Dirty Bugs

Contributed by: Kyleen Ellingsen

Target Age Group/Grade: 3rd-7th grade

Estimated Time: 60 minutes

Dirty Bugs Investigation.pdf

Download PDF • 188KB

Investigation Data Chart.pdf

Download PDF • 61KB

Summary:

Spend time on the ground outside and learn more about critters you find! Students will dig in different areas of soil to investigate the relationship between location and the number of macroinvertebrates (bugs).

Learning Goals:

• Students will learn the vocabulary: macroinvertebrate, ecosystem, changed variable, and measured variable

• Students will carry out a soil investigation by searching through the ground and counting creatures they see

• Students will make connections between how the location of soil they dig in might be related to the quantity of macroinvertebrates they find

Materials Needed:

• Access to investigation data chart (see attached)

• Paper to journal and sketch on

• Pencil

• 3 different locations to look for bugs. Can’t find access to dirt? Look under bushes or along a sidewalk!

• Container

• Scooper (like a spoon or gardening tool)

• Timer

• Link to list of macroinvertebrates (you can print it!): http://www.colby.edu/biology/BI131/Lab/Lab08SoilinvertGuide.pdf

• Optional: gardening gloves, hula hoop

Lesson Video:

Need some help? Watch an instructor teach a part of this lesson!

Additional Resources:

How do I identify macroinvertebrates:

Macroinvertebrate ID.pdf

Download PDF • 349KB

What is a macroinvertebrate: https://www.britannica.com/animal/macroinvertebrate

What is an ecosystem: https://www.britannica.com/science/ecosystem