Orkin

http://www.orkin.com/learningcenter/kids_and_teachers.aspx

This website has SO MUCH! You wouldn't think that a pest control company would be so interested in education, but they really have some worthwhile resources!

http://www.orkin.com/downloads/lesson-plans-k-2.pdf-This link provides teachers with several lesson plans that can be implemented in the classroom.

http://www.orkin.com/downloads/seeing-is-believing.pdf

http://www.orkin.com/downloads/a-day-in-the-life-of.pdf

http://www.orkin.com/downloads/youre-on-insect-camera.pdf

The previous three links provide teachers with great activities to engage students, and provides them with accurate information as well.

Possibilities for Field Trips and Assemblies

http://www.sfzoo.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=14060&orgkey=1875

*copied from the website:

ZooMobile Outreach

ZooMobile offers an up-close, hands-on experience with live animals in your classroom. ZooMobile programs have been developed for specific grade levels in accordance with the themes listed in the California Science Content Standards. For those who prefer to come to the Zoo, Close Encounters offer the same lessons in our Zoo classrooms.

ZooMobile runs from September through mid-June each year. Each lesson can accommodate up to 35 students, and up to four presentations can be offered on a single day. Call (415) 753-8123 to schedule a ZooMobile visit.

These offer students the opportunity to experience animals in a real, visual way. While they dont necessarily focus just on insects, they compare insects and other animals.

Happy Hollow also does assemblies that combine learning about insects with learning about other animals.

http://www.hhpz.org/index.cfm/id/49/

Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Insects!
What makes a mammal a mammal, a bird a bird, a reptile a reptile, or an insect an insect? Discover the characteristics that define each of these animal groups. Classes may be taken as a 4 week series with 1 animal group discussed per class or all 4 animal groups in one class.

Foss Science

Foss Science is an "inquiry based science curriculum" I have seen it used in several schools in the area. Generally, kits are sent to schools, and the teachers use the materials to teach units that go along with the CA Science content standards.

http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html takes you to see all the units Foss has, and links you to activities for each of the units.

The Insects Module has some fun activites. The insect hunt lets students learn about insects, and identifying them. The Media link includes videos of insects doing various things. Ask A Scientist provides various questions kids may ask, and scientific informative answers.

There is also a link for Teacher/Parent Info. This link provides a Home/School Connection, which provides parents with extension activities to do at home, Vocabulary,which provides a glossary of terms in English and in Spanish, and Teacher Resources which includes Duplication Masters, teacher prep videos and audio stories

This website is a GREAT resource, and even if your school doesnt use Foss, you can still access these awesome resources!

http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/Insects/index.html

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/bugs.htm

This website has links to some great activities to do with kids that could go along with any lesson about insects. (They also provide resources for other topics as well!)

http://www.west-ext.com/fun-stuff/colorbook.pdf - This link provides a pdf of a coloring book where students can color pictures of several different insects, and it can be a great lead in to learning about and comparing insects.

http://www.west-ext.com/fun-stuff/InsectTrivia1.pdf - This pdf is a sheet of trivia that teachers can use as an introductory activity, to see what the kids already know, or to get them excited for things they are going to learn!

http://www.allaboutnature.com/subjects/insects/printouts.shtml -This website has many different worksheets and activities that cover various insects and various topics related to insects. I especially like the Insect Report Chart Printout found at:http://www.allaboutnature.com/graphicorganizers/animalrpt/insect.shtml. However, only a thumbnail version is available, unless you become a member of Enchanted Learning. Still, it provides teachers with an idea of an activity where students can research about an insect, and share what they've learned with the class.

The site also has several printouts where students can label body parts of various insects, which can be a great way to compare and contrast them, as well as more coloring pages.

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/bugs.htm-

Introduction to this collection of resources

This collection of resources is meant to supplement a unit on insects for students. Through this unit, students should know:

-What makes an animal an insect

-Characteristics that distinguish insects from other insects

-Body parts of insects, and be able to identify them on a picture

The following activities and resources are great ways to make this unit more engaging, and to help students develop a more well-rounded, multifaceted understanding of the topic.