1. Buggy Bayou! Bugs in our Backyard

2. We will go on a bug hunt at school and at home to collect bugs for a project we will be doing for the next six weeks. This is the beginning of our study of bugs in the bayou!

3. To collect 5 different insects or spiders, find their names, and make a bug display out of them. You have six weeks to do it!

4. Not only will we be making bug displays, but we will also be making PowerPoint presentations on the computer, using a microscope to study a bug, and writing reports about bugs. Don’t worry—you will have a helper. A 6 th grader (who is knowledgeable in PowerPoint) will be assigned to each of you to help you on the computer.

5. At the end of our study we will present all of our new information to your parents! Let’s Get Started…

6. Step 1: As we learn about bugs, we will research in books and on the internet, so take careful notes in your journal. You will use these later for your reports.

7. Step 2 Share your journal entries with your group. Discuss which bugs you would like to write about or make a PowerPoint about.

8. Each student will: Use a microscope; label the parts of an ant. Compare/Contrast insects and arachnids; label the life cycle of a butterfly. Make a PowerPoint with 5-7 slides. Write a report. Make a bug display. Present bug displays/reports to parents. Step 3

9. For the first week, we will collect our bugs and learn about bugs. For the second and third weeks, we will research in books and on the internet. We will write down all information in our journals. For the third and fourth weeks, we will make a PowerPoint. For the fifth week, we will write our reports. For the sixth week, we will practice presenting our reports, and we will make our bug displays. Step 4

10. Science Journal You will turn in your journal every week to show me what you have learned. Weekly entries will be assessed by your teacher.

11. You will be assessed on your reports and PowerPoint presentations with a rubric. You will also be assessed with your oral presentation of your report with a rubric.