Wanna see something REALLY scary?
It's...
It's...
It's....
BUGS!
Or, INSECTS, to be more precise. Did you know that everything we call a bug is not a bug? There is only one scientific order for bugs, and it includes things like stink bugs. Beetles? They're not bugs. Neither are flies, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, or butterflies. All of those insects belong to DIFFERENT orders.
We had a science project due today. For weeks we've been collecting bugs. This week we went on an all-out quest to identify, mount, organize, and label all of them into a massive collection to turn in today. We have 30 of the things from 7 different orders. If that sounds like a lot, consider that at first the teacher wanted EACH of my three children to make their OWN collection of 30. Different. Bugs. Yeah, right. I intervened and pleaded for a family collection instead. Mom only has so much time, right? And my first grader wasn't exactly going to do this independently. So that's what we did instead.
I think my favorite part of this particular science project was last Friday, when we were in a panic over needing about 20 more bugs. We finished our bookwork for the day and loaded up for a field trip. Lunch out, a stop at Publix for plastic bags and nail polish remover (the acetone kills the bugs quickly), then up to the local Civil War park to hunt bugs. It was a gorgeous day and we had both woods and fields to explore. Once we caught the first few, it became an adventure. We spent hours out there, and I think that day will stick in my memory as one of those "This is why we homeschool" sort of days.
Even if it did require me to learn the difference between bugs and insects.
posted by Mamabird @ 6:03 AM
2 Comments:
At 7:52 AM,
Dy said…
Oh what FUN!! Do you just pour the acetone on the bug? Put it in the bag first? Like shake 'n bake? How do you do this? The bug (insect, critter, whatever) displays at the wildlife offices are always the boys' favorite displays. They LOVE that the names are in Latin. They LOVE that the bugs aren't squished beyond recognition. LOL. I would love to do something like this on the property. Would you mind sharing your resources and methods?
Dy, in total awe of such a cool project! Which, btw, was probably a lot more fun for the kids to do together than separately. ;-)
At 2:52 PM,
Patty in WA or Rover said…
So I just bought the farm. The Ant Farm, that is. The big ad on this says that it can be a nightlight, too! Not for me, but the boy thought woohoo! Me, I'd lie awake all night making sure that all of the ants were still safely en-nested. Oh well. 40% off helps.
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