Cannon Fall STEM Book Challenge
How to Build an Insect by Roberta Gibson
About the Book
How to Build an Insect by Roberta Gibson
Listen to a read aloud of the book here:
About the Challenge
Note: spiders, harvestmen, scorpions, mites, and ticks are not insects
Step 1
Step 2
- Research an insect
- Use your Cannon Entomologist planning sheet to plan your insect model.
- be sure to include all the structures (body parts): head, thorax, abdomen, mouthparts, legs, eyes, wings etc.
Grade Level Insect Assignments
Kinder
You are an entomologist studying insect engineers (insects that build).
learn about insects that build
examples: ants, termites, bees, mud dauber wasps, paper wasps, dragonflies
pick one insect that builds
draw it and label all its body parts
build a model of it out of recyclable materials
First Grade
You are an entomologist studying insect pollinators and insect garden helpers.
- learn about insect pollinators and insect garden helpers
- examples: butterflies, ladybugs, soldier beetles, praying mantis, lacewings
- pick one insect pollinator or garden helper that interests you
- draw it and label all its body parts
- build a model of it out of recyclable materials
Second Grade
You are an entomologist studying insects that sting and insects harmful to plants.
- learn about stinging insects and insects that are harmful to plants
- examples: wasps, bees, fire ants, hornets, yellow jackets, bean beetles, japanese beetles, potato beetles
- pick one stinging insect or insect harmful to plants that interests you
- draw it and label all of its body parts
- build a model of it out of recyclable materials
Third Grade
You are an entomologist studying insects that are experts at camouflage.
- learn about insects that are experts at camouflage
- examples: dead leaf mantis, dead leaf butterfly, walking stick, peppered moth, assassin bug
- pick one insect that uses camouflage that interests you
- draw it and label all of its body parts
- build a model of it out of recyclable materials
Fourth Grade
You are an entomologist studying insects that buzz or light up (bioluminescent).
- learn about buzzing or bioluminescent insects
- examples: cicadas, crickets, katydids, grasshoppers, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, glowing click beetles, glowing cockroaches, railroad worms, fireflies
- pick one buzzing or bioluminescent insect that interests you
- draw it and label all of its body parts
- build a model of it out of recyclable materials
4th graders are encouraged to add circuits for light or sound to their model
Fifth Grade
You are an entomologist studying insects that are invasive or carry disease.
- learn about insects that are invasive or carry disease
- examples: mosquitos, black flies, sand flies, deer flies, kissing bugs, fleas, lice, tsetse flies, stink bugs, termites, cockroaches, bed bugs
- pick one invasive or disease carrying insect that interests you
- draw it and label all of its body parts
- build a model of it out of recyclable materials
5th graders are encouraged to add moving parts to their model
Step 3
- Take your planning sheet home, share your design with your family and gather your supplies.
- If you need help with supplies, come to Ms. Wagner in the Learning Commons. She will let you shop in the Makerspace for recyclable things you might need.
- Build the design you planned. Be sure to follow the constraints!
Cannon Entomologist Insect Challenge Constraints
- Use recyclable materials to build your insect model.
- Your insect model can be no larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches.