Activity sheets:
Observation Sheet
Teacher Preparation:
- Gather materials for moth containers several days before lesson begins. Identify and prepare a place in the classroom for the insects to live. Avoid areas with direct sun, air vents or cold drafts.
- Supplying fresh food plant to the caterpillars is critical to the success of the lesson. Using artificial diet (for specific species) supplied by biological supply company may be easier for you. If there are vacations during the lesson, plan to take your caterpillars home so that they receive proper care.
- Any caterpillar that spins a cocoon can be used for this lesson. Moths that spin cocoons include the silk worm (Bombyx mori), cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), wooley bear (Pyrhactia isabella), gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), salt marsh caterpillar (Estigmena acrea), polyphemis moth (Antherea polyphemus), promethia moth (Calosomia promethea). Two discussions are recorded on butcher paper (Activities 1 & 3). Prepare bulletin board space or other wall space for displaying chart throughout the lesson.
- Copy Observation Sheet for Activity 2.
- Set-up classroom so that the Closure Activity can be expressive and unconstrained, if space and time permit.
- Take care when guiding and directing discussions about sensitive experiences that may surface when talking about internal feelings, self-protection and safety issues. (Activity 4)
- Gather remaining materials and books (see Bibliography).
Materials:
- Silk moth eggs (at least two per team)
- Rearing containers and water container for plants
- Fresh mulberry leaves or appropriate food plant
- Popcorn (for Closure Activity)
- Butcher paper
- Markers
- Individual student journals
- Trina Paulus, Hope for the Flowers; Mary Kennedy, Wings; Stan and Jan Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears Learn about Strangers; refer to bibliography for books about moths.
- Any supporting fiction and non-fiction literature that may not be suggested in the bibliography.
Silk Moth Information Sheets
Silk Moth Rearing Sheets
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