Parts of a Dragonfly

SCIENCE CONCEPT:

The student will build a model of a dragonfly and correctly identify the three main parts: the head, the thorax and the abdomen.

STUDENT OBJECTIVE:

Students will create a paper-mache model of a dragonfly. They will be able to observe and learn the names of the main parts of a dragonfly via a hands-on experience.

OVERVIEW:

Students will create a paper-mache model of a dragonfly. They will be able to observe and learn the names of the main parts of a dragonfly via a hands-on experience.

PREPARATION TIME:

20 minutes.

LESSON TIME:

Day One: 40 minutes (let model dry overnight)

Day Two: 30 minutes

TEACHER PREP:

Prepare paper-mache mixture ahead of lesson.

WORDS TO KNOW:

dragonfly

head

thorax

abdomen

eyes

wings

paper mache

twist

layers

knot

google

TEACHER TEXT:

Fossils show that early flying insects may have had 6 wings. Today, most only have two or four. Unlike bats or birds , whose wings are modified limbs, insect wings are separate structures attached to the middle part of the insect's body.

Because they are also the smallest of all flying animals, insects need less power than birds and bats to fly. Their tiny, but powerful, muscles allow most insects to twist and sway their wings in figure eights, thus enabling them to fly forward, hover, or even fly backwards.

INSECT TRIVIA: A dragonfly flaps its two pairs of wings alternately, the front ones rising as the rear ones fall.

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Last modified: Sat Nov 15 10:58:22 PST 1997