bright, colorful photographs from stock sources. See our full review at our sister blog, Wrapped in Foil.

You can also check out the official trailer:

Insect Poetry Activity:

  1. Download/print some colorful bug photographs.

buckeye-butterfly-dbg-4(Feel free to use images from our Bug of the Week category for this educational project).

2. Encourage children to write their own insect poems inspired by the photographs. Younger children can create descriptive word lists. Acrostic poems (spelling a word with the first letters of each line) can give hesitant poets a comfortable structure to get them stated.

Active
Numerous
Tiny
Soldiers

3. Gather the poems into a small book or display them on a wall.

Related:

Check out our recent series of insect science lessons for kids.

Insect Science Investigations

See our growing list of children’s poetry books with an insect theme.

poetry-books-about-insects-for-children

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (February 23, 2016)
ISBN-10: 044848935X
ISBN-13: 978-0448489353

Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title or cover links and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Looking for more children’s nonfiction books? Try the Nonfiction Monday blog.

Bug of the Week: Aphid Mummies

We have talked about aphid mummies before. They are the hardened shells formed when the aphids are parasitized by tiny wasps.

aphid-mummies-316This week the oleander aphids, Aphis nerii, have a high percentage of mummies. In fact, it was hard to find healthy bright yellow aphids. The mummies are all the beige to dark brown forms.

alate-aphid-mummy-227In this photograph there’s a winged aphid that is mummified (the only live aphid is right behind it).

alate-aphid-mummy-227

If you look closely, you can see the dark round hole in the back to the aphid’s abdomen where the adult wasp emerged.

Parasitic wasps are one reason aphids may disappear from plants so quickly.

Bug of the Week: In the Garden

March is a glorious time in Arizona if you like flowers.

lavender-253The herbs are flowering. Lavender is a favorite of the bees.

back-lit-borage39The borage in the garden has attracted a thrips.

plant-bug_0296The brittle bush is a mound of vibrant yellow.

The citrus blossoms and acacia fill the air with scent.

Nature yells to be noticed this time of year.

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