Create an Insect STEAM Lesson Brief
Educators on the team: (for certification max: 4/team) Val Denker, Julie Jones, Melissa Price, Cherie
Ollie_
When & Where you attended a training. Dates _August 11 and 12 Town/State _Knob Noster, Missouri_
Students use knowledge from across the disciplines to strengthen their understanding of each subject’s
content and its related careers through topic or theme oriented realistic problem-based activity-rich
lessons.
Theme that this lesson would tie to: Animals - Biology
Specific Topic Concept within that theme: Insects
PROJECT IDEA + brief notes & supplies
BASIC CONCEPTS
Concept: Students will study, research, create and
Science –
construct anatomically correct insects from their local
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Concepts –Observe and compare the
area. They will decorate their insects. They will
structures and behaviors of different
measure their insects using standard and nonkinds insects.
standard units. They will write about their insects.
 Goal / Objectives - Identify the body
Then they will move like insects and make the
parts and characteristics of insects
“music” of insects. They will share their creations with
 Standards – Mo GLE Strand 3.1Db -Identify and compare the physical
the class.
Basic Plan:
Science – teachers will collect and bring in insects for
students to watch and make observations
Technology & Engineering – students will create an
insect by gluing and attaching a variety of materials to
create an anatomically correct insect
structures of a variety of animals (e.g.,
sensory organs, beaks, appendages,
body covering)
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Math – students will measure their insects with
standard and non-standard units of measurement
LA – students will write 2 related sentences
describing the insects that they created.
SS – students will research and discuss insects native
to their local area.
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Art – students will design and create an insect using a
variety of materials
Music – students will make up and produce the
“music” or sounds of their insect
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STEAM Education
Careers – Forest and conservation
workers , soil and plant scientists,
Etymologist, biologist, zoologist
Project –Students will learn about bugs
in class and use the information learned
to create a fictitious bugs that have
standard bug parts from found and
recycled items (egg cartons, pom-poms,
pipe cleaners, beads, etc.) Students will
attach their bug to a piece of paper and
label the parts. They will also write
about their bug.
Assessment – Checking to be sure that
the insects are labeled correctly
Extension - For remediating we will
have the labels numbered so that the
students will be able to match them
easier.
For enrichment the students will be
writing their own labels.
Lesson Brief
PE – students will decide, describe and move as their
created insects
Skill level (Grade Range):Kindergarten
Timing of Lesson: 4 - 25 minute sessions
Basic Supplies:
All Subjects:
Paper, scissors, egg cartons, markers, paint, pipe
cleaners, wiggly eyes, foam shapes, assorted art
supplies, paint brushes, paint cups, Paper, pencils,
crayons, internet, and books.
Science – crayons or markers
Technology/Engineering – Computers, Scissors and
Glue
Math – Rulers and items
LA – Paper and pencils
SS – Paper, Pencils and crayons
Art – Scissors, paper, glue and materials with which to
build and decorate
PE – Space to move around using different
movements
Music – Links to the sounds of bugs
IT Resources:
Sheppard Software educational games
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
Icky Insects by Silly Bus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYawa4piO4k
Technology & Engineering –
 Concepts –T=Students will be building
anatomically correct insects.
 E=Students will construct an insect with
a variety of materials including paper
tubes, construction paper, paint, hot
glue, pompoms, noodles, pipe cleaners,
egg cartons, .
 Goal / Objectives Students will create
an anatomically correct insect.
 Standards – Iste1c – Use models and
simulations to explore complex systems
and issues.
 Careers – Bio-engineer, Genetics
Engineer T=Exterminator, Modeler
 Project -Design and build an insect
using various materials. Students will
learn about bugs in class and use the
information learned to create a
fictitious bugs that have standard bug
parts from found and recycled items
(egg cartons, pom-poms, pipe cleaners,
beads, etc.) Students will attach their
bug to a piece of paper and label the
parts. They will also write about their
bug.
 Assessment – Students will be able to
describe the body parts using the insect
they built.
 Extension - Students will use academic
vocabulary when sharing their insect
with the class in small groups or to the
whole class.
Math –
 Concepts –Measurement
 Goal / Objectives – Students will use
standard and non-standard units of
measurement
 Standards - K.MP.5 Use appropriate
tools strategically.K.MD.1 Describe
measurable attributes of objects, such
as length or weight. Describe several
measurable attributes of a single object.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUPXkWqC1a
What is an Insect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoLFR3owpfY
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"Head, Thorax, & Abdomen" the insect song, The
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STEAM Education
Careers – Surveyor , Data collector,
Data enterer
Project – Measure the insects created
Lesson Brief
rock-afire explosion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW4S4ZnV020
Learn Insect Train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jfSN2TtUZo
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Worldbook Online
http://worldbookonline.com/wb/products?ed=all&gr
=Welcome+Knob+Noster+School+District+R8
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Brainpop Junior
https://jr.brainpop.com/
Other Resources:
LA –
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Books, charts, diagrams
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Misc:
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Photos:
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SS –
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with rulers, blocks, cubes, etc. Students are asked to measure their
bug with 2-3 measuring tools and
compare them. Ex. There bug is 4
blocks or 2 inches long.
