Insects and Butterflies LITERATURE FOCUS UNIT EDU 315 BY: LUKE CHARLEY

Literature Selection Fiction The Very Hungry Caterpillar- by Eric Carle The Alphabet Tree- by Leo Lionni James and the Giant Peach- by Roald Dahl The Very Quiet Cricket- by Eric Carle When the Butterflies Came- by Kimberly Griffiths Little Olivia and the Butterfly Adventure- by Natalie Shaw The Grouchy Ladybug- by Eric Carle Pattern Bugs- by Trudy Nicholas Harris Bugs!- by David T. Greenberg Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices- by Paul Fleischman

Literature Selection Nonfiction Insect- by Lawrence A. Mound Bug Music: How Insects Gave Us Rhythm and Noise- by David Rothenberg Insect Homes- by Bobbie Kalman Flight of the Butterflies- by Roberta Edwards Butterflies and Moths- Eyewitness Book A Crackle of Crickets: A Compilation of Insect Collective Nouns- by Patrick George The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe- by Loree Griffin Burns In the Trees, Honeybees!- by Lori Mortensen

Theme Study  Students will take part in a thematic unit on insects. This unit will integrate reading and writing with social studies, science, mathematics, art, music, and physical education.  Students will develop an understanding of insects and butterflies, the life cycle of these creatures, traits that they have, and the variety of insects and butterflies in the world.

Language Arts: Reading Activities Students will read various fiction and non-fiction books and poetry about insects and butterflies through silent reading, partner reading and poetry, and through reading aloud. Students will read the poems from the book Joyful Noise to the class, as well as poems that they create. The teacher will read aloud from James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. Students will share their insect observation journals during Daily 5 partner reading

Language Arts: Writing Activities Students will write entries in their journals while observing the classroom butterfly garden Students will write about an experience that they have had with insects or butterflies, and how they reacted. Students will write their own poetry from the viewpoint of an insect of their choice. Students will write out labels for the body parts of the insect diagrams located on the classroom walls. Students will journal about insects and bugs in their scientific journals.

Language Arts: Speaking Activities Students will have grand conversations about insects with the whole class. Students will share information with their peers about their favorite insect that they have chosen. Students will recite poetry with a peer and present it to the class. Students will have small table discussions about the insects that each table is observing.

Language Arts: Listening Activities Students will listen to recordings of insects in the classroom. Students will listen as the teacher reads aloud to them from the book James and the Giant Peach. Students will attentively listen to their peers as they share their journal observations, poems, and insect stories. Students will listen to their peers’ opinions and viewpoints during small table talks and grand conversations.

Language Arts: Viewing Activities Students will view insects that they find around them on nature walks. Students will examine differences in insects and butterflies at the observation station in the classroom. Students will view the illustrations in the book about insects and butterflies. Students will view and compare differences in butterfly wings. Students will enjoy the insect and life cycle of a butterfly art that is completed by themselves and their classmates. Students will view ants in the ant farm in the classroom. Students will view a structure of an ant’s home on the computer. Students will observe new words on the word wall, as well as the listed insect body parts on the classroom walls.

Language Arts: Visually Representing Activities Students will take photographs of insects that they see on their nature walk. Students will label the insect diagrams located on the classroom walls. Students will create tissue paper butterflies to hang around the classroom.

Science Activities Students will create a life cycle model of a butterfly. Students will explore how insects use their sense of smell by identifying different containers with different scents in them. Students will create a diagram comparing different insects. Students will observe how a cocoon functions for a caterpillar. Students will pbserve how different insects move, and the structures of their body that allows them to move that way. Journal similarities and differences. Students will create a KWL chart about insects.

Mathematics Activities Students will calculate how far butterflies have to travel to get to Mexico during migration season. Students will identify symmetry in the wings of butterflies and in the bodies of insects. Students will estimate the number of ants in specific ant colonies. Students will graph their favorite insects as a class. Students will graph the weight of insects in relation to the insect’s size. Students will estimate and then determine how much weight they could carry if they were as strong as a goliath beetle…ant…cricket… ect.

Social Studies Activities Students will identify the path that butterflies take to Mexico for migration. Students will locate different climates in the world and the insects that are present in each of these climates. Students will discuss which insects are good for the environment and which insects may be harmful. Students will learn about the effects that people have on insect population.

Music and Art Activities Students will read the book provided about how insects make their own music. Students will demonstrate how crickets and other insects make music by rubbing objects together. Students will listen to recordings of insects making music. Students will sing the life cycle of a butterfly song. Students will create a three dimensional diagram of the butterfly life cycle. Students will create tissue paper butterflies. Students will create own insects out of recyclable materials. Students will make insect window sun-catchers out of melted crayon shavings and wax paper.

Physical Education Activities Students will participate in a cocoon sack race with peers. Students will play insect tag. Students will play line tag to simulate paths in an ant hill. Students will jump from one spot to another to demonstrate how some insects move.

Technology --Insect sounds. kids/ --Monarch butterfly migration kids/ --Ant colony nests Insect video Create own “super bug” out of multiple insects. Try to choose best combinations for it’s survival Interactive insect sites. Newspapers. Magic School Bus Video- Insects Digital Photography.

Language Arts Strategies Connecting- Students will connect information learned from books and projects to students’ own lives. Consider Audiences- Students will be aware of the audience that they are writing to when journaling. Observing- Students will observe peer’s presentations as well as the insects themselves to deepen understanding. Proofread-Students’ entries into journals will be proofread and revised before completing their final draft. Take Notes- Students will take notes in their journals while observing insects and reading their own books about insects.

Grouping Patterns Large Groups- Nature walks, grand conversations, Venn diagrams in class, reading aloud from James and the Giant Peach, viewing videos, completing the word wall, labeling insect parts, butterfly life cycle song, listening to insect sounds, physical education activities. Small Groups- Table talk discussions, Daily 5 peer conversations, partner poetry, measuring insect strength. Individual- Journaling, writing stories, writing poetry, identifying symmetry, creating butterfly life cycle art, observations of butterfly and ant farm in classroom.

Time Schedule Monday- Introduction to insects, KWL charts and finding level of knowledge of the students. Start reading James and the Giant Peach. Tuesday- Nature walk, observations of insects, pictures on the walk. Technology interactive site for students to go on individually. Poetry reading from books in class. Wednesday- Butterfly migration video, life cycle project, continued observation of butterfly garden. Cocoon sack races and symmetry lessons. Thursday- Music, insect sounds. Video of ant hill, observation of ant farm. Large group activity to observe insects and how they move. Venn diagram completed. Friday- Ant tag, presentation of poetry and stories, continued reading of James and the Giant Peach. Interactive site for creation of own “super bug.”

Assessments Journal entries and KWL Chart- Rubric. Portfolio of art work- Tissue paper butterflies, wax window sun-catchers, diagram of life cycle. Participation of the students in physical education as well as music activities. Reading of student journals and their observations made at the observation station. Analytical Writing Traits Rubrics completed as well. Word Wall-Insect spelling test. Mathematics and Social Studies worksheet checklist- graphing insects, insect strength, route of butterflies to Mexico.