Cicadas emerge from underground every 17 years to lay eggs in trees. In May, cicada nymphs will crawl out of the ground and molt into adult cicadas with wings. Large numbers of cicadas will be present in trees singing to attract mates until July, when they will return underground for another 17 years. The document provides information about cicadas and suggests ways for people to feel calm around the noisy insects.

1. Cicadas
Are
Coming!
A social story written by:
Kim Singleton, MS CCC-SLP &
Fran Teller, OTR/L

2. Cicadas are insects.
• They
– have six legs.
– lay eggs.
– have wings and can fly.
– can be up to 2 inches long.

3. They have been living
underground for 17 years.
• Underground cicadas are called
“nymphs”.
– Nymphs:
• live under the grass
• are soft and white.
• eat the sap from tree roots.
• are 1 inch long.
• can crawl
• don’t have wings to fly.

4. Many cicadas will come up
out of the ground in May.
• The nymphs will crawl out of
the ground.
• They crawl up trees and
bushes.
• Overnight, they change
from “nymphs” to “cicadas.”
• Their bodies get harder and
darker.
• They get wings and can fly.

5. People feel differently
about the cicadas coming.
• Some people are
– excited
– curious
– nervous
about these insects.

6. • curious
• nervous
• excited
• anxious
• happy
How do I feel?

7. Cicadas like trees.
• They fly into trees and hang from
the branches.

8. Cicadas come in a group.
• There will be many, many cicadas
in May and June.

9. Cicadas are noisy.
• They sing.
• The song that a boy cicada sings is
his way of getting a girlfriend.

10. People act differently
around cicadas.
• Some people
will
– ignore cicadas.
– touch cicadas.
– explore cicadas.
– hurt cicadas.

11. I can act calm around
cicadas.
• I can look at them.
• I can ask questions about them.
• I can tell an adult if I feel nervous.
• I can take a deep breath.
• I can relax my body.

12. Cicadas do not hurt
people.
• They don’t sting.
• They don’t bite.
• They don’t carry diseases.

13. The cicadas will leave by
July.
• They will go back
underground and
stay there for the
next 17 years.
See you in
17 years!
Bye!See you
later!

14. The next time the Cicadas
will come will be 2030.
• How old will I be in 2030?
?
?
?
? ?
?

15. Why couldn’t the
cicada sing?
Because he was a
sick-cada!
A funny cicada
joke!

16. The End
Questions or comments? Please contact us!
• Kim Singleton, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
kim@kimsingleton.com
• Fran Teller, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
fran.teller@lakotaonline.com