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An insect is a small animal with six legs and three body parts: a head, a middle part (the thorax) and a back part (the abdomen).

On its head an insect has two antennae. It uses them to smell and taste.

Many insects have wings, like butterflies, bees and beetles. Some insects, like ants, have no wings.

A spider has eight legs, so a spider is not an insect.

Experiment: Build an insect

1. Look at the picture. Count the body parts and the legs.
2. Roll three balls of clay: one for the head, one for the thorax, one for the abdomen. Stick them together in a row.
3. Push six pipe-cleaner legs into the middle part (the thorax).
4. Push two short pipe cleaners into the head for antennae.
5. Add paper wings if you want a flying insect.
6. Now make a spider: two body parts and eight legs, no antennae. What is different?

	Body parts	Legs	Antennae
My insect
My spider

Questions

1. Draw an insect. Show three body parts, six legs and two antennae.

   🍎

2. How many legs does a spider have?

   6 / 8

3. Write one way insects help us.

Sources for every fact on this sheet: echoesof.science/school/insects/sources/

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