Bugs and Insects

Julie White
Grade 1 Class
Summerford Primary School
2002-2003

Introduction

This project with theme of "Bugs and Insects" focused primarily on language arts but also integrated science, math and art.

The students researched a "bug/insect" of their choice (spiders, butterflies, ants, worms, bees, dragonflies, lady bugs and grasshoppers) and then used their findings to create an information poster to share with their peers and display to the school. During the unit they were also involved in several writing activities such as poetry writing, shared writing of a class "big book", story retelling, and journal writing. Some samples of these are included in the "student work" section. Several Eric Carle books were used as well during the unit. Other insect/bug books were used as well including fiction as well as non fiction information books. The students were involved in an "Insect Field Survey" where they were given the opportunity to go outside, search for bugs and record their findings. There findings were then represented in graph form. Also in the area of science and math, students learned about the characteristics of spiders and insects and compared the two. The grade ones were also involved in several art activities during the unit including the information poster, paper plate lady bugs, spider headbands, illustrations fore a big book and ink-blot butterflies.