Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan: Arthropods at "Home"

Length of sessions:

Four 30 minute sessions
Three 30 - 45 minute sessions
One 45 - 60 minute session

Introduction Activity (45 minute session)
Read A House Is A House For Me by Mary Ann Hoberman. Discuss the various types of homes the students live in and other homes they know about (apartment, trailer, etc.). How are they similar to the homes in the story? How are they different? What do all the homes have in common? Then explain what arthropods are. Discuss what types of homes arthropods might live in and how we could find out some of them (see Information Sheets). Teacher records on butcher paper. Have the students write and draw in their journals how they feel about arthropods.

Activity 1(30 minute session)
Discuss ground rules about safety, arthropod respect, and respect for the environment. Let the students know they're going to visit someone else's home on the field trip. Give students copies of Arthropod Homes Sheet and read through it with them answering any questions they may have about what information to collect and where to record it.

Activity 2(45 minute session)
Review the ground rules and use of the arthropod homes sheet. Team up and take a field trip on school grounds. Look for arthropod homes. Record information (see Finding Arthropods sheet). Have the students write or draw in journals about the arthropods they saw and share what they wrote.

Activity 3(30 minute session)
After the field trip, record on a chart, the arthropods the students found and other information they gathered during their observations. From the discussion and information, choose one arthropod to be temporarily kept in the classroom in an artificial habitat that simulates its natural home.

Activity 4(30 minute session)
Brainstorm the materials and environment needed to design and maintain a habitat. Teacher records on butcher paper (see Arthropod Information Sheet). Use the chart from Activity 3 and the student's Arthropod Homes sheets to make a list of the kinds of things your arthropod needs from its environment to survive and be healthy. What do both people and arthropods need to survive and be healthy? Teacher records on butcher paper.

Activity 5(45 minute session)
Review habitat needs from Activities 3 and 4. Create an artificial home with water and food sources. (See information sheet.) Collect the arthropod and introduce it into its new home. Place an observation record sheet nearby with pencils or use individual student journals. Have students record observations of what they see the arthropod doing daily for one week . Have the students draw a fantasy home in which they would like to live. Make sure the students include as many of the survival and healthy elements brainstormed by the class as possible. Tell them it can be any thing they want it to be because it's make-believe.

Closure Activity(30 minute session)
At the end of the week, report observations and discuss results. What was absolutely necessary for the arthropod to survive? What is absolutely necessary for people to survive? Did we provide a good habitat for the arthropod? Read The Lady and The Spider by Faith McNulty. Discuss how they feel about the arthropods that are part of their lives now. Carefully return the arthropod to its natural home. Write and/or draw in journals about their experience with the arthropod and if they feel differently now than before.

Lesson Intro Set-up Lesson Plans Additions
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