Grade Level: 3-5
Overview: Not all insects eat the same foods. Some like to eat the leafy parts of plants and vegetables and some like to eat roots. Some insects prefer other insects! In this activity students will construct an insect diner and serve samples to the invited insects.
Purpose: Because of existing environmental conditions and pesticides being used, it is important for students to learn there is a natural way to control insects in a garden.
Objectives: Students will be able to:
Resources/ Materials:
Activities/Procedures: 1. Collect a variety of plant leaves and roots from the garden.
2. The day before the activity, collect a variety of common garden insects. Place in the jar with air holes. DO NOT FEED!
3. Turn each of the petri dishes upside down. Place 3 leaf and 3 root samples around the edge of each dish. It is important that they be the same size in order to get accurate results. Label the samples.
4. The "diner" is now open for lunch. Choose on of the insects from the jar. Place the insect in the petri dish. Observe the insect every 2-3 hours to see what it is munching on. Record the results in your journal.
5. Repeat the activity with other insects. Record the results.
6. Students may also place two insects in each petri dish to observe if preferences in "diner" may be ANOTHER insect!
Tying it All Together: If insects eat the same plants we eat or enjoy looking at, we wouldn't want them in the garden. If they did not like a plant, could you use it to protect the plants? Were there insects that ate plants we do not want in our garden? If there are insects that eat troublesome insects, can we find a way to encourage them to stay?
by Rosina L. Phillips, Sierra Vista Elementary, Las Vegas, New Mexico