Dec 16, 2015
Traditionally illustrated children’s book
Plus three interactive worksheets
Will meet multiple NJ DOE CPI # standards for:
Science
Language Arts
Visual Arts
For 1st to 3rd grade (~ages 7-9)
Riverside Elementary School children’s interest in Riverside Elementary School children’s interest in bugsbugs
Termite playgroundTermite playgroundCompost pilesCompost pilesButterfly activitiesButterfly activitiesWorm lessonWorm lesson
Merge of environmental studies, visual arts, Merge of environmental studies, visual arts, literature, & childhood education/developmentliterature, & childhood education/development
Background in bug identificationBackground in bug identification
Relevance to food growthRelevance to food growth
Science in early childhood books (Smardo, 2005)K-3 teachers spend avg. 17 mins on science a dayIsolated group taught with books improved vocabulary, grasped science concepts, and asked questions
Insect science curriculum (Annual Review of Entomology, 1997)
Lists 30 successful, educational, & often used insect booksTrend in books coupled with scientific method & field study
Success of “bug book” genresThe Hungry Little Caterpillar (Carle)Charlotte’s Web (White)Miss Spider’s Tea Party (Kirk)
““An understanding of An understanding of insects is in a sense a insects is in a sense a
prerequisite to a prerequisite to a broader broader
understanding of life.” understanding of life.”
~WJ Fischang~WJ Fischang
A child who hates bugs meets an ant
Ant introduces 3 groups of insects:
Pollinators (bees & butterflies)
Decomposers (worms & termites)
Protectors (ladybugs & spiders)
The life cycle is highlighted
Learns how important bugs are for food growth
Learns to respect animals and the environment
Standards (Science Practice & Life Science)“Handle and treat organisms humanely, responsibly, and ethically.”“Describe the ways in which organisms interact with each other and their habitats in order to meet basic needs.”
WorksheetDraw a diagram of the life cycle.How are decomposers and pollinators a part of food growth?Which insects are helpful to humans or food? Which ones are hurtful?
Standards“Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.”“Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about.”
WorksheetWhat is real in the story and what is fake?Vocabulary & spelling wordsWrite about which bug in your book is your favorite and why? How does this bug help or hurt the food that grows in the garden?
Standards“Use symbols to create personal works of art based on selected age-appropriate themes, using oral stories as a basis for pictorial representation.”“Create works of art that are based on observations of the physical world.”
WorksheetCan you identify this bug? Draw what is missing on this bug.Draw your perfect garden and what bugs would live there.
Teachers of many subjects can use book in collaboration
Hope to spread to other schools beyond Riverside
Does not necessarily need a garden
With garden, hands-on activities could be created
Could potentially lead to a series of garden adventures
More lesson plans created for this book (other curriculums)
Model replicated if successful““Teaching a child not Teaching a child not
to step on a caterpillar to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the is as valuable to the
child as it is to the child as it is to the caterpillar.” ~Bradley caterpillar.” ~Bradley
MillarMillar
Carle, Eric. The Very Busy Spider. New York: Philomel Books, 1984. Gibbons, Gale. The Honey Makers. New York: Harper Collins, 1997. Hovanec, Erin. I Wonder What It's Like to Be an Ant. New York: Powerkids Press, 2000. Matthews, Robert W., Lynda R. Flage, and Janice R. Matthews. “Insects as Teach Tools in Primary and Secondary Education”. Annual Review of Entomology. Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia: Athens, GA. 1996. Vol. 42: 269-289. Pranis, Eve. “Insect Appeal: Getting to Food by Studying Bugs”. KidGardening.Org. Web. <http://www.kidsgardening.com/Dig/DigDetail.taf?ID=1119&Type=Art> Smardo, Frances A. “Using Children's Literature to Clarify Science Concepts in Early Childhood Programs”. The Reading Teacher. International Reading Association: 2005. Vol. 36, No. 3. 267-273. State of New Jersey – Department of Education. “New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards”. Web. < http://www.njcccs.org/search.aspx> “ ‘Teacher’s Pests’ Lessons Plans”. Terminix Insect Education. Web. <http://www.terminix.com/Information/Teachers> University Games. Do I Bug You: A ‘Who am I?’ Book. University Games: 2007. University of Washington Botanic Gardens. “Garden Insect Identification”, Web. <http://depts.washington.edu/hortlib/resources/hort_web_sites/plant_id.php>