Wonderful World Of Insects

By Tanjua Damon

Some find them creepy, crawly, and downright gross. But not the kindergartners and first grade students who participated in Insect Investigations, a week-long thriller about bugs.

Middle Gate second grade teacher Kirsten Strobel brought fun and excitement to the youngsters, teaching them about the different parts of insects like their mouths, bodies, eyes, and how they move. The group began the week with three rules – to have fun, to be safe, and to learn. All these goals were met on Friday, the last day of camp, which began July 16.

“It’s so fun to see what they can do. I definitely see they come together as a group,” Ms Strobel said. “The neat thing is they are from all different schools. Because they are from all different schools, they get a unique opportunity to meet others from different schools.”

Butterflies were popular insects that interested the group, as well as the crafts used to enhance what they learned about insects. Students made bug eye goggles, buzzing bees with balloons, and insects out of clay.

“We get to make things,” Zachary Stone said. “[We learned about] butterflies. They fly fast.”

Kurt Daum is fascinated by the life cycle of a butterfly. He also remembered some interesting facts about ladybugs.

“I like caterpillars. They make into a cocoon,” he said. “Then they turn into a beautiful butterfly. Ladybugs have spots to scare things away and to know how old they are.”

Most of the students preferred the insects that fly as their means of movement instead of crawlers or hoppers.

“They just fly around and don’t bother you sometimes,” Claire Miles said. “[I like] butterflies because they just fly around and they don’t hurt you.”

Insect Investigates is one program that was offered by the Newtown Continuing Education Department to keep students’ minds moving during the summer vacation. School starts August 28.