Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students will learn about the importance of insects by watching a clip and participating in a brainstorming activity. They will then conduct a schoolyard Bush Blitz, where they find insects and plants in the schoolyard and draw pictures of them. They will then research ways to attract insects and write a letter to the school management about implementing insect attracting initiatives.
Learning intentions:
- Students understand the importance of insects
- Students understand how to find and identify insects in the schoolyard
- Students understand ways to attract insects.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 7 Science
- Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed (ACSIS125)
- Communicate ideas, findings and evidence based solutions to problems using scientific language, and representations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS133)
Syllabus outcomes: SC4-5WS, SC4-9WS.
General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2.
Relevant parts of Year 7 achievement standards: Students plan fair experimental methods, identifying variables to be changed and measured. They communicate their ideas, methods and findings using scientific language and appropriate representations.
Topic: STEM, Sustainability, Biodiversity.
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Backyard Bush Blitz – Year 7.
Time required: 75 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion and letter writing
Resources required:
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Bugs And Slugs ID Chart
- Bush Blitz Information Sheet to show on the board
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student
- Tongs or any implements that can be used to turn over rocks while looking for insects – one per pair.
Keywords: Insects, field work, Bush Blitz, attracting insects.
Bush Blitz is Australia’s largest nature discovery program, with the Bush Blitz TeachLive component delivered by Earthwatch Australia, who kindly provided the images in these lessons. Thank you to the Ian Potter Foundation, John T Reid Charitable Trusts and The Myer Foundation for generously supporting the development of these lessons.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.