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Well, why not? After all, kids are fascinated (positively or negatively!) with bugs, so insects can provide a way to grab their attention for science. That's the premise of a new science curriculum, developed with the support of the National Institutes of Health at the University of Arizona's Center for Insect Science.
The curriculum goes by the accurate, if lengthy, name "Using Live Insects in Elementary Classrooms for Early Lessons in Life." It includes twenty lessons, each involving the use and study of live insects. Each lesson addresses health, math, and science skills in an integrated way, making additional use of children's literature and other language arts activities. Developed by teachers and scientists in Arizona and Massachusetts, the lessons have been carefully revised after pilot testing by 177 teachers in those states and in Missouri and Mississippi.
Like many other people, teachers often begin with negative attitudes ("Swat it! Get it away from me!") about insects. To overcome these attitudes, professional development in the Using Insects curriculum begins with an activity called "The Unhuggables." Most teachers find, once they've gotten over their initial reluctance to look at insects carefully, that bugs are fascinating to adults as well as kids.
Of course, maintaining live insects in the classroom requires some equipment and knowledge, so the Using Insects materials include an inexpensive insect husbandry kit and complete information on how to capture or acquire the critters and how to keep them alive.
In May 1997, CMSE hosted a two-day Leadership Institute for the Using Insects curriculum at Frank Porter Graham Elementary School in Chapel Hill. As a result of the institute, there will be 33 teachers in the greater Triangle area during the next school year using the materials in their classrooms and encouraging their fellow teachers to do likewise. We hope to present additional workshops during the coming year.
In North Carolina, our Standard Course of Study in grade 1 requires that children "Observe living organisms and communicate their likenesses and differences such as size, shape, color, movement, sound, and habitat. Engage in activities to discover plant and animal requirements such as water, light, air, optimal temperature, and nutrients" [goal 5.1]. At grade 2, students should learn about animals' life cycle changes and environmental adaptations [goals 5.1-5.2]. And at grade 3, students should learn about the interdependence of plants and animals and how animals may be either helpful or harmful [goal 5.1].
Clearly, using insects is a good way to address all these curriculum goals, as the teachers in our Leadership Institute were quick to recognize. So, it's "Bugs to the Rescue!" for at least some teachers in our area.
FEEDBACK: We'd be happy to have your comments and suggestions.
CMSE Online Front Page | Features Index
Posted July 2, 1997. Links checked June 5, 1998. CISl link updated February 24, 1999. Features remain online as long as they remain current; they may be updated if new information becomes available.
Copyright © 1997, Center for Mathematics and Science Education. Teachers have permission to duplicate this page for use in teaching their own classes. All other rights reserved. You are welcome to link to this page, but do not copy its contents.
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