A bug’s life

Focus Questions

  1. What is the main idea of integrated pest management?
  2. What are Stephanie and Professor Bob trying do to teach people in Cambodia?
  3. Describe the devastation some insects can cause.
  4. What is a pesticide?
  5. Why are they trying to avoid using some pesticides?
  6. Some pesticides that were banned in Australia are still being used in Cambodia. True or false?
  7. What did Bob create to get kids involved in pest management?
  8. Describe the role kids are playing in teaching about `good bugs’.
  9. What are the benefits of the program Stephanie and Bob are running in Cambodia?
  10. How has your thinking changed since watching the BtN story?

A bug’s life

Remember and understand

  • Brainstorm a list of words that you associate with the word`insect’.
  • What is an insect? Come up with a definition and share it with other students.
  • Insects are a source of food for people all over the world. Entomophagy is the practice of eating insects. Research which insects are eaten by people from different cultures and why.

Apply and Analyse

  • What are the benefits of insects to humans? Consider things such as food, pollination, control of `bad bugs’. Present the information as a two minute oral presentation.
  • Identify 10 insects in the school yard. Choose one to research in detail and present the information using publishing software. The following information could be included:
    Life cycle of the insect
    What role does the insect play in the ecosystem?
    What are the benefits of your chosen bug?
  • Create a series of Power Point slides responding to the question: Why do we need insects? Students could structure their information in the following way: Why we need insects, insects found in our school yard and what we can do to encourage more insects in our school yard.

Evaluate and create

  • Write a narrative based on the topic `A bug’s life’. Choose an insect for your story to be about. It can be written for younger children (as a picture book) or for older children.
  • Create your own bugs guide for the insects you find in your school yard. Include information about:
    What the insect looks like
    Where the insect is found
    What the insect does (behaviour)
    The following weblink may be useful in creating a guide
  • Working in pairs, create a habitat for an insect to live in. Research what the needs of your insect are in order to survive. Evaluate the habitat and ask other students to give feedback about it.

Related Research Links

AusAID – Cambodia

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research – Official website

Sardi – Pests and Diseases: Biological control

Australian Museum – Insects

© ABC 2012