Course Description:
This semester-long course introduces students to the fascinating world of insects, the most diverse and ecologically important group of animals on Earth. Through hands-on investigations, fieldwork, and lab activities, students will explore insect anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, and evolution. Emphasis will be placed on identifying local insect species, understanding their roles in ecosystems, and examining their interactions with humans—both beneficial and harmful. Students will learn modern collection, preservation, and observation techniques, develop classification skills using dichotomous keys, and apply ecological principles to real-world insect-related phenomena such as pollination, invasive species, and pest management.
The course follows Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for high school life science, with a focus on LS1 (From Molecules to Organisms), LS2 (Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics), and LS4 (Biological Evolution). Students will conduct independent and group investigations, analyze data, and communicate findings through written reports and presentations.
By the end of the course, students will have developed:
An understanding of insect biology and diversity
Skills in scientific observation, data collection, and analysis
An insect collection or digital photographic catalog as a capstone project
An appreciation for the ecological and economic importance of insects
Prerequisites: None (Biology recommended)
Credits: 0.5 (Semester)
Grade Level: 9–12
North Dakota Insect Identification
INTRO TO ENTOMOLOGY:
Entomology Orders Roots Quizlet
Quizlet: Insect Orders
How the Study of Insects Can Help Us Discover Cures and Manage the Environment
Berkeley: The Arthropod Story
Stanford: Mealworms eat styrofoam!
INSECT ADAPTATIONS:
Diverse Sceince: Insect Adaptation
EONS: Age of Giant Insects
ADAPTATIONS IN INSECTS Notes
SciBugs: How Do Insects Survive the Winter?
Cincinnati Zoo: Blue Death Feigning Beetles
Kurzgesagt: The Warrior Kingdoms of the Weaver Ant
Biology Simulations: Biodiversity
Stanford: Insects Took Off When They Evolved Wings
INSECT ANATOMY:
Quizlet: Insect Antennae
Quizlet: Insect Anatomy
SciBug: Exoskeleton
TedEd: Insect Mouthparts
Bexar Entomology: Insect Mouthparts
INSECT REPRODUCTION:
INSECT ECOLOGY:
Insect Ecology Discovery Stations:
Station 2:
Video 1: Amoeba Sisters
Video 2: Zombie Ants
Video 3: Orchid Mantis
Video 4: Witch of the Forest
Video 5: Tenting Caterpillars
Video 6: Caterpillars and Ants
Video 7: Ants and Birds
Station 3:
Flower and Pollinator Dissection
Station 4:
Station 5:
Phenomena: Colony Collapse Disorder
National Biological Information Infrastructure (USGS) - Invasive Species
Phenomena - Ash Tree
HHMI: Liz Hadly Tracks the Impact of Climate Change in Yellowstone
HHMI: The Mosquito Life Cycle
CDC: Malaria
INSECTS AS FOOD:
INSECT CONSERVATION:
INSECT COLLECTION:
NPR: “Six Legged Giant Finds Secret Hideaway, Hides for 80 Years” article
BBC Earth: Insect Returns From the Dead