Taking a Closer Look at Spiders and Insects in Kindergarten

After a classroom visit by a stinkbug, our students became filled with a bit of fear and curiosity!

What is that?

How did it get here?

Can it hurt us?

Why is it called a stinkbug?

These questions led to a larger discussion about other creepy crawly creatures that scare us: spiders, bees, hornets and some beetles. The children talked about these different insects and spiders for several days and our next emergent study began to take shape.

Our first grade teacher, Kathy, heard that our class had a growing interest in spiders and gave our class a beautiful book called Some Spiders Jump. We were so excited to discover that it was written and illustrated by her son, Jeff Lopez!
Having a personal connection piqued the students interest even more and each child worked with a partner to write a letter to Jeff. Each pair took turns writing and drawing, and reminding each other to use the word wall and finger spaces when writing. For many, this was the first time they had written a letter and they practiced starting with a salutation and thinking of a way to end the letter Over break, the letters were mailed to Jeff in California and the class is eagerly awaiting his replies to their varied questions.

After our partner letter writing,  the resident entomologists and arachnologists looked through library and classroom books, played with insect and spider models, and searched for the real ones inside and outside.

"Why does the caterpillar turn into a butterfly?"
Anise Swallowtail Butterfly

                                        

"Do the babies look like the grown-ups?"
Macrodontia Beetle

The students had so many questions! Each student then selected an insect or spider to study more deeply. Here are just a few of the many questions each scientist has begun to think of as the research begins…

 

"Do black widow spiders spin webs? Do they bite?"

                                   

"Why does it have spikes?"
Hewitson's Blue Hairstreak Butterfly

"Why are they called honeybees?"
Honeybee

Other questions came to mind, as the kindergarten students thought carefully about the insect or spider they selected:

• How far can Monarch butterflies fly before they have to land?
• What do ladybugs eat? Do they help us?
• Why are Purple Spotted Swallowtail Butterflies green?
• Do Wolf Spiders make webs?
• How long do lady bugs live?
• Do butterflies help bees?
• What do the caterpillars of a Morpho butterfly look like?
• What do Queen caterpillars and butterflies eat?
• How do paper wasps make their nest out of paper?
• Do tarantulas spin webs?

These questions have become the foundation for a deeper exploration. Individual insect and spider research has begun at home and in school as each child works to complete an investigation into a selected creature. Once the work is complete, the research will be shared with the class and then bound into a book! Be on the look out for more information from our kindergarten research scientists.