Science Lesson Plans for Winter: What Do Insects Do in Winter?

Bugs are a fascinating science topic for children. We often study bugs in spring and summer when they are more visible and active and sometimes even annoying. In the fall we often study the changing leaves and migration of birds. As winter approaches science lesson plans often focus on hibernation and snow. Following science through seasons is a great way to teach but kids. However, it is important to teach kids that bugs and insects continue to exist through out the winter too. With the science lesson plans, bugs might be out of sight but they won't be out of mind.

Begin with brainstorming

Have students make a list of all of the bugs and insects that they can name. Even though you may not be able to come up with a complete list for the whole alphabet, you can combine language arts skills by making the list in alphabetical order.

Review Grouping Animals

Insects are part of a group of animals called invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals without backbones. This group includes mollusks, insects and sponges. These animals are grouped together by what they don't have (a backbone) rather than what they have in common.

Review- Can you list the other 5 groups of animals?

Answer- fish, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, birds

Building vocabulary

These are some helpful terms for studying insects in winter.

Freezing temperatures

Frost

Migration

Hibernation

Anti-freeze

Glycerol

What do insects do in winter?

When the weather gets colder insects have a hard time flying. They need the sun's warmth. They also can't find food so insects have to adapt. Some will "freeze" for winter, some will nest in a safe place for winter, others will migrate to warmer climates and some will lay their eggs before dieing before winter. Here are some examples:

Many ants live in an underground nest during winter to avoid the frosty temperatures above ground. They avoid the top "rooms" of their house.

Ladybugs will huddle together in a dry place to avoid freezing during winter. They will hibernate by resting, breathing slowly and not eating or drinking. Those that make it will lay eggs in spring.

Dragonflies will die before winter but not before they deposit their eggs in warm mud to hatch in spring.

The Field Cricket buries her eggs in tiny holes in the ground before winter comes. They have glycerol, a type of anti-freeze that will keep them soft all winter.

Wooly Bear Caterpillars will actually freeze solid for winter in a safe place and thaw out and move again in spring. These caterpillars also have a natural anti-freeze in that keeps them from freezing to early.

The Monarch butterfly will south to warmer climates for the winter.

Honeybees will huddle together and a colony can eat up to a pound of honey per week in winter to have the energy to survive.

Some great books for teaching about insects in winter:

Bright Beetle by Rick Chrustowski

Chirp! Chirp! Crickets in Your Backyard by Nancy Lowen

Bugs and Bugsicles by Amy S. Hansen

Bugs and Bugsicles also include two science experiments on freezing and anti-freeze.

After your students have learned more about what bugs do in winter, you can create an "Insects in Winter" bulletin board or mural displaying each insect in their safe winter habitat to reinforce and show off the new science concepts learned. You can find some free printable bug coloring pages here.

Sources:

Personal teaching experience

http://animals.about.com/od/zoologybasics/tp/sixbasicanimalgroups.htm

http://www.coloring.ws/insect.htmBugs and Bugsicles by Amy S. Hansen