Length of sessions: Three 20 minute sessions Two 30 minute sessions Introduction Activity (20 minute session) Introduce The Icky Bug Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta. Ask the students which arthropods in the book they liked or disliked and why. Which are "icky?" Why or why not? Teacher records on butcher paper. Have the students draw a picture of their favorite arthropod. This activity can also include large, clear pictures of other arthropods, including images of arthropods that may elicit different responses such as butterflies, spiders and cockroaches. Activity 1(30 minute session) Read The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson and discuss. Ask "are looks more important than the way someone acts? Is it fair to judge someone before you know them?" Ask if anyone would like to tell about that experience. Note: A discussion about "liking" or "disliking" a person can obviously bring up very sensitive issues, and great care must be taken in guiding and directing this discussion. Activity 2(30 minute session) Have the mealworm containers ready. Show the students the black and white drawing of the mealworms. Discuss what they think and feel about these insects from looking at the picture. Explain to the students that they will each be given their own mealworm to care for. If you wish, the mealworms can be introduced with: "You will be the mealworm's caretaker for the next week. You will take care of it, feed it and make sure that it is okay." Note: Because of the bonding and attachment that will develop between the students and their mealworms, death of an individual mealworm may be traumatic. Have several extra mealworms to 'replace' the deceased, if the need arises. "Today, you will spend some time observing your insect, and you will learn how to use a hand lens to look at it very carefully." Demonstrate the use of the hand lens and gentle handling of the mealworms. Give the students the mealworms, and time for observations. After about 15 minutes of observation, collect the mealworms in their individual containers, have the students' names on the containers to identify which mealworm will be "theirs" to care for. Activity 3(20 minute session) Give the students their marked mealworm containers. This would be the time to explain that, "Everyone will get to know their insect as they observe it." Encourage the students to handle their insects if they feel comfortable doing so. Give each student a piece of drawing paper and draw in detail what they see. Closure Activity(30 minute session) The students "own" insects should be made available to them over a period of several days so that they can have time to observe and care for them. In a group setting, discuss with the students their feelings about their insects. Ask if their feelings changed as they became familiar with their insect. Did they like it better as they became more comfortable with it? Did they like the way it moved? Or ate? Or the way it felt when they touched it? Read Be Nice to Spiders by Martha Graham. Ask the students what feelings came up for them during the story when the people try to get rid of the spider and when the spider helped everyone at the zoo. Do they think people can change the way they feel about insects? About people? What helps them change? Lesson Intro Set-up Lesson Plans Additions Table of Contents

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