©CorelDRAW®9
Minibeasts is a popular theme
in Early and Middle Childhood that may include the study
of: |
- ants
- bugs
- beetles
- bees
- butterflies
and moths
- flies
- caterpillars
- centipedes
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- crickets
- cockroaches
- grasshoppers
- ladybirds
- spiders
- silkworms
- wasps
- worms
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| Studies of these
animals may be linked to their biology (lifecycles, habitats,
etc.), value or otherwise to humans, or their suitability
as pets. |
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| Website Resources |
These sites provide a mix of background for teachers and activities for students. It is rare to get a site that you can just let a child in early or middle childhood use without doing some preparatory work. |
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Teacher Sites |
- About Insects
This authoritative CSIRO site includes some great photos and diagrams of insects.
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- Insects
English Online, NZ has an integrated English/Science unit for Year 3-4 in which students are involved in a study of insects in their environment.
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- Spiders
Lesson ideas from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, USA.
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- Enchanted Learning
Includes rhymes, crafts, colouring printouts, and quizzes for young students.
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- Nature: Alien Empire
This Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) website includes information about insects, videoclips and student activities that can be used independently of the TV programs it is designed to support.
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- How Stuff Works [Life Science]
Excellent photos, although the text is suited to older primary and secondary students.
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Beautiful Beetles ABC Science
An Australian guide to beetles that are around in summer.
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| Student Sites |
These sites are simple minibeasts activities that will appeal to students. |
- Just for Fun CSIRO
Includes games and insect pictures to print and colour.
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- Roach World
Part of The Yuckiest Site on the Internet produced by Discovery Communications.
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- Worm World
Part of The Yuckiest Site on the Internet produced by Discovery Communications.
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- Microscopy-UK for Schools
Suitable for all ages, this site has amazing photographs of microscopic views of various insects and their body parts. From main page, click 'Museum' on menu bar and then select 'Insectarium' from side menu.
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| TLF Learning Objects |
TLF learning objects may be accessed through your Education system's portal. (Applies to Australia and New Zealand only.)
WA Public School teachers go to DET Portal.
Appropriate minibeast objects include: |
- Interactive games -
- Garden detective: Australian garden
- Create a creature
- Colour and black and white pictures such as -
- Some Australian insects of the Order Hemiptera
- Wing and body shapes, colour patterns and antennae of some Australian moths and butterflies
- Some Australian beetles, flies, ants, wasps and bees
- Some Australian dragonflies and damselflies
- Mating Australian sheep blowflies
- Goliath stick insect hanging from foliage
- Insect pinned in the field
- Some Australian insects exhibiting Batesian mimicry
- Native Botany Bay cockroach and introduced brown cockroach (b/w)
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