Bugs+for+Kids

One of the characteristics of a great teacher is the ability to find lessons and adapt them to the resources available and the age level of their students. For this assignment, you are to find a lesson on insects and adapt it for use with the grasshoppers. In doing so, you are to design a lesson to fit students in grades 7, 9, & 11 (3 lessons total). It is highly recommended that you look not only at the content descriptors (ILS #12 & 13) but also at the process descriptors (ILS #11). You should use the lesson template below for each of the 3 lessons you design. Post your lessons below.



Resources:
[|Insects in the Classroom] [|Insectlopedia] [|Insects]

Student Work:
By Kathy Rossetti Each of these lessons starts off by having students examine the Lubber Grasshopper and make observations about it. The students are to describe the grasshopper (7th grade) or write down a list of their adaptations (9th and 11th grade). Then depending on the grade level different aspects of adaptations, Evolution, Natural Selection, and their affects of the human race will be lectured and explored.


 * Brandon Parrott**- Each of the following lessons involves the students observing/experimenting with the different life stages of the grasshoppers. The 7th and 9th grade lessons are mainly focused on observations while the 11th grade lesson has the students create an experiment focusing on how different environmental changes affect the growth and development of the grasshoppers.


 * Lauren Clayton-** The three attached lessons all allow students to work directly with live Lubber Grasshoppers to investigate behavior and learning in insects. Each lesson has been adapted to each grade level. The seventh graders would generate a hypothesis, predicting whether the grasshoppers can learn and remember where food and sunlight are located. They would then follow a procedure, testing the grasshoppers' ability to find food in a maze. The ninth graders would similarly test learning in the grasshoppers. They would also test food choice, with the primary focus being on experimental design. The eleventh graders would use this experiment as part of a larger project. They would use research, experimental data on learning ability and food choice, and class information to develop a report. They would conclude whether or not Lubbers are threatened by habitat change, and propose action if necessary.


 * Kari Free** - These three lessons could be used as an introductory lab to adaptations organisms have evolved to increase their fitness. The 7th and 9th grade lesson begins with students observing various characteristics about the grasshoppers appearance and behavior. From their observations, they infer what defense mechanisms the grasshoppers use. For 7th grade, the next step is a worksheet with the mechanisms used on it, and the students re-evaluate their predictions and observations. For the 9th grade students, they use the computer and available resources to research the defense mechanisms used by the grasshopper then re-evaluate their work. The 11th graders are given the grasshopper and told to design and record, in their lab notebook, a process to discover the defense mechanisms of the lubber grasshopper.


 * Nicole Martinelli-** These three lessons introduce students to the concepts of adaptations (for 7th and 9th grade) along with evolution (11th grade). The 7th grade lesson introduces students at this age level to adaptations in this unique grasshopper species. The students will perform a lab investigating the differences between males in females in terms of size by making a prediction, taking measurements, recording data and constructing a graph. They will also label the parts of the grasshoppers on a diagram, color the grasshopper based on their live grasshoppers, and answer questions about possible benefits of adaptations. This is similar for 9th and 11th grade as well but more complex, in depth and focusing on evolution and fitness at the higher level (11th grade).


 * Lauren Birkner-** The following lessons introduce students to the lubber grasshopper and then incorporate this specimen into a unit based on ecosystems/foodwebs/metric conversions (7th grade), ecosystems/Illinois specific biomes (9th grade), bioaccumulation/biomagnification/environmental pollution/hydrologic cycle (11th grade). Each lesson provides a hands on activity that relates to the unit ranging from making a 3-D model of the lubber grasshopper, to a webquest on Illinois biomes, to having students design their own experiments to determine how pollutants travel through the hydrologic system and what methods can be used for removal of contaminants.


 * Kevin Templin-** These three lessons are three activities which i made up to help students learn the basics of scientific observations, in order to help them learn to observe in a way which they will get the most out of it. By the 11th grade level the students will be creating there own experiment in order to classify the organisms used including the lubber grasshopper.


 * Jonathan DeRew**- Each of the following lessons was designed for use with the lubber grasshopper. The principle behind each is that the students will design a habitat for the lubber grasshopper. Each grade levels is a little different both cognitively and in their design. Each lesson involves observations, research, and critical thinking.The students will have to research the habitat, diet, and other aspects of the lubber grasshopper. The 11th grade lesson involves research about their ecosystem and incorporates energy and nutrient cycles. All are assessed by some form of a short paper.

The first lesson would incorporate lubber grasshoppers in a 7th grade classroom through observations throughout a few days. The lesson is started off by having students think of similarities and differences amongst their classmates families in order to connect with lubber grasshoppers differences. The second lesson is for a 9th grade classroom where students would create a lubber home that can be used for the lubber grasshoppers. The last lesson which is for 11th graders allows students to list various conditions that can change an environment. Then students will be given the chance to hypothesize about how they would make an experimental lubber home.
 * Lauryn Funteas-**

Katie Greune- The following lesson plans all utilize the Lubber grasshopper while learning about the scientific process. Students will have to research Lubber grasshoppers and then be able to determine what will be appropriate variables for their experiments. The experiment last for about a week and for each day, students will have to interpret their results and evaluate any changes that must be made for the next day. A lot of this experiment’s success/failure is controlled by the student so the results should be unique for each classroom.

Ashley Fleming- each of the following lesson plans are designed to create a habitat for the lubber grasshoppers. Each grade level is a little different, the 7th grade researches and creates a diagram and we make the habitat as a class. The 9th grade researches and makes their own habitat. The 11th grade changes a different aspect of the habitat in each group. The lesson last about 4 in class days and observations last for 3 weeks. Frank Savaglio- The lessons provided are for 7th, 9th and 11th grade. In 7th grade student's will observe the lubber grasshopper and make brochures describing the perfect environment for it. In 9th grade student's will make observations and predict what kind of adaptations the grasshopper would need if it were in an unfavorable environment. In 11th grade student's will observe and research the grasshopper. They will explain evolution by natural selection using examples from what they observe with the grasshopper.

Tim George- These lessons are designed create ecosystems for the the lubber grasshoppers. Each grade varies on skill level and length of assignment. Ranging from 7th grade just drawing an ecosystem to the 11th grade where they have to design a restoration project. The 7th grade lesson can vary from 1 to 2 days and at the upper high school level the lesson can last up two weeks.

Sam Alderfer
These exercises all deal with the scientific process particularly learning standard 11A. Each exercise has the students preform an experiment concerning the Lubber grasshoppers. The amount of scaffolding provided in the 7th grade lesson is substantial, it decreases in the 9th grade lesson, and the 11th graders are free to come up with their own research project with a great deal of autonomy.

Jill Dorbeck

These activities take a look at animal defenses especially focusing the lubber grasshopper. The 7th grade activity is highly guided, 9th contains a little more independent work creation, and 11th grade will be designing their own experiment that will look at grasshopper defenses.