Learning Outcomes

• The children will be enabled to look for, catch, identify and draw  different insects, found in various areas of the school grounds.
• Children will identify the various areas around the school discussing where insects could be found.
• The children will be introduced to a variety of different insects in  the classroom, noting the amount of legs, or identifying features, i.e wings etc.,
• Then go on an outdoor hunt using the pooters, draw their bug, then release the bug, return to their class and try to identify them using images on the whiteboard.
• Identify their bugs according to information sheets see link below.

Introduction

• KWL : ask what insects/bugs the children can identify. How do they know it’s a spider not a fly etc.
• Discuss the identifying features as seen on information cards available at https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/t2-s-1169-insect-information-cards
• Brainstorm where  around the school we would most likely find bugs/creatures .
• Introduce pooters, explain how to use them (which straw to suck on, not to share them etc)
• Remind children to work with partner.

Development

• Children work in pairs to  explore their chosen area on school grounds, e.g  grass, puddles, under stones, in grass, (around bug hotels, or in raised beds if applicable. )
• Children look for bugs, drawing ones that still enough to draw, eg snails, worms, ladybirds butterflies etc.
• Use pooters to examine smaller bugs like louse or small spiders,  draw what they see under the  magnified lens.

Plenary

• Children collect all items, ensure all bugs have been released.
• Return to the class room, using their own sketches, refer to the bug information cards again to identify the species.
• Using the link to Irish wildlife. ie children can identify a particular type of species e.g butterflies.
• Children discuss their findings  in the class, and walk around looking at each pairs drawn images to see if they can idetnify more.
• Complete KWL and discuss findings.