Insects (non-statutory)
I can identify and name insects and describe their common features.
- Year 5
Insects (non-statutory)
I can identify and name insects and describe their common features.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- An insect is a small animal that has six jointed legs, and typically one or two pairs of wings
- Insects have three parts to their segmented bodies (head, thorax, and abdomen) and a pair of antennae
- Insects are invertebrates (have no backbone) and have an external shell (exoskeleton)
- Common insects are ants, flies, butterflies, and beetles
Keywords
Insect - An insect is an invertebrate animal that lays eggs and has antennae, six legs and a body divided into three segments.
Antennae - Antennae are a pair of long, sensory organs on the heads of insects.
Segmented - Something that is segmented is in segments or sections.
Invertebrate - An invertebrate is an animal that does not have a spine or backbone.
Exoskeleton - An exoskeleton is the hard outer layer that covers, supports, and protects the body of an invertebrate.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all small creatures, or ‘minibeasts’, are insects.
Explain that an animal is only an insect if it has the characteristics of insects. Use lots of examples and non-examples to make this clear.
Equipment
Salt dough or plasticine, hand lenses, magnifiers, pooters
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
- Exploration of objects
- Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is not an animal?
Q2.Starting with the chicken, put these animals in order according to the number of legs they have.
Q3.What is a segment?
Q4.Which of these animals does not have a skeleton inside its body?
Q5.Animals that don’t have backbones are called .
Q6.Which of these statements is true?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How many legs do insects have?
Q2.Insects do not have backbones. This means they are classified as .
Q3.Insect bodies have three parts; the head, thorax and the...
Q4.What is the role of an exoskeleton?
Q5.What are the names of these common insects?
Q6.Which of these animals are insects?
