An Introduction to Insects and Arachnids using Pokémon - Videos + Activities

Learn amazing facts about many Arthropods ("bugs") by comparing and contrasting their Pokemon counterparts! Students will also learn how to construct and use Venn Diagrams.

In each class, we study a group of "bugs" that have some striking similarities to Pokémon characters. Students will practice comparing and contrasting creatures from the Arthropod phylum when reading/listening to descriptions about them, viewing pictures side-by-side, and watching video clips of insect behavior and life cycles. We also learn how to create and use a Venn Diagram as a comparison tool.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ VIDEOS, ACTIVITIES, AND MORE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

• This course has four parts to it. Each “part” consists of a downloadable video presentation (between 40 and 50 minutes long) hosted on Google Drive, along with some resources and project ideas to expand the students’ understanding.

• In a regular school setting, these materials are ideal for reverse instruction or a flipped classroom unit. For instance, you can assign the video recording to watch at home for homework, and then use the extension activities for class projects. The recordings also work well for sub days and much-needed sanity days!

• If you are using these materials in a home school setting, you could choose to do one part per day or one part per week, doing the projects as time allows. Feel free to have your child email me at lauren.rae.ard@gmail.com, if they have any questions or want to share what they’ve done with the materials.

• This unit also includes a link to my notes and Prezi presentation I use throughout the course, in case you want to give some of the presentation, or expand on the material yourself. Please keep in mind that the video may not match up exactly with the notes and lecture materials, because I do alter and add to my notes as time goes on.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ COURSE OUTLINE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

Part 1:

• Introduction to taxonomy
• Basic characteristics of the phylum Arthropoda
• Defining characteristics of the Class Insecta
• The insect orders not included as Pokemon
• Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)

Part 2:

• Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
• Neuroptera (net-winged insects)
• Diptera (flies and mosquitos)
• Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps)

Part 3:

• Hemiptera (true bugs)
• Orthoptera (crickets and grasshoppers)
• Mantodea (praying mantises)
• Phasmatodea (stick insects)
• Blattodea (cockroaches)
• Coleoptera (beetles)

Part 4:

• The defining characteristics of the Class Arachnida
• The different types of Arachnids (ticks, scorpions, spiders, harvestmen)
• Characteristics of Myriapods
• The differences and similarities of millipedes and centipedes
• Introduction to the Three Circle Venn Diagram

▬▬▬▬▬▬ LEARNING OBJECTIVES ▬▬▬▬▬▬

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Understand the the basics of biological classification systems and taxonomy, particularly Phylum Arthropoda.
• Compare and contrast two similar creatures using a Venn Diagram.
• Explain the behaviors and life cycles of several different insects and arachnids.
• Describe the defining characteristics of insects, arachnids, and myriapods.
• Explain why spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and ticks are not technically insects - and how they are related to insects.
• Describe the similarities and differences of their favorite "bug" Pokemon when compared with the real deal.