The 4-H Entomology project gives youth the tools to identify the insects in their environment and the role they play in our ecosystems and agricultural practices. Youth will gain an understanding of taxonomy and insect biology while creating a display, either through the collection and mounting of insects or the creation of a poster presentation, to educate others on the insects they have studied.
Objectives
Youth will:
- Learn about insect life cycles
- Understand the difference between invasive and native insects
- Explore the role of pollinators in the ecosystem and in agriculture
- Identify insects and make a collection
- Identify beneficial and destructive insects
- Learn about chemical, biological, and other types of insect control and the safe and judicious use of pesticides
4-H Entomology Curriculum
Available to check out from the 4-H Curriculum Library at the Yakima County Extension office. Contact 509-574-1600 or yakima.4h@wsu.edu for more details.
Teaming With Insects: Entomology Curriculum Level 1
Level 1 introduces the world of insects. Activities focus on how they look and move and provide some background for studying important entomology topics.
Teaming With Insects: Entomology Curriculum Level 2
Level 2 shows how to make insect collection tools, and expands on the basic concepts of biodiversity, invasive species, integrated pest management, and forensic entomology.
Teaming With Insects: Entomology Curriculum Level 3
Level 3 delves even deeper into the basic concepts and encourages youth to take control of their learning by doing their own research using the scientific method and reference materials.
Teaming With Insects: Entomology Curriculum Facilitator’s Guide
Facilitator’s Guide to support Entomology Teaming with Insects series.
From Shop 4-H: Please note that as of October 2019 the website associated with this curriculum is being retired. The online component is not essential to completing the activities in the curriculum.
Butterfly Youth Guide Digital Download
In Project Butterfly WINGS, youth explore the outdoors through guided inquiry, learn to identify the butterfly families and common butterflies, and contribute to science.
Butterfly Leader Guide Digital Download
Provides the leader with facilitator tips, activity guides, and additional resources for the Project Butterfly WINGS curriculum.
Monarchs on the Move Challenge Kit
Monarchs are an iconic insect because they are large and easily recognized by their distinct bright orange and black coloration and are well known to many people across North America and around the world. Monarch butterflies have been widely used in classrooms by educators to demonstrate insect life cycles and metamorphosis.
All About Insects Cloverbud Activity Booklet
All About Insects includes three (3) simple introductory activities for our youngest 4-H members. Youth learn the basics of insects and then search for insect clues and insects outside. This activity is designed to be completed with the assistance of a caring adult. While this activity is perfect for groups, we recommend that each youth have his or her own activity booklet.
Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides
For youth members
Coming soon!
For adult helpers and club leaders
Coming soon!
Helpful Resources
Activity Ideas
Seasons Greetings Activity from Nebraska 4-H (PDF)
How to Pin Insects Videos from Indiana 4-H at Purdue University Extension
Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. We share your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe.
Building and Managing Bee Hotels for Wild Bees
This guide provides instructions and tips for building nesting boxes, also known as bee hotels, for tunnel-nesting bees. Bee hotels can be built on any budget for farms, gardens, and parks. In addition to their role for increasing bee abundance, building bee hotels can be educational and fun for people learning about wild bees.
How to Raise Monarch Butterflies – Iowa State University Extension (YouTube playlist)
Five videos that take you through the process of finding monarch butterfly eggs, choosing containers for your caterpillars, the life stages of the butterfly and caterpillar care, reducing disease problems, and releasing your butterflies into the wild.
Pollinators – University of Minnesota Extension
With this independent learning guide, youth can work on their own to look at key characteristics of bees and differentiate them from a fly or wasp. They’ll learn about native pollinators, focusing specifically on the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, and they’ll explore native plants that benefit the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and other pollinators.
Washington Specific Reference Material
Yakima County 4-H Beekeeping Project
Department of Entomology: Bug Information – Washington State University
Department of Entomology: The M. T. James Entomological Collection – Washington State University
The MT James Entomological Collection is the largest insect museum in the state of Washington. It serves as an important regional resource and is an actively growing collection with especially strong representation in Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and a newfound focus on Hymenoptera. Established in 1892, the collection’s holdings number in the millions and are of significant historical and scientific importance.
