Activity sheets:
Observation Sheet
Monthly Record Sheet
Growth Chart
Teacher Preparation:
- Start this lesson with adult milkweed bugs in the large container. When the eggs are laid, use these for the student's individual containers. Gather materials for the studentÕs containers and set-up the large container several days before the lesson begins. The bottoms to the student containers can be purchased. Ask a restaurant for the lids. Identify and prepare a place in the classroom for all the insects to live. The students' containers need to be easy to reach. Avoid areas with direct sun, air vents and cold drafts.
- Use Activity 5 as a guide for four or more weeks of observations. Refer to the Extensions for complimentary activities during this time. Include 20-30 minutes throughout each week for students to observe and record information about the milkweed bugs for up to six weeks. Caring for milkweed bugs is fairly simple, but students will need to be reminded that they are responsible for taking care of these animals.
- Early in the year have students collect basic information about their height and the length of their feet. Keep these records in a place you can find them for future use.
- Refer to the Growth Chart Activity Sheet as a guide for the Closure Activity chart. Two discussions are recorded on butcher paper (Introduction and Activity 4). Prepare bulletin board space or other wall space for displaying the charts and notes throughout the lesson.
- For Activity 1, teacher may wish to use a bulletin board or wall to measure student's height.
- Gather remaining materials and books (see Bibliography).
Materials:
- Milkweed bugs (one per student and 20 for classroom aquarium)
- Clear plastic cups with lids (one per student)
- cm rulers or balance scale, if possible
- Height chart (or measure against wall)
- Magnifying glass, discovery Scopeª or hand lenses
- Clean, small paintbrush
- Shelled, raw, unsalted sunflower seeds ( 1 cup)
- Cotton, tubes and caps
- Labels
- Butcher paper
- Individual student journals
- An aquarium or one gallon jar
- Pat Hutchins, You'll Soon Grow Into Theirs, Titch; Miska Miles, Annie and the Old One; Robert Munsch, Love You Forever.
- Any supporting fiction and non-fiction literature that may not be suggested in the bibliography.
Milkweed Bug Information Sheets
Milkweed Bug Rearing Sheets
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