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The Pillbug Project, A Guide to Investigation |
by Robin Burnett
Introduce students to what science is really about - using pillbugs!
Did you know that pillbugs (also known as sow bugs, roly-polies and potato bugs) are not insects at all but are in fact crustaceans, like lobsters and crabs? That over 4,000 species of isopods (the subgroup of crustaceans to which pillbugs belong) have been identified so far? That pillbugs breath through gill-like structures and therefore must live in moist places? Well you and your students will after working through the explorations in this great guide of pillbug investigations. Published by the National Science Teachers Association, The Pillbug Project, A Guide to Investigation is intended to introduce students to the ways of science with an emphasis on observation, not to give established information or teach specific procedures. All activities have been developed to require a minimum of equipment or preparation. The entire project is divided into ten days with each day devoted to a specific investigation of pillbug behavior, appearance and habitat such as "what do pillbugs look like and where do they live?", "how do pillbugs act and how do individuals vary?", and "what would life as a pillbug be like?" Each day begins with a teacher note that provides background, expectations, and questions to ask students. There is a material list, teacher narrative, and a series of topic related explorations with step by step instructions. Pillbugs is a perfect way to introduce students to what science is really all about - learning directly from the world around them. 99 pp., softcover.
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