Insects and Plants

	Insects and Plants 2^nd Grade Life Science Unit

The Insects and Plants Module provides experiences that heighten students’ awareness of the living world. They come to know firsthand the life sequences of a number of insects. Four investigations introduce an insect and students observe structures and behaviors, discuss their findings, and record observations over time. Students see the life cycle of insects unfold and compare the stages of metamorphosis exhibited by each species. At the same time, students grow a plant from seeds and observe brassica go through its life cycle to produce new seeds. Students relate these firsthand experiences to information they gather from reading about life cycles of other plants and animals.

Students will

	•	Develop a curiosity and interest in insects and flowering plants and an appreciation for them as living things.
	•	Provide for the needs of insects and plants and observe them over time.
	•	Observe the similarities and differences of the life sequences that different types of insects exhibit (simple and complete metamorphosis).
	•	Compare the life cycles of different kinds of animals and learn that organisms reproduce offspring of their own kind.
	•	Learn that some characteristics of organisms are inherited from parents and others are caused by the environment.
	•	Observe variations within a group of insects.
	•	Organize and communicate observations through drawing and writing and use bar graphs to record data.
	•	Follow oral instructions for life science investigations.
	•	Measure and record temperature in degrees Celsius.
	•	Write or draw a sequence of steps for an event.
	•	Use magnifiers to observe and draw organisms.
	•	Acquire the vocabulary associated with the structures and life cycles of animals and flowering plants.

Live Insects
PAUSD teachers may order insects for the Insects and Plants Unit from the Science Resource Center.

Kit Replacement Items
Order Form

IMC Materials
PAUSD teachers can place an online order for materials from the IMC/AV Insects Collection. (You will need your Library ID Number, available from your site librarian.)

Field Trips

	•	The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo offers outreach science classes that come to schools as well as field trips. Call 650-329-2111 for more information.
	•	The San Francisco Insect Zoo costs $3.00/student and houses many interesting insects. For more informaiton call (415) 753-7073.

FOSS Website
Insects and Plants Resources