ACTIVITY 10

A-E-I-O-U: Adaptations, Ecosystems, and Insects Out of the Universe

Teaching Objectives:

1. Students will understand the concepts "ecosystem" and "adaptation."
2. Students will understand the relationship between insect body parts and the environment in which the insect lives.
3. Students will recognize insect adaptations to their environments.
4. Students will apply their knowledge of known insects and design a new insect, justifying the reasons for the particular design chosen.

Materials Needed:

• Poster board
• Colored paper
• Crayons or markers
• Cardboard boxes (optional for diorama)
• White glue

Procedure:

Define these terms for the class:

Ecosystem: a physical environment with the community of various organisms that inhabit it considered as an ecological unit. An ecosystem may be a lake, a vacant lot, a desert, etc." (1)

Adaptation: change in structure, form, or habit to fit different conditions;[Bird] wings are adaptations of the upper limbs for flight.

As a class discuss the body parts and characteristics of several common insects and how these body characteristics function to help the insects survive.

Flies	spongy mouthparts to soak up liquids
Grasshopper	spitting to escape enemies
Dragonflies	compound eyes that are used for detecting motion
Praying mantises	ability to turn their heads almost completely around to protect themselves from enemies as well as to easily see their prey

Divide the class into groups and have each group report on the body parts and characteristics of one insect order. The groups should include in their reports as many unique facts as they can about their particular order of insects.

After discussing real insects and the ecosystems that support them, ask the groups to create an ecosystem and design an insect that would survive in the ecosystem. The ecosystems can be either realistic or from the realm of science fiction, but the groups should be prepared to offer sound reasons for the designs of the insects that inhabit them.

Give the students time in class to work on their insect designs. One optional way to present the insect designs to the class would be in the form of a diorama using cardboard boxes and portraying the ecosystem in the background of the box.

Oral group reports should be given to the class in which the students describe the ecosystem they are using and the insect they designed to go in it. Care should be taken that each member of the group takes part in the oral presentation.

Display the insects around the room or somewhere in the school for other students to see.

Supplemental Activities:

Videotape the students' presentations and share them with their families or other classrooms.

Thorndike, E. L., and Barnhart, Clarence L. Thorndike-Barnhart Student Dictionary. Updated Edition. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1983.