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CREEPY
CRAWLERS EVERYWHERE!
MASTER
TEACHER: Helen Mebane
GRADES:
6 – 8
TIME
ALLOTMENT: 1 fifty minute class session
OVERVIEW:
In this lesson, students do
not have to be frightened
to go exploring outside anymore. They will be able to determine which few
venomous insects or spiders actually can harm them. The video contains excellent
close-ups photos of these insects or spiders along with first aid treatment if
needed. Students will also learn how to avoid these insects or spiders since
most are beneficial to man. Each student will then develop a poster of his or
her arthropod for student
body to read and learn its information.
SUBJECT
MATTER: Science
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to:
·
Describe the general
characteristics of the venomous insects or spiders
·
Explain how to avoid venomous
insects or spiders
·
Describe first aid treatment if
bitten or stung by an venomous insect or spider
·
Determine if the insect or spider
is harmful or beneficial to man
·
Develop a poster of his/her
arthropod for others to view
STANDARDS:
(8.1) Scientific processes. The student conducts field and laboratory
investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices.
The student is expected to
A. demonstrate safe
practices during field and laboratory investigations;
(8.2) Scientific processes. The student uses scientific inquiry methods
during field and laboratory investigations.
B. collect data by
observing and measuring;
(E) construct graphs,
tables, maps, and charts using tools including computers to organize, examine,
and evaluate data.
(8.6) Science concepts. The student knows that interdependence occurs
among living systems. The student is expected to:
(C) describe
interactions within ecosystems.
(8.14) Science concepts. The student knows that natural events and human
activities can alter Earth systems. The student is expected to:
(B) analyze how natural
or human events may have contributed to the extinction of some species;
MEDIA
COMPONENTS: Video
ETV Series-Venomous Insects, Spiders and Other Arthropods #101
WEBSITES:
Venomous (Stinging) Creatures- Insects
http://pelotes.jea.com/venstinghtm.htm
Brief explanation and photos of honeybees, yellow jackets & sounds they
make, and centipedes
Venomous Creature- Arachnids
http://pelotes.jea.com/venarac.htm
Brief explanation and photos of black widow
spider, brown recluse spider, and scorpions
Arthropods Coloring Pages
http://pelotes.jea.com/ancoltran.htm
Brief explanation on how to color each of these arthropods: centipede, brown
recluse, black widow, Io moth caterpillar, Tussock moth caterpillar, honey bee,
yellow jacket, scorpion, Saddleback moth caterpillar, and Puss moth
caterpillar. Arthropods Coloring Pages
Insect and Pest Series Index
from Ohio State University
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/hyg-fact/2000/index.html
Brief explanation and photos of brown recluse spider, black widow spider,
tarantulas, centipedes, yellow jackets, bee and wasp stings, paper wasp and
hornets, mud daubers, cicada killers wasp, honeybees in house walls, African
honeybee and many
MATERIALS:
Activity Sheet #1 – one per student
Vocabulary Sheet - one per student
PREP
FOR TEACHERS:
Bookmark websites, cue videotape to correct starting point, handouts (Activity
#1, Vocabulary) should be ready to distribute.
INTRODUCTORY
ACTIVITY:
Step 1: Distribute Vocabulary Sheet to students and familiarize students with
vocabulary terms.
LEARNING
ACTIVITY:
Step 1: To give students a FOCUS FOR
MEDIA INTERACTION, say, "While you are viewing this video, look for the
answers to questions on the Activity Sheet #1. "We will be describing the
characteristics of some venomous insects and spiders. Have any of you ever been
bitten or stung by a venomous insect or spider and then you had to be taken to
the hospital for treatment? If so, describe what happened? How many of you feel
that all insects or spiders should be killed immediately? If so, raise your
hands. Hopefully, at the end of this video, you will learn how to avoid these
insects since most of them are beneficial to man.
