Did you know that there are over a million known kinds of insects? You can find them in the hottest temperatures in Africa as well as the frozen climates of Antarctica.
Spiders, also known as arachnids, are often called "insects," but they are different from insects in many ways.
But how can you tell the difference between them?
To look at the basic body of an insect, go to the "Wonderful World of Insects" Web page. Go to the "Basic Anatomy" section at the bottom of the page to find the answers to the following questions:
For more information, go to "The Body Parts of an Insect".
Now examine a spider's body parts by studying several spider photos. Go to "Arachnology". View some of the pictures and answer these questions based on your observations:
The small part of a spider's body is called the cephalothorax. The larger part is called the abdomen. Spiders also have spinnerets for making webs to catch their prey.
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Activity1A.cwk" or "Activity1A.doc", then send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
Make drawings of an insect and a spider from your observations on the Web. Label the body parts of each animal.
Activity #1B:
Download this chart (Appleworks) (Word) comparing insects and spiders. Fill it out, then save it as "Activity1B.cwk" or "Activity1B.doc" and send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
Bonus activity:
Open a new document in Appleworks or Word, then complete the following activity:
If spiders are "octopodal," then what are insects? Create new words to describe how many body parts creatures (real or imagined) have by using number words (hint: uni=1, bi=2, tri=3, quadri=4, penta=5, hexa=6, hepta=7, octo=8, nove=9, and deca=10 ). Invent a new insect, label it with your new words, and draw a picture using the Appleworks Paint or Draw program to illustrate your creature.
Save your document as "Bonus1.cwk" or "Bonus1.doc", and send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
Insects change a lot from the time they are eggs to the time they are adults. These changes are called "metamorphosis." To learn more about these changes, go to "Entomology for Beginners". Another site to check out for information on metamorphosis is "Insect Biology and Ecology: A Primer".
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Activity2.cwk", then send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
Bonus activity: Why not learn about the life of an insect by having one as your very own pet? Many insects are easy to care for and fun to observe. For some ideas about commonly kept insects and how to care for them, go to "The Bug Club Home Page" and select the "Bug Pets" button on the left.
Spiders are incredible little creatures. To read some background information on them, go to "Spider Information". Find the answers to these questions:
Some types of spiders can do amazing things. Record five interesting facts about spiders at "Interesting Spider Facts".
We all know that spiders weave beautiful webs. But just how do those webs work? To learn more about spiders and their webs, go to "Knowledge Adventure: Spider Webs: Deadly Silken Snares ".
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Activity3A.cwk" or "Activity3A.doc", then send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
Activity #3B:
Spiders are true artists and engineers when it comes to making webs. Using the Appleworks Draw or Paint program, or the Drawing tools in Word, create your own spider web. Be sure to fill up the entire page with your web. Use interesting shapes, angles, and lines -- just like real spiders do!
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Activity3B.cwk" or "Activity3B.doc", then send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
Bonus Activity: Another name for the Internet is the "Web". We call it that because it connects us to interesting places, just like a spider's "web" does. The word "web" is a homonym. Homonyms are words that sound the same, but have different meanings. To see other homonyms about the computer, read "IPL Youth Division: Do Spiders Live on the World Wide Web?".
It's time to take a virtual tour into the world of the honey bee. You will see actual bees in an observation hive in a lab. This unique set-up will allow you to see the bees very closely and observe their activities.
To begin your virtual bee trip, go to "GEARS: The Amazing BeeCam!". Just like other good scientists, you should be equipped with paper and pencil to take notes and sketch the bees' behavior. Look for the following and record your data:
Pretend you are one of the bees in this hive. Write a story about your activities and adventures. Illustrate your story, using the Appleworks paint or Draw program.
Did you know that bees help produce a lot of the food we eat? They help us by pollinating fruits and vegetables. That means bees (and other small animals like birds, bats, and butterflies) carry pollen from flower to flower. This later produces fruits and seeds that result in many of the foods we eat!
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Activity4.cwk" or "Activity4.doc", then send it to your teacheras an e-mail file attachment.
Bonus Activity:
Open a new document in Appleworks or Word, then complete the following activity.
To check out some beliefs about bees through the centuries, go to "The Bug Club Newsletter: Bee-Lore". Read pages 7 and 8. "Lore" means knowledge gained by tradition. Imagine some other things people long ago could have thought about bees. Write your own "Bee-Lore" paragraph.
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Bonus2.cwk" or "Bonus2.doc", then send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
Did you know that ants communicate by touch and smell? Or that small ants can lift objects that weigh more than they do? Ants can do some remarkable things, and in this lesson you will discover more about them.
Read background facts about ants from "Orkin Bug Guide: Ants". Choose one type of ant. Take notes on its appearance, habits, diet, reproduction, and other information. Try to draw its picture, using the Appleworks Paint or Draw program.
To find out more about ant colonies, go to "Ant Nests". Answer these questions:
Want to see an impressive ant nest ?
Bonus Activity: Did you know that the Great Anteater eats over 30,000 ants, termites, and other insects a day? Read up on the anteater at "The Home of the Anteater".
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Activity5.cwk" or "Activity5.doc", then send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
How much do you know about butterflies and moths? Find the answers to these questions about these beautiful creatures at "Butterflies and Moths Frequently Asked Questions".
When you are finished, save your document in your "Insects" folder as "Activity6.cwk" or "Activity6.doc", then send it to your teacher as an e-mail file attachment.
To read more about how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly or moth, go to "Knowledge Adventure: Caterpillars: Working Towards Metamorphosis".
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