Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to identify cicada shells, understand where they can be found, and learn some fun facts about cicadas and their life cycle.

Materials and Prep

• No specific materials are needed for this lesson, just a curious mind and a willingness to explore!
• Before the lesson, make sure to find a safe outdoor area where cicada shells can be found, like a park or backyard.

Activities

• Cicada Shell Hunt:

  Take a walk outside and look for cicada shells on trees, the ground, or plants. Encourage the student to point out any shells they see and collect them in a small bag or container.

• Story Time:

  After the hunt, sit down and share a fun story about cicadas. You can make up a story about a cicada's adventure or read a simple children's book if available.

• Shell Art:

  Use the collected cicada shells to create a nature collage. The student can arrange the shells on a piece of paper and decorate around them with drawings or nature items like leaves.

Talking Points

• "Look, here’s a cicada shell! Can you see how it looks like a little house?"
• "Cicadas come out of their shells when they are ready to grow up. Isn’t that cool?"
• "Let’s count how many shells we found! How many do you see?"
• "Cicadas make a loud sound in the summer. Can you make a loud sound like a cicada?"
• "Cicadas spend a long time underground before they come out. What do you think they do down there?"