K-12 Recommended Resources, by Taxonomic Group
Blattodea (cockroaches)
- BugGuide.Net - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Coleoptera (beetles)
- BugGuide.Net - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
- Insects as Food - recipes for edible insects
- The Firefly Files - from Ohio State University. Fireflies/lightning bugs/glowworms are really beetles.
Collembola (springtails)
- BugGuide.Net - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Dermaptera (earwigs)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Diptera (flies)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Ephemeroptera (mayflies)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Hemiptera (true bugs)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Homoptera (aphids, scale insects, leafhoppers, cicadas)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
- Kids' Cicada Hunt - follow two young brothers as they hunt for cicada nymphs, watch cicadas shed their skins, discover cicada predators, and try to solve cicada mysteries.
Hymenoptera (wasps, ants, bees)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
- Dr. Frog's Recipe Page - "frog-approved" insect recipes
- Honeybee - students identify honeybee responsibilities inside the hive, importance of the honeybee to humans, and discover how honeybees communicate. Pre-K to 4th grade
- The Bumblebee Pages - life cycle, frequently asked questions, behavior
Isoptera (termites)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
- Insects as Food - - recipes for edible insects
- Monarch Watch - including info on monarch butterfly biology, literature and current projects
- The Butterfly Site - butterfly topics including rearing information, childrens' activities, images
- The Manduca Project - student explorations of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta
Mantodea (mantids)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Mecoptera (scorpionflies and hangingflies)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Neuroptera (lacewings, ant lions, dobsonflies)
- Antlion Pit: A Doodlebug Anthology - a collection of resources related to the antlion. Videos of feeding behavior and metamorphosis. Antlions in culture
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
- Dr. Frog's Recipe Page - - "frog-approved" insect recipes
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)
Phasmida (stick insects)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Plecoptera (stoneflies)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Psocoptera (psocids)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
Trichoptera (caddisflies)
- BugGuide.Net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - community site with user-submitted images for identification, information on insect groups
General
- Alphabetical Insects - students find the names of insects that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Elementary-middle school
- Arthropod Proverbs - A collection of pithy sayings mentioning arthropods, organized taxonomically.
- Backyard Bugs - Natural history of the monarch butterfly, dragonfly, praying mantis, stick insects, luna moth, viceroy butterfly, antlion, caddisflies, whirligig beetle, giant water bug, hickory horned devil caterpillar, millipedes, centipedes, tarantulas, honey bee, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies via macro photography videos. Included ctivities are designed for 5-10 year olds. $79.95.
- Benefit of Manuka Honey - An informational site that describes the benefits of using Manuka Honey for medicinal purposes.
- Bugscope - students control a scanning electron microscope to view insects over the web. From the University of Illinois
- Cultural Entomology Digest - beliefs and symbolism of insects within all facets of the humanities.
- Elementary Urban IPM Curriculum - exploring urban integrated pest management. K-6
- Entomological Expedition: Research and Collecting in the Dominican Republic - local biologist with knowledge and expertise of habitats and localities of the insects (mainly Lepidoptera and Coleoptera) offers services for entomological collecting expeditions.
- Entomology Science Education
- Gordon's Wonderful World of Insects - good, though ad-infested, information on many aspects of entomology by Gordon Ramel
- Insect Images: The source for entomology images - A fully-relational, taxonomically-based web information system operated by The University of Georgia Bugwood Network that makes over 24,000 quality images on a broad array of entomological subjects, subdisciplines, program types, damage symptoms and identification characteristics on more than 4,700 subjects available for download or other no-cost educational uses. The overall objective is to provide an accessible and easily used archive of high quality images related to insects and entomology, with particular emphasis on educational applications. Images are available from more than 80 countries and from across North America and are used in all levels of educational programs and uses.
- Insect Macrophotography by M. Plonsky - Very large collection of insect and spider images with lots of extreme closeups.
- Insect Photography Search - Search thousands of entomological images and species, all at one site. Browsing through the archive is free, and there are no access charges, registration requirements, or usage limits. It is a great source for reference or entertainment.
- Insects did it First - bungee jumping, air conditioning, and chemical warfare were done first by insects
- Insects, Disease, and History - devoted to understanding the impact arthropods and diseases have had on historical events
- Life Cycles - students will identify the life stages of four different insects and will care for and observe the life cycle of one species. Pre-K to 4th grade
- Most Wanted Bugs - insect microscopy by Dennis Kunkel. Includes rap sheets.
- School IPM Lesson Plans - K-12 lesson plans that teach integrated pest management concepts
- Science Snoops - The Monarch Case - Students play the role of new researchers as they work to solve each life science mystery case as part of a team of real and virtual scientists. Virtual co-workers are portrayed by actors who interact with the student to give information, assign work, and give feedback on students' performance.
- Teacher/Parent Resource Materials - including Wee Beasties, and entomology newsletter for teachers, and lesson plans
- The Kansas School Naturalist
- Using Live Insects in Elementary Classrooms - lesson plans using insects to teach a variety of subjects: math, language arts, music, art, drama, science and health
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