Lesson 1.2: Setting up the Experiment
Note to teachers:
Since this is an introductory lesson, it is the shortest of the 8 lessons. If you would like to combine lesson 1.1 and 1.2 feel free to since combined these lessons take approximately 50-60 minutes to complete.
Materials
Per Student:
- Orange, Red, Black Coloring Pencils, Crayons, or Markers
Prep
- Fill a couple large cups with tap water and a few large cups with sunflower seeds. Set aside to be used by the students when they need to fill up their food and water cups.
- Place red, and black colored pencils and/or markers at each table group.
- Pull up the slides.
Procedure
Introduction:
10 Minutes: Review Predictions
-Ask students to look back at their journals and talk to a partner about what their predictions for the experiment are. Ask for a few students to share their thoughts with the class
Explanation:
5 Minutes: Nymph Stages of the Insect
1. Show students the nymph stages of the Milkweed Bug. Have them talk to a partner about what they observe changes as the insects grows. Ask for responses.
- As the Milkweed Bug develops it: grows wings, changes from orange to red color, and becomes larger.
Activity:
10 Minutes: Cleaning and Care
- Pass out role tags to each table group and pull up the last slide on this section of the Power Point.
- Have the "Supplier" from each table group grab their containers from the insulated coolers and bring them carefully to their table.
- Have students carefully change and remove the plastic portion cups from the containers.
- Have the "Waterer" and "Feeder" change the water and sunflower seeds.
- Remind the "Escape Watch" students to use the paintbrushes to keep the insect in their containers.
- Have students place the clean food and water cups back into the containers.
- Give students about 5 minutes to write their observations. Encourage them to work with their table group to fill out this section.
- Once students have completed their observations, ask them to clean up their space and have their "Supplier" return trays to the coolers according to labeled temperature.
Closing:
10 Minutes: Care Procedure and Observations
- Have students turn to the second page of their packet and show them how to draw and write observations about their insects.
- They will be drawing the insects in their containers and labeling each drawing by environment.
- They will write a few observations on the lines provided about the size, color, shape, and quantity of bugs in each container.
- Give students about 5 minutes to write their observations. Encourage them to work with their table group to fill out this section.
- Discuss observations as a class.
Student Observation Examples
Beyond the Experiment
- Break Time Stretches (recommended before closing)