Core Skills Analysis
Science: Biology and Life Cycles
- BJ observed a cicada changing from a nymph into an adult by shedding its old exoskeleton, a process called ecdysis or moulting.
- BJ saw that the newly emerged cicada was pale and had soft, folded wings, then watched the wings expand and begin to straighten.
- BJ learned that the cicada’s wings need time to expand, dry, and harden before the adult can fly.
- BJ learned that cicada nymphs spend most of their lives underground feeding on fluids from tree roots, then climb onto a surface to moult.
Scientific Observation and Inquiry
- BJ followed a biological process as it unfolded, noticing changes in the cicada’s appearance over time.
- BJ connected visible evidence—the old shell, pale body, and changing wings—to the stages of moulting.
- BJ experienced how direct observation can make a natural process easier to understand than encountering it only through books or videos.
Language Arts
- BJ encountered and learned precise science vocabulary, including “nymph,” “exoskeleton,” “ecdysis,” and “moulting.”
- BJ can use sequence words such as “first,” “then,” and “afterward” to explain the cicada’s emergence and wing development.
- BJ’s observation offers material for a clear, detailed field note or retelling that distinguishes what was seen from what was learned.
Tips
Tips Build on BJ’s close observation with a simple cicada life-cycle sequence: invite BJ to draw the underground nymph, the moulting stage, and the adult, adding labels and arrows to show the order. Next, create a short nature journal entry describing the cicada’s changing color and wings, using the new vocabulary and sequence words. Compare the observation with a reliable cicada life-cycle illustration or reference to reinforce how the stages fit together. If another safe opportunity arises, revisit the tree and sketch or photograph the cicada’s former shell, taking care not to disturb wildlife.
Try This Next
- Life-cycle worksheet: Draw and label the cicada nymph, emergence, and adult stages.
- Observation prompt: Write three details BJ noticed about the cicada’s body and wings as they changed.
- Vocabulary match-up: Connect “nymph,” “exoskeleton,” “ecdysis,” and “moulting” to their meanings.
- Wing-change sketch: Draw the newly emerged wings and the later expanding wings, then add captions.