Introduction

Follow some dragonfly enthusiasts as they head outdoors to study the life cycle and behavior of this ancient insect.

Students are introduced to dragonflies, their life cycle and their role in the food chain.

Length: 12:29 Grade level: 4-7

Teacher Objectives

The "Tiny Creatures: Dragonflies" video program and curriculum guide provide opportunities for students to learn:

1. The life cycle of a dragonfly.
2. The food chain of a dragonfly.
3. The adaptations that help a dragonfly survive, including wings and good eyesight.
4. Threats by humans to dragonflies.
   

Web Resources

• Digital Dragonfly Museum
  stephenville.tamu.edu/~fmitchel/dragonfly/family.htm
• Oregon Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey
  www.ent.orst.edu/ore_dfly/
• The Dragonfly Web site
  dragonflywebsite.com/gallery/index.htm
• Odonata Web Site
  tolweb.org/tree?group=Odonata&contgroup=Pterygota
• Kids Splash: Dragonflies and Damselflies
  www.sacsplash.org/critters/odonata.htm
• Western U.S. Odonata Range Maps
  www.ups.edu/biology/museum/westernOD.html
• Frequently Asked Questions
  www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zoology/auxillry/odonata/faq.htm
• Northwest Odonata Photo Gallery
  www.ups.edu/biology/museum/WAODphotos.html

Print Resources

About Dragonflies:

Dunkle, Sidney. Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. Oxford University Press, 2000.

Kerchache, Jacques. The Hand of Nature: Butterflies, Beetles and Dragonflies. Thames and Hudson, 2001.

Meister, Cari. Dragonflies. ABDO Publishing Company, 2001.

Silsby, Jill. Dragonflies of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, 2001.

About Insects:

Baker, Wendy and Andrew Haslam. Insects. Thomson Learning, 1993.

Borror, Donald J. and Richard E. White. A Field Guide to Insects. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1970.

Callahan, Philip S. Insects and How They Function. Holiday House, 1971.

Facklam, Howard and Margery. Insects. Twenty-First Century Books, 1994.

Greenaway, Theresa. Insects. St. Martin's Press, 2000.

Preston-Mafham, Rod and Ken Preston-Mafham. The Natural History of Insects. The Crowood Press, 1996.

Souza, D. M. Insects Around the House. Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1991.

Souza, D. M. Insects in the Garden. Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1991.

Wilsdon, Christina. First Field Guide Insects. Scholastic, Inc., 1998.

Wilson, Edward O. . The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971.The Insect Societies

Glossary

adult: fully developed and mature animal that is able to reproduce

damselfly: smaller relative of the dragonfly

habitat: place where something lives

larva: immature, wingless and often worm-like feeding form that hatches from the egg of many insects

metamorphose: change into a different physical form

nymph: life cycle stage between egg and adult; sometimes called naiad

odonatist: scientist who studies dragonflies and damselflies

ovipositing: laying eggs

predator: animal that kills and eats other animals

prey: animal that is eaten by other animals

vertebrates: animals with a backbone

Activities