This document provides instructions for a web quest where students take on the role of a detective to solve a mystery involving strange events in a neighborhood. The students will research characteristics of different insects like grasshoppers, mud daubers, and butterflies. They will then compare the insects to clues from the reported crimes to determine which insect is responsible. Afterwards, students will work in groups to create riddles about insects for their classmates to solve. The goal is for students to learn about insects and how to classify them while solving a fictional crime case.

1. Welcome | Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Teachers |
Welcome
Title: Classifying Insects
Description: This web quest is for students to explore different types of insects and their
characteristics.
Grade Level: K-2
Curriculum: Science
Author: Paige Birthisel
Introduction
You’ve been hired as the new detective in a neighborhood called Picnic Grove in the United States.
This neighborhood is usually peaceful and does not have any crime, but lately the citizens have
been noticing strange things happening. You receive a report with all of the recent crimes and
suspicions.
1. Ms. Buggles woke up in the morning with her hickory chairs in ruins!
2. Mr. Man hears strange noises each night outside his bedroom.
3. Mr. Obama found part of a wing that was light green with yellow stripes beside his sycamore tree.
4. Outside Mrs. Brooks’ house, all of her leaves were covered with tiny eggs! She counted and there
were 4-6 on each leaf!
You think to yourself, “What kind of insect could be causing all of this mayhem?” So you set to find
out by using their characteristics to solve the case!
Task
To find out the criminal behind all this you will…
1. Research different types of insects and record their characteristics
2. Observe different types of insects to figure out who is behind the crimes
3. Compare each insect to other insects.
4. Use what you’ve learned to create your own riddle or detective story for your classmates to solve.
5. Solve your classmates’ riddles using what you’ve learned or by researching new information.

2. Process
Phase 1-
First, you will open the worksheets below to use to record your data as the detective.
MW WebquestGrasshopper.docx
MW WebquestMud Dauber.docx
MW WebquestTiger Swallowtail Butterfly.docx
MW WebquestPraying Mantis.docx
MW WebquestSphinx Moth.docx
MW WebquestLuna Moth.docx
Secondly, you will visit the websites below to find information on the insects in the worksheets.
Remember to record many details that will help you solve the case.
http://www.bugfacts.net/insects.php#.UznlfPldWSr
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/my-shot-minute-kids/myshotminute-insects-
kids/
http://www.kathimitchell.com/insects.html
http://mrnussbaum.com/insects-play/butterflies/
Phase 2- Use the information you found, compare each insect’s characteristics, look at the report of
crimes and suspicions, and conclude who is committing these crimes. Once you solve the case, put
the name of the guilty insect on a small notecard and your name on the back. We will use these for a
drawing for prizes at the end of the lesson!
Phase 3- After solving the case, you will be put into groups of 4. With a partner you will choose an
insect from the website below and create your own riddle. Once you have finished your riddle, you
will swap riddles and solve them. Be creative and make sure the answers to your riddles are on the
website.
http://www.bugfacts.net/insects.php#.UznxEvldWSr

3. Conclusion
Now that you have proved yourself as a great detective, I hope you will continue solving mysteries
with insects and many other things!
For games, videos, and more click on the link below!
http://bgps.sharpschool.net/cms/One.aspx?portalId=892415&pageId=1759402
Evaluation
The insect data worksheets
 Will be graded by checking correct answers.
Group riddles
 Will be graded using the checklist below
 Used insect from website provided
 Answers to riddle were on the website
 Riddles were clear and fair
 Riddles included questions that could be answered from the website
Teacher
This web quest will take 3-4 days to complete. This web quest’s purpose was to teach students
about different types of insects and how they compare to one another. It also was meant to raise
curiosity of the natural world around them.
SC. O. 2. 1. 4 demonstrate curiosity, initiative and creativity by observing, classifying, comparing
and analyzing natural objects in the environment.
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