A bug’s life
Focus Questions
EPISODE 2
1.
2.
What is the main idea of integrated pest management?
What are Stephanie and Professor Bob trying do to teach people in
Cambodia?
3. Describe the devastation some insects can cause.
4. What is a pesticide?
5. Why are they trying to avoid using some pesticides?
6. Some pesticides that were banned in Australia are still being used in
Cambodia. True or false?
7. What did Bob create to get kids involved in pest management?
8. Describe the role kids are playing in teaching about `good bugs’.
9. What are the benefits of the program Stephanie and Bob are running in
Cambodia?
10. How has your thinking changed since watching the BtN story?
A bug’s life
Remember and understand
ST
21 FEBRUARY 2011
Learning Area
Science
Key learning
Students will investigate the
benefits of insects and the
role they play in the
ecosystem.
Brainstorm a list of words that you associate with the word `insect’.
What is an insect? Come up with a definition and share it with other
students.
Insects are a source of food for people all over the world. Entomophagy is
the practice of eating insects. Research which insects are eaten by people
from different cultures and why.
Apply and Analyse
What are the benefits of insects to humans? Consider things such as food,
pollination, control of `bad bugs’. Present the information as a two minute
oral presentation.
Identify 10 insects in the school yard. Choose one to research in detail and
present the information using publishing software. The following
information could be included:
Life cycle of the insect
What role does the insect play in the ecosystem?
What are the benefits of your chosen bug?
Create a series of Power Point slides responding to the question: Why do
we need insects? Students could structure their information in the
following way: Why we need insects, insects found in our school yard and
what we can do to encourage more insects in our school yard.
Students can include
photographs, pictures or
diagrams in their report.
Evaluate and create
Write a narrative based on the topic `A bug’s life’. Choose an insect for
your story to be about. It can be written for younger children (as a picture
book) or for older children.
Create your own bugs guide for the insects you find in your school yard.
Include information about:
What the insect looks like
Where the insect is found
What the insect does (behaviour)
The following weblink may be useful in creating a guide
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Bugwise-Invertebrate-Guide
Working in pairs, create a habitat for an insect to live in. Research what
the needs of your insect are in order to survive. Evaluate the habitat and
ask other students to give feedback about it.
 Related Research Links
AusAID – Cambodia
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/country/country.cfm?CountryId=34
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research – Official website
http://aciar.gov.au/
Sardi – Pests and Diseases: Biological control
http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pestsdiseases/horticulture/horticultural_pests/integr
ated_pest_management/resources/biological_controls
Australian Museum – Insects
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Insects/