Step 2. Begin the video when the narrator says, "Spiders, scorpions,
bees, and wasps are all arthropods." Arthropod is the scientific name for a
group of invertebrates with jointed appendages.
Step 3. Pause the video when you see a scorpion - Class Arachnida
and Order Scorpionida on the screen. Answer question #1 from activity sheet 1.
Out of _____ species only one is venomous which occurs in southern _____and
adjacent states. (40, Arizona) The sting is no worse than a bee sting. Scorpions
are roaming hunters that prey on other arthropods, which paralyze with their
venom with their stinger located at the end of the jointed appendage. Young
scorpions are born alive and are carried on their mothers’
backs. They may be found in kitchens and bathrooms. Treatment is to
apply an ice pack the area where stung. Consult
a physician if in Arizona. Resume
video.
Step 4. Pause the video when you see bees, wasps, and ants - Class Hexapoda
and Order Hymenoptera on the screen. They are beneficial to humans. Bees are
extremely important as pollinators of plants. Wasps kill enormous amount of
detrimental insects. They are natural biological control. Answer question #2.
What is the difference between a bumblebee and a honeybee? (Bumblebees –
Family Apidae are large, fuzzy black and yellow, their nests are in the ground.
Honeybees – Family Apidae are smaller and brownish color, their nests are
above ground and larger colonies.) Resume
video.
Step 5. Pause the video when you see yellow jackets on the screen. Their
nests are several tiers of hexagonal paper shells. Answer question #3. List four
areas in which yellow jackets may build their nests. (Their nests may be built
in the ground,
in hallow trees,
or in walls of buildings, in the open, or under porches, or attached to
branches.) Resume video.
Step 6. Pause the video when you see a paper wasp - Polistes sp. on the screen. Answer question #4. What is the
difference between a paper wasp and a yellow jacket? (A paper wasp is longer and
more slender than the yellow jacket.) It is found in building eves and in sheds.
Resume video.
Step 7. Pause the video when you see a solitary bee and wasp on the screen.
Answer question #5. Under what conditions, do solitary bees and wasps like to
sting humans? (Most species are harmless and never sting unless it is grabbed or
stepped on.) Resume video.
Step 8. Pause the video when you see a mud dauber - Sceliphron caementarium on the screen. Answer question #6. What do
mud dauber place
into its nests for its young to eat? (It constructs its nest out of mud and
then places spiders and insects near this nest to feed
its young.) Small nest cause needless concern to homeowners. Resume
video.
Step 9. Pause the video when you see a cicada killer - Sphecius speciosus on the screen. Answer question #7. Are cicada
killers harmful to man? (They are gigantic wasps, which are harmless, and their
nests are on the ground.) They capture cicadas to feed their young. Resume
video.
Step 10. Pause the video when you see a velvet ant - Family Mutillidae
on the screen. Answer question #8. Are velvet ants really ants and what do they
eat? (They are actually wasps but the wingless females resemble ants. They are
predacious on other wasps and bees.) If stepped on they will defend themselves
and they have an extremely painful sting. They should not be handled since they
are beneficial, they should be avoided and not destroyed. Resume video.
Step 11. Pause the video when you see many fire ants - Solenopsis sp. on the screen. Workers repeatedly sting. Answer
question #9. Why is the fire ants’ bite so painful? (They grip their victims
with their jaws and inserted their stingers and eject venom.) They are small but
their sting is excruciating painful and it can cause serious reaction to those
who are allergic. Fire ants colonies live beneath the ground and construct large
mounds in fields. Resume video.
Step 12. Pause the video when you see harvest ants - Pogonomymex sp. on the screen. Answer question #10. What is the
difference between fire ants and harvest ants? (Harvest ants are much larger and
their nests are flat and in a circular path with bare ground where they have
consumed the vegetation.) Best way to avoid being stung is to recognize their
ant nest.
