Insect Study

Why investigate insects? 

Most children are fascinated by insects' colors, shapes, movements, and behaviors. Children delight in watching colorful butterflies flit from flower to flower or a trail of ants marching towards a tasty snack. Children often explore in their hands and knees to get a closer look, capturing insects in jars and watching them move. Insects are everywhere-indoors and outdoors, in cities, suburbs, small towns, farms, and forests-so it is easy for children to investigate them firsthand. 

Preschool children can learn a lot about insects through hands-on experiences. Outdoors, they examine insects' habitats, look for evidence of insects eating plants, and carefully capture insects for close examination. They use magnifying glasses or microscopes to examine insects' bodies and read about how they grow and live. A study on insects provides children with an opportunity to learn about what insects need to live, grow, and protect themselves. 

A study on insects encourages children to explore a topic that is familiar to them and allows them to gather information, solve problems, imagine, and think symbolically. Children will explore different types of insects and investigate the characteristics of insects, how insects work together, how they keep themselves safe, and how they help the environment. They will gather data, meet interesting people who work with insects, explore a variety of materials used to examine insects and create their own guide to insects in their community. 

A study of insects offers a meaningful way for children to use literacy, mathematics, the arts, and technology to investigate and represent their understanding of concepts related to physical development, science, and social studies.