Materials
6 or more widemouth, clean, clear plastic jars
with lids (peanut butter or mayonnaise jars work well for this activity)
6 or more beanbag insects
basket
Instructions
Gather the pictures and toy insects and animals. Fold each piece of
construction paper and label one half "Insects" and the other half "Other
Animals."
What to Do
1. Explain that insects are animals, but many animals are not insects. Insects have
six legs. Count the legs on animals together to decide which are insects.
2. Pass out the toy bugs and animals, or pictures of insects and animals. Ask the
children to study these and decide whether they are insects.
3. Explain that you will classify them into two categories and define these.
4. Demonstrate how to do this by classifying one insect and one animal for the
children. Have the children classify their toys individually. The rest of the class
can help decide if the classification is correct.
5. When everyone has had a turn, give each child a packet of pictures and a
construction paper chart. Assist them while they glue the pictures into the
correct locations.
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
* Be careful to use pictures of adult insects, not larval stages.
Assessment
Consider the following:
* Can the children count the numbers of legs insects on the insects and other
animals?
* Do the children classify the pictures correctly?