Step 13. Pause the video when you see pictures of bees, wasps, and ants on
the screen. Answer question #11. What is the best treatment when a honeybee
stings you? (Treatment is to remove the honeybee stinger. Wash with soap and
water. An ice pack applied to the area will keep down the swelling and reduce
pain and itching. Another helpful remedy is to use a paste of baking soda and
water. Elevate affected limb. Get analgesic and antihistamine.) Always use
parental guidance whenever taking any medication and consult a physician for
allergic reactions. Answer question #12. What are some symptoms for those who
are allergic to bee stings? (For those who are allergic, even a single sting can
be life threatening. Symptoms include difficulty breathing or swallowing,
hoarseness, nausea and dizziness.) Medical treatment should be obtained
immediately. Resume video.
Step 14. Pause the video when you see a puss caterpillar - Order Lepidoptera
and Family Megalopygida on the screen.
It has hollow venomous hairs that cause severe irritation when they penetrate
the skin. Answer question #13. What is the best way to remove the venomous hair
of a puss caterpillar from someone’s skin? (Treatment is to repeat stripping
with tape to remove the spines.) Pack the area with ice and make a paste of
baking soda and water. Resume video.
Step 15. Pause the video when you see a centipede - Class Chilopoda
on the screen. This multi-segmented worm has one pair of legs per segment. It
can be ten inches long and has two venomous powerful claws located behind the
head. It is active at night and hides under rocks or cracks during the day.
Answer question #14. When camping, what should you do to avoid being bitten by a
centipede? (When camping, shake the sleeping bags and clothing and do not walk
around barefooted at night.) Treatment is to wash with soap and water. Then
apply 10% ammonia solution or apply cool, wet epsom salt dressing. Check if
victim is analgesic. Resume video.
Step 16. Pause the video when you see a wheel bug - Arilus cristatus on the screen. Answer question #15. How long does
the painful bite from a wheel bug last and is it a dangerous bite? (The bite has
an intense pain that lasts for 3 to 6 hours. The bug penetrates the skin with
its beak and injects venomous saliva normally used to kill insect prey. While
the bite is painful, it is not dangerous.) Resume video.
Step 17. Pause the video when you see a black widow spider - Latrodectus
sp. on the screen. The most common and best-known spider in the U. S. She
has a shiny, black body and a red hourglass shaped mark on the underside of the
abdomen. Answer question #16. What does the bite from a black widow spider feel
like and is it a dangerous bite? (The bite feels like a pinprick at first
becoming very painful after a few hours. Webs are built in sheltered nooks such
as dark corners of buildings, woodpiles, water meters, and dense brush.
Untreated cases can result in shock, convulsions, paralysis, and death.) Answer
question #17. How many people have died due to a black widow spider bite? (4 –
5% of untreated cases result in death.) Treatment is to consult the physician
immediately. Resume video.
Step 18. Pause the video when you see a brown recluse spider - Loxosceles
reclusa on the screen. A brown violin shaped mark on its back identifies it.
Answer question #18. List five areas in which brown recluse spiders may be
found. (It may be found under stones, bricks or lumber stored outdoors, or in
dark undisturbed indoor locations such as
attics, basements, or water heater closets.) There is little pain when it bites,
but after a few days an ulcer forms and it is very slow to heal. It often leaves
a disfiguring scar. The bite is very rarely fatal. Treatment is to consult a
physician immediately. Resume video.
Step 19. Pause the video when you see a tarantula - Order Araneae
and Family Theraphosidae on the screen. The bite hurts and it’s highly
beneficial; it’s a predator of insects and it avoids humans if left alone.
Answer question #19. Is it dangerous to handle a tarantula? (If they are
handled, the hairs on its abdomen will irritate the skin.
It is especially painful if these hairs get
into the eyes.) Treatment is none is needed. Resume video.
Step 20. Pause the video when you hear, "Arthropods are essential to the
part of living world." Answer question #20. List three things which
arthropods do that benefit man. (Some arthropods pollinate plants, consume
destructive insects, and are an essential food source for many small
vertebrates.) Remember this the next time you’re tempted to reach for the bug
spray. Stop and eject the video after you see the tarantula crawl away.
