Pollination Check
Buy an assortment of apples from
the local market. Cut each apple in half across the middle (rather than
cutting from stem to flower) and count the number of seeds. If the
apple is completely pollinated, there will be two seeds in each of the
five (point out the star shape) chambers. Compare the apples to see if
the ones with ten seeds look better to eat.
Good Bug, Bad Bug
Make a quiz that lists common as well as uncommon
arthropods with the choice "good" or "bad" for each one. This lets students
express their opinions (or what they've heard) to determine if a creature
is good or bad. I use the names, and/or drawings of various invertebrates
and give this "quiz" at the start of a study unit. When students
who've listed mosquitos as bad bugs are asked what the Purple Martins and
bats will have to eat if we get rid of the mosquitos, they quickly change
their mind. Pictures of anteaters do the same for ants which are
generally regarded as "bad". A discussion of the introduced Fire-Ant
here in Texas allowed the introduction of information about "native species"
and one fifth grader was heard to remark "Don't hurt that one, he's a
Texas ant"!
Vacuum Trap for a Nature Hike
Make a vacuum trap for collecting small
or fragile bugs. Cut two pencil sized holes in the lid of a small yoghurt
container and insert a bendable drinking straw in each hole. Seal around
the straws with clay to make an air-tight closure. On the inside of the
lid cut the straws to one quarter inch and cover one with cheese cloth held
in place with tape. Mark the cheese cloth covered straw, since that is the one
used to suck the bugs into your vacuum. Once your bug is in the container he
can be examined before being released.
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Last modified 8 June 1998