Yes, Science is fun! This high-interest zoology course for middle school students is sure to get your student excited about science and looking forward to the next school year.

How to get the Most out of Bug Camp (Entomology) with Christine Hamilton:

• Before starting the course, have a notebook available to use for taking notes during recordings and for use during homework.

• Each week there will be a recording to watch and a PowerPoint to review.

• Then complete any class assignments posted such as the Bug Bingo.

• Repeat these steps for all 8 classes.

• Once the course is completed to the parent's satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records. Parents should record the final grade in their records.

Total classes: 8

Duration: 45 minutes per class

Prerequisite: None 

Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade

Suggested credit: ½ semester Entomology or Science

Instructor: Christine Hamilton, Ph.D.

Course description: A fun and lighthearted study of the insect world. We will learn about insect types, habitats, sounds, and some yummy recipes (really!). Pests, workers, artists—the intrepid insects of the world fascinate, annoy, and benefit humankind. From butterflies to bees to the lowly cockroach, insects are an integral part of the natural environment, making their mark on culture through rhyme and lore. What causes fireflies to blink? Did you ever wonder about the origin of "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite"? Let's delve into the insect world and see what we can learn.

Course outline: 

Class 1: Fastest

Class 2: Largest

Class 3: Longest

Class 4: Most Numerous

Class 5: Most Spectacular

Class 6: Smallest

Class 7: Misc. (Bioluminescence, loudest, most toxic)

Class 8: Recipes (crunchy, chewy)

Course materials: Everything will be provided FREE by the instructor. Optional Further Reading:  Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever (National Geographic Kids) National Geographic Kids, Murawski, Darlyne, Honovich, Nancy, National Geographic Children's Books, ISBN 978-1426313769 (https://amzn.to/2YcieTs)

Homework:  Research an insect of your choice for a report during class. “What’s Outside My Window?” Pick a window in your house that gets sunlight and watch the activity outside!  There could be ants, a preying mantis, dragonfly, ladybug, common housefly, beetles, etc.  Choose a bug and write 3 paragraphs about it.  What is it doing?  Where does it normally live?  What does it eat?  What colors are they? How big do they get?  Are they common in other parts of the country/world?  Do they do anything unusual?  The report will be given orally during the last 2 classes. Recorded students may give their report to a parent or tutor.

©2022 Homeschool Connections and Christine Hamilton. All rights reserved.

This course is designed by Christine Hamilton. All primary rights to materials are to the designer.

• This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws. 

• You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.

Technical Help: If you experience technical difficulty with watching the recorded classes or have a question about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.