Insects – Washington State Department of Agriculture
Information on pollinators, pests, and invasive species in the state of Washington.
New Pollinator Garden unveiled at Washington State Capitol! – Woodland Park Zoo
A new pollinator garden to support thriving butterflies, bees and birds was unveiled June 22 at the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia. The garden was created in partnership between the Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ), and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Other Reference Material
From 4-H Programs
4-H at Home: Pollinators – National 4-H, Colorado State University Extension (PDF)
From Higher Education Institutions
BugGuide.Net – Iowa State University
We are an online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing our observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures.
We enjoy the opportunity to instill in others the fascination and appreciation that we share for the intricate lives of these oft-maligned creatures.
From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals
Pollinator Quest – Captain Planet Foundation (PDF)
Be a hero for pollinators in your community by creating or protecting habitat for them to live and thrive. When you do, you will also be helping other species who are dependent on the actions of pollinators — including you, me, and all humans!
Brooke Leifer – Share the Love (The Pollinator Song) (YouTube video)
In partnership with the US Forest Service to raise awareness about pollinators.
Life of a Monarch Butterfly – edshelf
Life of a Monarch Butterfly is an interactive application for teaching the life cycle of a butterfly. The lesson can be done as a whole class or one-on-on. The application has been designed with the teacher in mind and includes easy to follow instructions for every portion. When the student has completed the lesson they will have a pop-up style book with a writing sample at their level. The lesson includes video, an augmented reality feature, and hands-on activities that make it possible to teach this lesson to a classroom that includes high, medium, and low students.
Inviting Butterflies Into Your Garden – National Garden Clubs, Inc. (PDF)
- Oregon 4-H Entomology eLearning Modules and Resources
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eLearning Modules
Handouts
External & Internal Morphology (PDF)
Oregon 4-H Key to the Orders of Insects (PDF)
Insect Orders, Meanings, Common Names (PDF)
Collecting Insects and Related Arthropods (PDF)
How to Make an Insect Net (PDF)
How to Make a Killing Jar (PDF)
How to Make a Relaxing Jar (PDF)
Essential Material Needed for Storing and Displaying Insects (PDF)
4-H How to Make a Pinning Block from Wood or Styrofoam (PDF)
How to Pin Adult Insects (PDF)
How to Point Adult Insects (PDF)
How to Preserve Immature and Soft-Bodied Adult Insects (PDF)
Pinning and Labeling Insects (PDF)
How to Make a Display Box (PDF)
How to Label Insect Collections (PDF)
How to Arrange Insects in the Display Case (PDF)
Oregon 4-H Entomology Project Cut-Out Labels for your Collection (PDF)
Note: These labels are of the orders of insects and may be usable by those outside of the region as well.
Label Master for Entomology Collections (PDF)
Entomology Videos on YouTube
Collecting Insects: Tools and Supplies
- Kits, Projects, and Activities from National 4-H
National 4-H Entomology and Beekeeping Curriculum Collection
Insect Jar with Magnifying Glass
This Insect Jar with Magnifying Glass is perfect for examining insect specimens up close! Use this while exploring the All About Insects Cloverbud Activity Book or Teaming With Insects curriculum series to see what everyone is buzzing about.
Butterflies are known for their colorful wings, but they offer so much more than just beauty. Just like bees, they’re hard at work as they travel from flower to flower to gain nutrients and pollinate. In this activity, kids will learn to appreciate the insect’s beauty and purpose, as they create their own butterfly and learn how they take part in pollination.
Have you ever wondered what makes that chirping sound you hear on warm spring and summer nights? It’s crickets! That chirping noise is crickets communicating with one another. Chirping is an essential part of a cricket’s communication.
In this activity, you’ll study crickets more closely to see how different conditions cause different amounts of chirping. Requires a free Clover account to access lesson plans.