Grade Six Science

Invertebrates Hello Boys and Girls,

There are just a few more weeks to the close of school. Let’s make the best of them!

Last week we looked at reptiles and we revised other types of animals that we had already looked at. Did you do well in completing the exercises? Did you check your answers with your friends?

This week we will begin to look at another type of animal. Guess what class of animal we will look at. For the past few weeks we have been finding out about different types of vertebrates. (What are vertebrates?) This week we will begin an exciting investigation of invertebrates. Can you name some invertebrates? How many have you named? Now name some that you see in your home and around your yard. How many did you come up with altogether?

Did your list include any of those in the picture below?

How many of the invertebrates in the picture below can you recognize and name? Have a friendly competition with a friend.

How many were you able to name? Great! There are so many different types of invertebrates. Did you know that 97% of the animal kingdom is made up of invertebrates? Oh yes.

Invertebrates exist everywhere. They can be found in the driest desert, the wettest rain forests, frozen areas, under the oceans, everywhere. You bat away that irritable fly. You catch that mosquito that keeps singing in your ear. You gaze at the spider spinning its web. You find worms in your garden soil. These are all invertebrates.

Invertebrates do not have a backbone. They are normally tiny slow-moving animals. They do not have lungs and reproduce in a simple fashion. Do you know that they also do not produce their own food?

There are several classes of invertebrates. Can you name a few?

The first type we will find out about is insects. Read this poem about insects. Enjoy.

Insects, insects everywhere

In that crease sometimes in your chair Aren’t those some right on your pants? Oh my gosh! Why, they are ants!

Mosquitoes, flies, bugs and marabuntas

Wasps, ticks, moths and grasshoppers Ladybugs, cockroaches, these are but a few Some creep and some crawl, what do others do?

An activity for you to do:

● Find pictures of insects. Paste them in your scrap book. ● Make up a word search with the names of insects. ● Observe as many insects as you can.

We have been seeing that invertebrates are very numerous and that they are found everywhere. We also note that insects were invertebrates. Have you enjoyed reading the poem about insects? Read it again then answer the questions which follow.

1. Name three places mentioned in the poem where insects can be found. 2. Identify eleven insects that the poet named.

3. How do insects move?

Let’s continue finding out about insects.

There are thousands and thousands of insects all over the world. Where do they live? They live in trees, on the ground, in the soil, in wood, in rocks and so on. Call a friend and together identify other places where insects can be found. Read the poem again. How many insects are mentioned there? Name a few more.

Insects are cold-blooded animals. They are invertebrates and are usually small creatures. Their bodies are divided into three main parts – the head, chest (or thorax) and the abdomen.

The Head

On the head there are usually a pair of antennae or feelers. Check for them on a cockroach or butterfly. These antennae help to warn the insects of danger. It is important to note that not all insects have antennae. Name a few of these insects.

Look at the parts of the insect below.

Two eyes are also found in the head. These eyes are compound eyes, made up of many tiny lenses. The mouth parts are usually suited to the manner in which it obtains its food.

The Thorax Parts of an Insect

After the head comes the thorax or chest. On the thorax three pairs of legs (6 legs) can be found. We can also find one, pair of wings in the adult stage. Some insects have two pairs.

The Abdomen

The abdomen comes after that. Along the sides of the abdomen there are tiny holes called spiracles. It is through these spiracles that the insects breathe. You may sometimes find the part containing the ‘stinger’ at the end of the insect’s abdomen.

Collect a few insects and examine them to identify their parts. This is exciting, isn’t it? Can you name any insects with stingers? Have you ever been stung by any insects?

Draw a table like the one below, then complete it.

Insects lay eggs. They lay lots and lots of eggs. Can you say why? That’s right; this is so because of their need to survive. You see, their chances of survival are very small because other animals use the eggs as food.

Once safe, the eggs hatch into larvae. These larvae (of course once kept safe) may become pupae, and then the adult stage is reached. These stages - egg, larvae, pupae, adult represent the life cycle (or life history) of the insect.

Label this diagram without checking anywhere else.

Until next week have fun, Boys and Girls!

Diagram of an Insect How well did you do? Until next week, find insects, observe them, draw and label them. Have fun. Next week DV, we will look at the life cycle of insects.