STEM PB #5 - The Very Ugly Bug

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I LOVE this book! Although it’s an older picture book, the message and science in it are timeless. If your students are studying insects or animal adaptations, this would be a great foundational read for a fun STEM challenge!

Featured Picture Book:
The Very Ugly Bug (2004)
By Liz Pichon (@LizPichon)
Illustrated by Liz Pichon

Summary:
A bug who thinks she is ugly tries to disguise herself using some of the adaptations of her friends, but finds out she’s perfect just the way she is!

Related Themes and Standards:
SEL:
Respecting differences
Managing envy
Being yourself
Supporting friends

Science:
Animal Adaptations
Insect Camouflage

STEM Ideas:
1. Students could engineer their own insect using various inexpensive/recycled items and then

• create a green screen project with them (using green file folders makes this manageable for small items like an insect!).
• create their own picture book starring their insect using Canva, Book Creator, Seesaw, or another program.
• upload a picture of their insect into Scratch/Scratch Jr. and code some movements or “a day in the life”-type project.
• include some circuit work with copper tape, coin cell batteries, and small LED lights to make parts of their insect light up.
• take their insect outside to see where it would be safest from predators (in the leaves, stuck to the bark, in the grass, etc.).

2. Students could create an insect using any available robotics kits (WEDO 2.0, Spike, etc.) or modify an existing robot to which they have access to look like their planned insect. Then they could be challenged to have their insect move through a course, make it to safety before a predator is able to catch them, or other similar challenges.

3. Have drones? Students could create flying insects that have to maneuver through a forest or other habitat to avoid a predator.