Creepy Crawlies
by Gail Junion-Metz -- School Library Journal, 9/1/1999
Sites guaranteed to get under your skin this Halloween
Kids associate Halloween not only with ghosts and goblins, but also with spiders, bugs, and lots of other creepy crawlies. The following sites are overflowing with insect pictures, sounds, and the facts about every bug you see--and many you don't.O. Orkin Insect Zoo
naturalpartners.org/InsectZoo
Gr 4-8-The curriculum site for the actual insect zoo at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Creator: The Smithsonian' s National Museum of Natural History. Don't miss: "Student Resources" for interesting facts, such as how bugs communicate; "Curriculum Resources" for lessons, printable worksheets, activities, maps, and puzzles; and "The Zoo" for rain-forest sounds and information on bug habitats. The virtual reality files in "The Zoo" allow you to get close to a sample grasshopper. Optional plug-ins: Acrobat, Quicktime VR.
Bug World
www.yucky.com/roaches
Gr K-8-A lighthearted site about bugs, hosted by Wendel Worm, ace reporter. Part of the "Yuckiest Site on the Internet." Creator: Educator Susan Merrit, New Jersey Online. Don't miss: "A Day in the Life of Ralph Roach," " Amazing Roach Facts," "Teacher Center" for lesson tie-ins, and the real-time graded "Bug Out" quiz. Optional plug-ins: Quicktime. Detour: Worm World at www.yucky.com/worm.
Alien Empire
www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/allenempire
Gr 7-12-The high-tech multimedia site for the PBS Nature mini-series. Each section has at least one topical article and one multimedia presentation. Creator: PBS Television, WNET-New York. Don't miss: " Bee Anatomy," the interactive "Insect Scramble" puzzles, and the "Insects as Food" video. Optional plug-ins: Acrobat, RealPlayerG2, Quicktime, Shockwave Flash. Connection: best with 56K+.
Spiders!
www.discovery.com/exp/spiders/spiders.html
Gr 7-12-A companion site to a Discovery Channel series on spiders found in the Australian desert and closer to home. Creator: American Museum of Natural History, Discovery Channel. Don't miss: "Up Close with Spiders" for spider anatomy, "In Your Own Backyard" to identify spiders creeping up your walls, and "Photo Gallery" for really scary spider pictures. Required browser: Netscape or Internet Explorer 3.0+.
Katerpillars & Mystery Bugs
www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/ythfacts/entyouth.htm
Gr 1-6-An activity-filled bug site. Creator: University of Kentucky, Dept. of Entomology. Don't miss: " Insects All Year," a monthly bug activity calendar; "Teacher/Parent Materials"; "Bug Fun" for novel craft ideas and games; "Make Your Own Compound Eye"; and "Read More About" for bug books. Detour: "Bugfood!" at www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfood/bugfood.htm.
The Microbe Zoo
commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dic-me/zoo
Gr 6-10-A virtual zoo that teaches kids about the different types and functions of the tiniest creepy crawlies--microbes. Creator: Michigan State University, Center for Microbial Ecology. Don't miss: " Dirtland," "House of Horrors," " Space Adventures," "Microbes on Mars," and the "Animal Pavilion."
Infection Detection Protection
www.amnh.org/explore/Infection/index.html
Gr 6-10-An interactive site that helps kids, families, and teachers learn about tiny disease-causing micro-organisms. Creator: American Museum of Natural History. Don't miss: "Meet the Microbes" and its "Size-o-Meter" to see how tiny microbes are; "Mixed Up Microbe Mystery," a real mystery challenge for student microbe detectives; the interactive games "Infection" (where you are the germ) and "Bacteria in the Cafeteria," which shows you how to scout out microbes in your lunch. Optional plug-ins: Shockwave.
