Activity to accompany Life in a Fire Ant Family in Youth Module
Activity: Life Cycle Game
- Overview
- The students will learn about life cycles of insects by using the fire ant as an example. They will study the different developmental stages in the fire ant life cycle.
- Objective
- Students will learn about the life cycle and development of the red imported fire ant.
- Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) (other states may have similar systems)
- Science
- 3rd grade: 3.2.e, 3.9.a
- 4th grade: 4.2.c, 4.2.e, 4.8.a
- 5th grade: 5.2.c, 5.2.e, 5.5.a, 5.6.c, 5.9.a
- Materials
- Poster: Red Imported Ant Life Cycle
- Worksheet: Red Imported Ant Life Cycle for labeling and coloring (one for each student)
- Game spinner
- Imported Fire Ant Life Cycle Game: True or False Questions
- Activity
- Have the students label the Ant Life Cycle worksheet with the names of each stage, then color it. Place the large life cycle poster where all the students can see it.
- Play the Life Cycle Game:
- Divide the class into three groups.
- Decide which group goes first, second and third.
- Have a representative from the group spin the spinner.
- Note where on the spinner the arrow points (worker adult, winged adult, eggs, larvae, pupae) and pose a question about that area to the group. (Refer to the questions supplied with this lesson; you may also use other questions you deem appropriate.) If the group answers the question correctly, award it a point.
- Then have the next group turn the spinner, and ask the group a related question. Give a point if the question is answered correctly.
- Give each group five chances. In case of a tie, choose a life cycle area and ask a question. Each of the groups participating in the tie breaker writes down the answer. Give a point for each correct answer.
- Recognize all the students for their participation.
- Wrap-up
- Discuss how the life cycle of a fire ant is similar to the growth and development of other insects (such as butterflies and beetles) and of humans (such as from a baby to child to young adult to parent).
- Compare the sharing of work responsibilities among workers in a fire ant colony to that of a family or community.
- Discuss how failure of one of the groups to do their job can affect the colony.
- The fire ant eXtension youth team would love some feedback from your experience. Please contact Paul Nester (p-nester@tamu.edu) with questions, comments, testimonials, and particularly images of your students' accomplishments and the students engaging in this activity. If you send images that include students, please be sure that parental approval has been given to use the image. Most schools routinely have parents sign a photographic release form. If you are unsure whether a permission form has been completed, you can use this form and send it along with the image: Photography Release Form
