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Family Literacy Backpacks

Family fun and learning are promoted through take-home, theme-focused backpacks. Ideas for materials and activities which can be included in these great backpacks are provided.

Insects

Caution: Before using these materials for student activities and backpacks, check all weblinks to ensure they are active and appropriate for student and family use. Visit our template and help page which explains how to download a template then copy activities from this website to create your own, unique backpack. If you use these materials, please give appropriate credit to the authoring schools. Thank you!

Nicholson Elementary

Crawfordsville Community Schools
Crawfordsville, IN

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Activity File Resource File

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English/Language Arts Academic Standards

Reading Comprehension

Reading Vocabulary

Family Activities

Family Fun Ideas

• Put together an insect collection
• Go outside and lift up a rock or stone:
  • Observe which bugs live there.
  • Count how many bugs live there.
  • Count how many bugs there are in a square inch.
• Take a hike in a nearby woods looking for insects.

Secret Forests Book Activities

• Art Activity
  Draw a camouflage animal picture.
• Language Activity
  Write about a time you tried to hide from someone.
• Hands-on Activity
  Go outside and see how many bugs you can find.

Discover Hidden Worlds: Bugs Book Activities

• Art Activity
  Draw a picture of you and your grandmother making something edible
• Language Activity
  Copy the recipe in the back of the book to keep for yourself.
• Hands-on Activity
  Using the directions provided in the back of the book make a batch of bread dough.

Bees, Wasps, and Ants Book Activities

• Language Activity
  Tell someone about a time you were stung by a bee.
• Art Activity
  Draw a picture of a bee colony.
• Hands-on Activity
  Taste something with honey.

More Pet Bugs Book Activities

• Art Activity
  Draw a picture of a bug catcher.
• Writing Activity
  Write a recipe for a bug’s favorite meal.
• Hands-on Activity
  Go outside to collect bugs.

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs Book Activities

• Art Activity
  Draw a bug eating it’s favorite meal
• Language Activity
  Describe a bug from the book and have someone find that picture.
• Hands-on Activity
  Go for a walk outside and keep a list of the different insects you see.

Insects Are My Life Book Activities

• Art Activity
  Draw a picture of one of Amanda’s favorite bugs.
• Language Activity
  Read your favorite part of the book to someone in your family.
• Hands-on Activity
  Try to do one of the activities Amanda does with bugs.

Eyewitness Insect Video Activities

• Art Activity
  Draw a picture of your favorite insect from the video and list three facts you learned.
• Language Activity
  Write a story about a day in bug’s life underground.
• Hands-on Activity
  Make a bug collection.

Books to Include

Bees, Wasps, and Ants By George S. Fitcher - Ages 8 & older Bugs, Bugs, Bugs By Jennifer Dussling - Ages 7-9 Discover Hidden Worlds: Bugs By Golden Books - Ages 8 & older Insects Are My Life By Megan McDonald - Ages 7-11 More Pet Bugs By Sally Kneidel - Ages 8 & older Secret Forests By Michael Gaffney - All ages

Web Sites for Fun

Alien Empire http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/alien-empire/introduction/3409/ This special multimedia Web companion to PBS's the three-week NATURE miniseries takes you into the bizarre, fascinating world of insects. Make an Insect Mask http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/fun/mask.html Here's how to make two paper insect masks you can wear. Silence of the Bees http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/silence-of-the-bees/introduction/38/ Research how bees are disappearing in America.

List of Additional Resources

Puzzles & Games

Stuffed Grasshopper and Dragonfly All ages

Videos

Eyewitness Insect By DK Vision

Resource Link

If you are thinking of creating a literacy backpack for bugs, here are suggested resources you can include in your backpack: bugs resources.