Assessment – Observe students and
have them explain their process and
results to assure that they understand
the concept of measurement
Extension - Struggling learners will be
partnered with advanced learners. The
students struggling will be helped, and
the advanced learners will gain more
knowledge by teaching the struggling
learners.
Concepts –Writing correct complete
sentences
Goal / Objectives – Students will write 2
connected sentences about the insect
that they created.
Standards –WK2 – Use a combination
of drawing, dictating, and writing to
compose informative/explanatory texts
in which they name what they are
writing about and supply some
information about the topic.
Careers – Writers and Authors
Project – Students will write two
sentences about the insect that they
created. Students will name and
describe the insect they created using
academic vocabulary. They will use
correct punctuation, capitalization and
spacing.
Assessment – Student writing will be
assessed for punctuation, capitalization
and spacing.
Extension - Struggling learners will be
asked to complete one sentence with
guidance and support. Advanced
learners will be asked to complete
three sentences.
Concepts –Insects in our local area
Lesson Brief
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Art –
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Goal / Objectives – Students will learn
about insects that are native to our
local area.
Standards – Geography 5A identify
maps and globes as geographic tools.
Careers – Exterminator or forest or
conservation worker, Cartographer
Project - Discussion about the local
area using a MAP as a visual aid for
students. Students will collect bugs at
home and at school during a nature
walk. Students will make observations
about the size, characteristics and body
parts of the insects. Students will
discuss characteristics that bugs in the
area have in common and what helps
them live in our region.
Assessment – Students will write two
sentences of observations and
characteristics of insects collected from
our local area. Students will be
assessed on their ability to identify in
writing or in discussion bugs and their
characteristics that would be found in
different locations.
Students will put pictures on a map of
the types of bugs found in their local
area – an array of bugs found locally
and non-locally will be provided,
students will identify common local
bugs to put on a local map
If the class collects data on who has
seen what type of bug where, they can
put those icons on a map of their town
or on their travels
Extension –struggling learners will draw
pictures of their observations.
Advanced learners will write three
sentences of their observations and
about the characteristics of the local
insects.
Concepts –students will use different
art techniques during the creation and
construction of an insect.
Goal / Objectives – Students will learn
Lesson Brief
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PE –
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about different art techniques during
the creation and construction of an
insect.
Standards – Product/Performance 2A –
Uses scissors with control P/P 3C Create
original artwork that communicates
ideas about the following themes:
People (e.g.; self, family, friends)
•Indoors (e.g.; classroom, kitchen,
bedroom) Outdoors (e.g.; seasons,
nature)
Careers – Artist or art teacher,
Animator
Project – Design and build an insect
using various materials. Students will
learn about bugs in class and use the
information learned to create a
fictitious bugs that have standard bug
parts from found and recycled items
(egg cartons, pom-poms, pipe cleaners,
beads, etc.) Students will attach their
bug to a piece of paper and label the
parts. They will also write about their
bug.
Assessment – Students will be assessed
on the techniques used during the
creation of their insect.
Extension – Students will decorate their
insect to live in a specific environment.
Students will pick an area and then try
to camouflage their insect to hide in
that area.
They will explain the scientific aspects
that make it a bug and the creative
aspects that make it their own creation
of a bug. They will explain how they
built it using correct terms for tools and
supplies used to make the buges.
Concepts – Move like an insect
Goal / Objectives – Students will
understand the ways the insects move.
They will also be able to imitate
movements shown to them.
Standards – Efficiency Human
Movement 1 D – Demonstrate
Lesson Brief
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introductory individual stunts (e.g., crab
walk, bear walk, inch worm)
Careers - Long jumper, High jumper, PE
Teacher
Project – Students will listen to music
and move like the insect that they
created.
Assessment – Watch to see that the
students understand insect movement
Extension –Help those students with
verbal and sight cues of how an insect
might move.
Connection to S – what body parts do
animals have that make it easier for
them to have the movements being
copied – what about human bodies can
mimic or hinder that copying
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Music –
 Concepts –Students will be able to
make the sound of an insect
 Goal / Objectives –Students will be able
to make up different sounds that an
insect might make.
 Standards –Product Performance 2A –
Perform using two dynamic levels – soft
and loud. Echoes simple rhythms (long
and short sounds)
 Careers – Composer or Musical
Engineer , sound effects
manager/creator
 Project – Students develop and make a
sound that their insect would make.
Students will discuss how larger bugs
might sound differently than smaller
bugs. Students will make soft and loud
sounds to demonstrate how their bugs
would sound based on the size and
shape of the bug. Students will create
one loud sound for their insect and one
soft sound and then discuss what and
when the insect would use these
sounds.
 Assessment – Listen to the sounds that
the children think that an insect might
make, and have the children describe
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STEAM Education
Lesson Brief
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how and why the insects make that
sound. Students will be assessed on
their ability to make both soft and loud
sounds.
Extension –For struggling learners, cues
could be given to help them decide a
sound and to help them to figure out
how the insect will produce the sound.
For advanced learners they could
describe what instruments might be
used to make the sounds.
Lesson Brief
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STEAM Education
Lesson Brief
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Lesson Brief
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Lesson Brief
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Lesson Brief
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Lesson Brief
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Lesson Brief