In a big world, it’s easy to overlook the smaller critters. But insects are actually the largest group of animals on Earth and they were here long before humans!
Today, there are about one million known species, or types, of insects on Earth and scientists are constantly discovering new ones. Let’s see what else we can learn about this creepy crawly class of the animal kingdom.
The following activities and resources are designed for learners at elementary and middle school levels.
Resource Packs
Use the Britannica School (Asia) Elementary level resource pack ↗ to help students learn about different types of insects. For more advanced learners, a Middle school version↗ of this resource pack is also available.
Teacher Tip:
Homes or schools in Mainland China without a VPN connection can also access this resource pack at:
Britannica School (Asia version in China) Elementary level resource pack↗
Britannica School (Asia version in China) Middle level resource pack↗
Activity
- Read the Britannica School article on “Insects”. Use information from the article and other materials in the resource pack to create an Information Profile about insects. Include information about their behaviour, habitat and appearance.
- Insects can be helpful or harmful to both people and the environment. Select an insect and explain why it is either Helpful or Harmful.
- Scientists have taken all the identified species of animals on Earth and have classified them into groups based on similar characteristics. These groups are broken down into smaller groups. The science of dividing, or classifying, living things is called taxonomy. The taxonomic insect classification is:
- Kingdom – Animalia
- Phylum – Arthropoda
- Order – Insecta
Use the CSIRO website to help you classify the ant, butterfly/moth, mantis and beetle. Complete the Classification worksheet.
These activities and resources have been created using content from Britannica School, the go-to site for safe, comprehensive student research. Contact your librarian to find out if your institution already has access. Find out more about Britannica School or set up your own free trial.
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