Elementary Study of Insects by Leonard Haseman is a young bug-lover’s guide to beginning etymology! Written by a professor of entomology at the University of Missouri in the early 1920s, this little guidebook is unique in several ways:
- Specific instructions for observation.
- Leading questions to direct insect studies.
- Instructions for creating an insect collection.
- Some instructions for creating an insect notebook.
- Some written narration ideas.
- Poems scattered throughout.
- Brevity.
The size of the book is not intimidating, nor the content per creature. The book is really written to the student studying the insect.
The insects covered are those that will be accessible to most children, such as mosquitoes, ants, flies, grasshoppers, honeybees, and ladybugs.
Pupils should not be encouraged merely to make observations, but they should be required to record them as well. Brief descriptions of the appearance and development of insects, the injury they do, and remedies for the same, will help fix in mind facts which otherwise might soon be forgotten. Drawings, whenever possible, should also be required. The pupil who can record observations accurately with drawings will not soon forget them. The teacher should therefore require each pupil to provide himself with a note-book for keeping brief, but accurate notes and careful drawings. The drawings should be made with a hard lead pencil on un-ruled paper, the size of the note-book, and the pupils should be encouraged to be neat and accurate.
Free eBook
Suggestions
- Create a notebooking page for each insect studied.
- Include a drawing and/or picture of each insect.
- Use the leading questions as narration prompts.
- There are 17 chapters. By covering two chapters each week you can keep your child learning through the summer!
Additional Resources
Know Your Insects
More help in collecting, raising, and observing insects from Cornell.
First Book of Bugs {Free eBook}
Perfect first bug book for the littlest ones that covers similar ground.
Free Nature Studies
You’ll find more on ants and honeybees in our free nature studies series.
Drawing & Writing Notebooking Paper {Free Download}
Older students really need to be encouraged to begin with a blank page in their notebook. Slightly younger students can use these pages with room at the bottom for a description and room at the top for a drawing, illustration, or picture.
DIY Homeschooler 