Listed below are the approprate grade or age levels.

• Mommy & Me: 2 years - 4 years
• Creature Corner: Grades K-2
• Reptile Review: Grades K-12
• Wind Power: Grades 3-5
• Amazing Adaptations: Grades 3-6
• Insect Explorations: Grades 3-6
• Hands on History: Grades 3-7
• Pond Life: Grades 3-12
• Connections: Grades 4-6
• Understanding Wetlands: Grades 5-12
• Bayou Studies: Grades 7-College

Insect Explorations Class

Did you know that there are more insects on Earth than any other kind of animal?  Learn about the main characteristics of these creatures and find out how they fit into the food chain and why they are important.  View insect collections, and then observe live insects when you take a hike and sweep net in the prairie.

Please see the field trip planner  for more information about scheduling a field trip.  (Call 281-474-2551 x 13 for class dates and to enroll.)

The following objectives, vocabulary, and TEKs may be addressed during this field trip.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Use scientific tools and safely implement outdoor investigations about the natural world.
2. Know that insects undergo life processes and have structures to help them survive within their environments: explore structure and function of insects, explore characteristics of insects, and compare insect life cycles.

Vocabulary

• Insect – an invertebrate (animal with no backbone) that has three body segments (head, thorax, abdomen) and six legs
• Thorax – the middle body part of an insect
• Abdomen – the last (bottom) part of an insect’s body
• Antennae – sensory organs on an insect’s head, used to smell, taste, feel and sometimes hear
• Camouflage – coloring that allows something to blend in with its surroundings
• Compound eye – eye made up of many lenses (all shaped like hexagons)
• Exoskeleton – hard protective covering found on insects; gets molted as the insect grows; made of chitinous material
• Adaptation – a structure (part of the body) or behavior (action) that helps a plant or animal survive or reproduce in its environment
• Mimicry – an adaptation that allows an organism to resemble another organism
• Metamorphosis – the way that insects develop, grow and change Complete metamorphosis – consists of 4 stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, adult; e.g. wasps, bees, beetles, moths, flies, and butterflies
• Incomplete metamorphosis – 3 stages of development: egg, nymph, adult; e.g. dragonflies
• Food Chain – the transfer of food energy from the source in plants through a series of animals, with repeated eating and being eaten

TEKS (2009-2010 Science)

• 3.1A, 3.4A, 3.10A&B (Pre and post-trip activities may also address 3.9B.)
• 4.1A, 4.4A, 4.10A,B&C (Pre and post-trip activities may also address 4.9B.)

Pre and Post Trip Materials (PDF Format)

• Insect Explorations Checklist
• Insect Explorations Pre-Trip Activity (Food Chain Theatrics)
• Insect Explorations Post-Trip Activity (Invent an Insect)