I am so excited to introduce teachers to the easy to use Insect Print & Play Pack. It is just so easy to use because you just print what you need and teach with these play based FUN activities. This printable and playable pack is designed to be teacher friendly and student friendly.
Is It an Insect?
First, the initial section of this pack focuses on the question, “What is an Insect?” You can see these materials included. And easy to prep is the key, because you just print & play!
Also, as a side note, you will get TWO files. One with the cartoon images and another we more realistic insect images. You can choose which one works best for you!
Now, here are the teacher charts and student insect printables. I project the chart in the back and use the front one as my learning guide. Students can use the front printable for writing prompts to integrate the learning activities to see what they know about insects.
Here is how the chart looks projected in my class via a smart board. This also works great for virtual learning. This is an initial learning activity where I am learning what my students know and understand about insects from the start. This is a great time to read a book about insects.
Then, we got busy sorting pictures on a pocket chart into which images are insects and which are not insects. This image shows the realistic images cards.
Then, we went through our chart we made together and sorted the images for this pocket chart based on what we know is true about what is an insect and what is not an insect.
Next, we used one of these printables to reinforce what we learned about insects. This puts the images in the hands of the students.
Insect Printables with Integration Ideas
One of the joys of teaching is when you can integrate science into reading and writing. I love to use our science activities and printables into our ELA time. Here is a writing activity we used and love.
One thing I love to do is use the teacher chart and insect cards here too. These cards provide a great tool to help guide writers. You can check out some of our work below.
Where Insects Live?
Then, the next section in this pack covers where insects live. Let’s face it, as adults we know insects seem to live everywhere. And we don’t want them to live everywhere. Although it grosses us out, kids think it is cool.
Again, easy to use insect activity with easy to prep materials. Here are the teacher charts for this topic as well as the student printables.
We completed the chart together on the smart board and my students fill in the blank boxes to match it on their insect printable on the bottom.
Then, students could grab an insect card from the initial chart and we use that to drive our writing here. This student grabbed a bee card. Then they wrote “Bees live in a tree or under a rock.”
Then we can use these sorting pieces for pocket charts
This activity is a conversation we have. We knew some “bugs” walked across water or needed water, but none lived in the water. In fact, my students said they only see dead bugs floating in water. We also knew bugs were not on the sun or moon.
As a class, we thought some great things. We also knew that insects lived almost everywhere. We thought maybe insect hibernated when it was cold. Therefore, my students did not think they could live in an igloo. And students commented that they have never seen insects living inside fridges either, thank goodness.
Was I happy with my learners thoughts and how they processed information? Absolutely. Was every thought 100% accurate? No, but learning is an evolution. As we read more books about insects and learning more facts, we can change the cards around.
Why Do We Need Insects?
There are so many good reasons why we need insects. You can see the pocket chart sorting pieces.
Then we use the insect cards to talk about the way different insects help. Most insects help in more than one way.
In general, the class is not sure which insects help keep plants healthy. Bees make wax and honey, so that was easy. But they also pollinate flowers. And MOST insects are food for others.
What are the Parts of an Insect Activities?
Next, this pack also has parts of an insect pocket chart pieces and a printable.
Here is an image of all the parts printed out, cut, and organized in my favorite… colored baggies. Each section in this pack is color coded to make it easy to use, store, and use again! This is a huge help with management and sorting of these insect activities.
Want an Insect Printable Freebie?
Lastly, I have a FREEBIE for you!