CULMINATING
ACTIVITY:
Step 1: Say, "Now that we have finished answering the Activity Sheet #1,
you are ready to begin working on your research poster of the venomous insect,
spider, or other arthropods of your choice. Using half of a regular size poster,
your poster must contain:
1. a colored drawing of your
arthropod no smaller than 15 cm x 22 cm,
2. both the scientific and
common name,
3. brief description
4. life cycle and habits,
5. bite symptoms,
6. first aid treatment,
7. how to avoid being stung or
bitten and
8. determine if the arthropod
is harmful or beneficial to man.
Here is a list of all the
insects which you viewed on the video: scorpions, bees, wasps, ants, yellow
jackets, paper wasps, mud daubers, cicada killers, velvet ants, fire ants,
harvest ants, puss caterpillars, centipedes, wheel bugs, black widow spiders,
brown recluse spiders, tarantulas.
Use the websites that I have
bookmarked to begin your research.
CROSS-CURRICULAR
EXTENSIONS:
LANGUAGE ARTS
Interview someone who has been bitten by venomous insects, spiders or other
arthropods. Write a one-page report from the interview.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Have students locate on their neighborhood’s map where they would find the
most venomous insects, spiders or other arthropods.
SCIENCE
Take the students on a field trip to a zoo such as the Brownsville zoo, Corpus
Christi zoo, or San Antonio zoo to study the general characteristics and
behaviors of some venomous insects, spiders, or other arthropods.
COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS:
Visit your local hospital and interview an emergency nurse or doctor who had to
treat someone with a spider bite from either a black widow or brown recluse. Ask questions such as, "Where was the victim when he/she was
bitten by these spiders? What did the bite feel like? How long does it take for
the bite to fully heal? What could the victim done to prevent this from ever
happening again?"
STUDENT
MATERIALS:
Activity Sheet #1 – one per student
Vocabulary Sheet – one per student
Activity Sheet #1
Name:__________________________________
Date:_____________ Period:____
Directions: Answer these questions from
viewing the video. (5 points each)
1. Out of _____ species only
one is venomous which occurs in southern __________ and adjacent states.
2. What is the difference
between a bumblebee and a honeybee?
3. List four areas in which
yellow jackets may build their nests.
4. What is the difference
between a paper wasp and a yellow jacket?
5. Under what conditions, do
solitary bees and wasps like to sting humans?
6. What do mud daubers place
into their nests for their young to eat?
7. Are cicada killers harmful
to man?
8. Are velvet ants really ants
and what do they eat?
9. Why is the fire ant's
bite so painful?
10. What is the difference
between fire ants and harvest ants?
11. What is the best treatment
when a honeybee stings you?
12. What are some symptoms for
those who are allergic to bee’s stings?
13. What is the best way to
remove the venomous hairs from someone’s skin?
14. When camping, what should
you do to avoid being bitten by a centipede?
15. How long does the painful
bite last from a wheel bug and is it a dangerous bite?
16. What does the bite from a
black widow spider feel like and is it a dangerous bite?
17. How many people have died
due to a black widow spider bite?
18. List five areas in which
brown recluse spiders may be found.
19. Is it dangerous to handle
a tarantula?
20. List three things which
arthropods do that benefit man.
VOCABULARY
Venomous
– the insect or spider is able to inflict a poisonous bite or sting.
Detrimental
– the insect or spider is able to cause damage or injury.
Hexagonal
– a six sided shape; for example a honeybee hive.
Predacious
– the insect or spider preys on other animals.
Excruciating
– the insect or spider causes intense bodily pain to its victim.
Analgesic
– a state of not being able to feel pain.
Antihistamine
– a drug, which is used to minimize the symptoms of an allergic condition.
Convulsions
– violent, involuntary contractions of muscles due to an insect’s sting or
spider’s bite.
Updated: April 01, 2008
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