A Great Bug Hunt Adventure!

Learn about the incredible little creatures around your school or community!

• Notebook or paper
• Pencils
• Magnifying glass, if you have one!
• Neighborhood Bug Identification Guide

Are you ready to go on a bug hunt in the schoolyard or at a nearby park? Let’s become bug explorers and learn about the incredible little creatures around your school or community!

Start Exploring

With a group, walk around the area. List or sketch the different bugs you see in your journal. Find places where bugs might be hanging out. Look in the grass, near flowers, trees, or any nature spots. Cracks in the sidewalk are also places to look. Remember to be nice to nature. Don’t hurt plants or bother other animals while you’re exploring.

Make a Bug Map

Once you have explored the area, stop and draw a map of the area. Include landmarks like trees, bushes, and flowers. Start exploring again. Add the different bugs you observe to the map as you go to different areas on your map.

Choose a Bug to Study

Use your observation skills to look closely at bugs in their homes. Check under leaves, rocks, or on tree bark. You can use your magnifying glass if you have one.

CAUTION! Stay Away from Dangerous Bugs! Some bugs can sting or bite, so it’s important to stay away from unknown ones. If you see a bug that looks scary or unfamiliar, admire it from a safe distance. Ask an adult to help you find out what dangerous bugs might be in your area.

Draw or write about the bug in your notebook.

• What color is it?
• How many legs does it have?
• Why do you think the bug is hanging out in this area?
• What do you think this bug needs to survive? Include details about the environment.
• What adaptations do you think help this insect thrive?

Guess the Bugs

Try to guess what kind of bugs you found by looking at pictures online or in bug books. If you’re not sure, describe the bug in your notebook, and we can learn more about it together. Add pictures, labels, and drawings to your notebook as you learn more about the bugs you discovered. Include notes about their behaviors, preferred spots, nearby plants, or any interactions you noticed.

Tell Your Bug Hunt Story

Show off your Bug Journal. Your notebook is now a Bug Journal with your drawings or pictures of the bugs you found! Share it with your friends, family, or teacher. Talk about what you discovered! Share your favorite bug discoveries. What did you like the most? Did anything surprise you?

Think About It

Write or draw about your Great Bug Hunt Adventure in your notebook. What was fun? What did you learn?

Keep a Record

Add to your Bug Journal over several weeks, recording changes and behaviors to the bugs you studied. Answer these questions in your Bug Journal:

• What changes did you see?
• Why do you think those changes happened over time?

Have a blast on your Bug Hunt, and remember, bugs are awesome little friends waiting for you to find them! Enjoy the adventure!