Insects: Grasshoppers

Wanda Williamson-Johnson       Crown Community Academy
                               2128 South St. Louis
                               Chicago IL 60628
                               (312) 534-1680

Objectives:

This lesson was geared for Kindergarten:

Students will learn how to listen and follow direction; to observe living 
things; to compare and contrast; to record and read information on a graph; to 
work in cooperative groups; addition skills; how to identify an insect; the 
characteristics of a grasshopper and the functions of the grasshopper external 
body parts. 

State Goals for Learning:

Students will learn the concept and basic vocabulary of biological, physical and 
environmental science and their application to life and work in contemporary 
technological society. 

Materials Needed:

a magnifying glass per child              green construction paper 
a number of bugs and insects              index cards  
chart paper and markers                   clothes pins
newspaper and a roll of string            masking tape
green tissue paper                        small paper fasteners
green pipe cleaners                       wiggley eyes
toilet tissue rolls                       styrofoam balls
straight pins                             black craft pom-pom balls
scissors                                  hole puncher
glue                                      styrofoam peanuts
combs                                     styrofoam cups
4 rolls of tissue                         clay
clear plastic cups                        shaving cream

Song; (Tune to: "The Farmer in the Dell")
-- The insect in the jar
   The insect in the jar
   Has six legs and three body parts. 
-- First you have the head
   Then you have the thorax
   Then have the abdomen which is connected to the thorax. 
-- The head has two eyes
   And a simple one too
   It has two feelers to touch and smell their food.
-- The mouth has large lips
   And sharp jaws in between A second pair of jaws
   Which is use for tasting things.  
-- The thorax has six legs
   And two pair of wings
   Rubbing them together is how this insect sings. 

Vocabulary:
mandibles = sharp jaws                     thorax = chest
simple eye = sees light and dark           spiracles = airway for breathing
molting = process of shedding skin         nymphs = baby grasshopper

Procedures:
1. Sing the song "The Insects in the Jar," allow students the opportunity to 
   observe what they have in the jar.  Then let them put their name on the chart
   after they predict if they have an insect in the jar or not.
2. Draw a large picture of a grasshopper on the board and label its body parts. 
3. Make a model grasshopper using toilet tissue roll.  (Project #1)
   A. Punch holes in the tissue rolls six on the bottom and one on the top.
   B. Cover roll with a thin layer of glue, roll tissue paper around it
      (same for styrofoam ball). 
   C. Take pipe cleaners, cut them in half, punch cleaners through holes,
      entering on the right side and exiting on the left side.
   D. Cut tissue and construction paper wings, then put a hole in each of them 
      in the same spot. 
   E. Line wing holes with the hole on the top of the tissue roll then put 
      paper fastener through the holes.
   F. Line front end of tissue roll with glue, then push the ball on it.
   G. Take black ball and put in the top center on the covered styrofoam ball,
      then put a straight pin through it.
   H. Put wiggley eyes on each side of the covered ball.
   I. Take short pipe cleaners and stick between the wiggley eyes.
   J. Take marker and draw on mouth.
   K. Staple back in close.
4. Make human grasshopper using oneself.  (Project #2)
   A. Read a short story about grasshoppers for background information.
   B. Make a construction paper head band.
   C. Put two holes approximately 1 inch apart from each other.
   D. Put pipe cleaners through the hole to make antennae.
   E. Tape a small green oval in the center of the band.
   F. Tape to your face construction paper mouth and feelers.
   G. Stuff stockings with newspaper.
   H. Take long string and tie at the open ends of the stocking.
   I. Tie the string around your waist (this is the third pair of legs).
   J. Take chart paper, and tissue paper wings, and put a hole through the top
      of the wings.
   K. Put paper fastener through the holes and open it up.
   L. Pin wings to the back of the shirt.
5. Make a clay model grasshopper.  (Project #3).
   Use learned skills to make clay model grasshopper.
6. Preparation for the birth and the protection of the baby grasshopper.
   (Project #4).
   A. Take clear plastic cup and fill with dirt.
   B. Place styrofoam peanut in the dirt, making sure to leave a side view of 
      the peanut.    
   C. Spray shaving cream on the top of the dirt which represents how the mother
      protects her eggs through the winter. 
7. Make human nymph (baby grasshopper).  (Project #5).  
   Take toilet tissue and wrap your partner from head to toe to illustrate a 
   baby nymph.
8. The various sounds of a grasshopper  (Project #6).
   Rub finger nail against a comb. 
   Rub two brushes together.
   Rub finger nails against styrofoam cup.

Performance Assessment:

Students should be able draw a picture of a grasshopper including all the 
details covered in the above three activities.  Students should also be able to 
label each part by sounding the words out to the best of their abilities. 
Students will be able to answer the following questions:

Name the body parts of a grasshopper.
Identify the thorax. 
What do you see on the thorax?
What do you see on the abdomen?
Where are the wings located?
Where are the feelers?
What happens when the grasshopper jumps?
Compare the baby grasshopper to the mother grasshopper?  What are the 
similarities and differences? 
Students will be able to recite poem learned about grasshoppers.

Conclusion:

Students will know the life cycle, external body parts, and the function of the 
grasshopper.