Milkweed Bugs

Milkweed bugs are awesome. They represent life. We will care for a population of them over the next handful of weeks.

Part 1a: Meet your Milkweed Bugs

You will get a milkweed bug in a petri dish to observe. At your table, decide who will do which of the following tasks (1 per person, #1 must get done).

1. In your journal, make and fill in a table like the one below.

2. In your journal, draw detailed color sketches of your milkweed bug's back (dorsal) and belly (ventral) sides.

3. In your journal, calculate the number of steps per minute that your bug takes (do three separate trials and average them).

If you have 4 people: in your journal, describe in detail the structures milkweed bugs use to get from place to place and the structures milkweed bugs use to get information about their environment.

Then, read the Milkweed Bugs Reading (pp. 3-5).

Part 1b: Meet your Milkweed Bugs

Look at your bugs in petri dishes. In your journal, answer the following three questions.

• 1. Describe in detail the structures milkweed bugs use to get from place to place.

  2. Describe in detail how milkweed bugs get information about their environment.

  3. Describe the milkweed bug's mouth.

Then, read the Milkweed Bugs Reading (pp. 3-5).

Part 2a: Build a Habitat (whole class)

Follow "A Habitat for Milkweed Bugs" (p.2-4) to build your habitat.

Each table group takes on the task corresponding to the table group number.

• Task 1: Label bags (name and period)

• Task 2: Make air vents (top 1/3 of bag)

• Task 3: Make water device

• Task 4: Put water device in bag

• Task 5: Assemble twig structure

• Task 6: Make 2 food bundles

• Task 7: Add polyester wool

• Task 8: Complete the habitat

• Teacher will then do Task 9: Add bugs

Then, answer the following four questions in your journal.

1. What is one abiotic factor that might cause your milkweed bug population to grow?

2. Explain how this abiotic factor will help increase your population.

3. What is one biotic factor that might cause your milkweed bug population to grow?

4. Explain how this biotic factor will help increase your population.

Part 2b: Build a Habitat (individual tables)

Follow "A Habitat for Milkweed Bugs" (p.2-4) to build your habitat.

Person 1: Task 1 & 2

• Label bags (name and period)

• Make air vents (top 1/3 of bag)

Person 2: Task 3 & 4

• Make water device and put in bag

Person 3: Task 5

• Assemble twig structure

Person 4: Task 6 & 7

• Make 2 food bundles

• Add polyester wool

Whole Group: Task 8&9

• Complete the habitat

• Add bugs

Then, follow these steps.

1. Make or get an observation book (use p. 2 of the Workbook as a cover).

   1. Write your names, period, and table # on the cover of your book.

   2. Color in the colors of the two bugs on your book's cover (we will then discuss how to differentiate the male and female).

   3. Then, use a pipette to add water to your habitat and put your bugs in their habitat.

Part 3a: Observe your Milkweed Bugs

With your table group, complete the Milkweed Bug Book.

There will be some class time devoted to this project, and it will be up to groups to work together to make sure all requirements are met. Only bug books that are complete according to the guidelines in the book will be accepted for grading.

This is graded based on our "On Time" Assignment rubric using these guidelines:

4 - Monday after the 8th week on project (11/5/18)

3.5 - Wednesday after the 8th week on project (11/7/18)

3 - Friday after the 8th week on project (11/9/18)

2.8 - One school day later (11/13/18)

2 - One week late

1 - Two or more weeks late

A note on the skill of timeliness:

• Job announcements like these for local jobs (that former PA students frequently get) come up all the time and are dependent on timeliness. In April, 2018, 10 of the 12 job openings at PA School District and most of the jobs at Clallam County were listed as open until filled (OUF), meaning that the first application that meets expectations will be chosen.

Part 3b: Observe your Milkweed Bugs

Once your bugs are in their habitat (with enough water), in your observation book, complete an entry following these guidelines.

• • Name/Date: Names of all students present & today's date - circle the name of the student who is writing

  • Observation: This is just what you see - nothing more (until you've confirmed an inference to be factual, then you can include it as an observation).

  • Inference: These are your ideas about what you are seeing or why things are happening.

Rotate so that all group members write official observations (this will be required if bug observation books are due for grading).

Milkweed Bugs Extension: Create a Blog

Use your School District Google account to set up a blog in the "Blogger" app.

Record your observations, as indicated in Part 3, as separate blog entries.