April Fools' Insects Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will identify three insects that trick other animals to survive.

 

Science Focus:

insects, animal adaptations

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, text evidence

 

Page 4 Skill:

compare diagrams

 

Vocabulary:

camouflage, disguise, revolting

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.1 writing; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Lexile Level: 

540L

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Provide students with some background on insect adaptations.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Insects, Insects Everywhere!” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one thing that all insects have?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Have students ever seen an insect that looked like something else?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on the cover: “Think about how each insect’s trick helps it.”

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think skill sheet. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are camouflage, disguise, and revolting.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • The “Build an Insect” game reinforces the body parts of insects while letting kids create their own unique bugs!

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to deepen students’ understanding of the words camouflage, disguise, and revolting.

Editor’s Pick: Text Evidence/Writing (15 min.)

  • The A Letter From Norbert Know-It-All skill sheet provides a fun way to teach text evidence. Students will enjoy hearing this very confused character’s ideas about insects before correcting his errors. Send Norbert responses to norbert@scholastic .com. Norbert will write back!

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on insect adaptations:

  • “This Bug Stinks!” May/ June 2021. Students will discover why stinkbugs smell so bad and why they are a problem. 
  • “World’s Toughest Bugs,” March 2022. Students will learn how three bugs stay safe from predators.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 650L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 480L