Don't Bug Me
Students will need the worksheet for the activity.
Equipment
Recommended group size 2-3
Plastic animals (1 set supplied, replacement/additional sets can be purchased from KMart)
Classification chart and Toxicity tableWe recommend laminating the classification chart and toxicity table sheets for use with multiple classes
For the pinning bugs activity (can be done individually), the students will need:
A piece of polystyrene foam (just larger than the specimen being pinned)
Tiny piece of polystyrene or plasticine for propping the specimen up off the foam
Pins (plain thin metal pins, no thumb tacks etc)
Specimens, we recommend large crickets available from most pet shops.
Optional - binocular microscope for viewing the bugs
Preparation (Minimal)
Prior to the day
Purchasing crickets and placing them in the freezer a couple of days before use.
If you are eager to collect a variety of insect or arachnid specimens yourself simply capture them and place in the freezer. We do not recommend getting students to collect their own specimens in case they get bitten in the process.
On the day
Spread out plastic animals over the floor in the classroom and supply classification chart and toxicity tables to students
To speed up the extension task distribution, pre pin some crickets to pieces of foam with the central pin through the abdomen and propped up on plasticine or a small piece of polystyrene.
Additional Information
The crickets may have some movement on the foam due to a build up of static electricity.
We recommend counting out the pins to each student and getting them to check they use or return them all to reduce the chance of pins falling on the floor especially in a carpeted classroom.
Digital microscopes are an amazing addition to this task, enabling students to get a very close and detailed look at the insects. The microscopes have a screen for easy viewing and work well in groups, they can also be plugged in to a computer and displayed on a smart board for an entire class to see. Here is a link If you were interested in purchasing digital microscopes similar to the ones we bring in the university ran sessions