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What's the best way to get rid of mosquitoes?

What's the best way to get rid of mosquitoes?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:

How do you think mosquitoes could be dangerous?

Hint...

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Why do you think there are more mosquitoes in tropical places?

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DISCUSS:

Given what you’ve learned about mosquitoes and their life cycle, what are some suggestions you would give people to help them avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes after a rainy spring?

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disease


1 of 12

a condition that makes a living thing unhealthy; illness or sickness
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malaria


2 of 12

a disease of the blood caused by parasites that are carried by mosquitoes
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parasite


3 of 12

a living thing that lives in or on another living thing and gets nutrients from it
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metamorphosis


4 of 12

a process where an animal's body transforms dramatically, such as a caterpillar turning into a butterfly

larva


5 of 12

a life stage between egg and pupa for living things that go through metamorphosis
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pupa


6 of 12

a life stage between larva and adult for animals that go through metamorphosis
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life cycle


7 of 12

the stages of life, including birth, growth, reproduction, and death
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swamp


8 of 12

a habitat covered in water and filled with many trees
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observe


9 of 12

to pay close attention to something
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design


10 of 12

to make a plan for creating or doing something
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constraint


11 of 12

something that limits what you can do
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engineer


12 of 12

a person who uses science to come up with solutions to problems

Featured Reviews

“The kids loved it and were super engaged!”
· · Teacher
“I was nervous that the kids would be totally scared of Mosquitos after this lesson but they weren't! They shared a lot of the information with their families and I heard back from many parents about how much their students loved this lesson as well as Mystery Science as a whole!”
· Kate · Teacher
“It was an excellent problem solving lesson that fit it well with the "design process" we learned about in our core text.”
· Jenna · Teacher
“This is so relevant to our area especially this year! Loved the expert ideas and then this sparked a lot od discussion with my students.”
· Michelle · Teacher
“The best parts were the engaging video; expert information; and the student problem solving!”
· Licia · Teacher
“The kids loved how they could relate the lesson to their own personal experiences! They enjoyed inventing ways to help the playground.”
· Heidi · Teacher
“very interesting. I like the problem solving activity. - gets kids thinking”
· Yvonne · Teacher
“Thank you for the handouts that showed us where mosquitoes lived and how to prevent them from hatching. We learned a lot!”
· Kathy · Teacher
“I loved how students really got to investigate and gather information from "experts" then discuss solutions to help an area in the city. My students were very engaged and the discussion I was hearing was great!”
· Melanie · Admin
“The brainstorming of ideas based on facts from experts and then picking on to make a plan.”
· Erin · Teacher
“My class loved it! I loved the problem solving activity. It provided an opportunity for my scholars to think like scientists and use experts' information in their critical thinking.”
· Sarah · Teacher
“all the really helpful information about the life cycle and easy ways to get rid of or protect ourselves.”
· Shana · Teacher
“I loved that you had an engineering piece. It really made my students think and put into practice the advice they were given by the experts. ”
· Barbara · Teacher
“It went along with a mosquito abatement program our school does.”
· Andrea · Teacher
“It was like our PBL project where we had to solve a problem!! We loved it!”
· Kristin · Teacher
“We liked watching all of the videos and making the mosquito life cycle wheel!”
· Amanda · Teacher
“The students were highly engaged using higher-order thinking skills to engineer solutions to the mosquito problem and analyze the effectiveness of their solutions!”
· Emily · Teacher
“The lesson was so easily applied to our lives!”
· Anna · Teacher
“Real-life problem for students to solve. It was very relateable to my students and we took it the extra mile to creat models of our solutions with found objects and items that would have been trash or recyling.”
· Carol · Teacher
“Loved this lesson and the problem solving required!”
· Robbin · Teacher
“My students loved the real world applications in this lesson!”
· Amy · Teacher
“High-interest topic”
· Michael · Teacher
“Students were really engaged and excited that they could do their part to eliminate mosquitoes by getting rid of standing water!”
· Colleen · Teacher
“The students really enjoyed planning how to protect people from mosquito bites.”
· Jennie · Teacher
“GREAT PBL”
· Caitlin · Teacher
“I liked listening to my students' ideas based on all the "experts" from the city.”
· Erin · Teacher
“The activity was great! It pushed my students to think both creatively and practically in order to solve a problem that is very relevant to them. We have LOTS of mosquitoes in Louisiana, so my kids definitely related to this Mystery!”
· Caitlin · Teacher
“We had fun brainstorming ideas.”
· Kathy · Teacher
“It was fun pretending to interview experts. ”
· Tara · Teacher
“The kiddos came up with practical ideas after seeing a variety of perspectives on the topic (weather reporter, fisherman, park ranger, etc.).”
· Nancy · Teacher
“I loved how the students had to brainstorm in pairs. They absolutely loved it, and I loved hearing their unique solutions.”
· · Teacher
“The kids loved problem solving and planning for the areas of the community to reduce mosquito exposure.”
· Catherine · Teacher
“The problem solving was great. Background information on mosquitos was concise and interesting to kids. The info from the experts was realistic and helpful in the problem solving. I loved question #3,--what would not work based on the setting or the environment. Sharing of solutions was great-students had amazing ideas.”
· · Teacher
“We have had a very rainy season here in California, so we have a ton of mosquitoes! The students loved learning WHY and HOW we can help ease the pain of them!”
· Trisha · Teacher
“The kids were very engaged and came up with a lot of great ideas. I liked that it gave "expert" information that they could apply.”
· Jeanette · Teacher
“The students were very engaged in the problem solving and felt validated finding their solutions in the final video.”
· Tricia · Teacher
“Taught this to 3 different groups- very strong connections and learning!”
· Kami · Teacher
“The conversations the students had were great centered around the discussion topics and handouts”
· Liz · Teacher
“The students really had to use their problem-solving skills in order to come up with some solutions to the mosquito problem. Our area of CA has experienced much more rain than usual, so it was a very appropriate lesson for us. Mystery Science is always so teacher-friendly. Our class LOVES it!”
· Terry · Teacher
“They loved using the expert's comments to come up with their ideas!”
· · Teacher
“Great for problem solving skills!”
· Jean · Teacher
“My students learned when mosquitoes are most active and ways to avoid ”
· Olimpia · Teacher
“The children really loved engaging with the videos and working from group discussions”
· Teana · Teacher
“Learning where they lay their eggs and start their life.”
· Ellen · Teacher
“Students loved problem solving to figure out solutions to the mosquito problem in Pondville!”
· Alexa · Teacher
“As always, my kiddos loved this lesson. The rhythm of video and activities always keeps them engaged.”
· Nancy · Teacher
“I love how the students heard from "experts" and took notes, and then were encouraged to apply what they learned by coming up with creative solutions. ”
· Sandy · Teacher
“The students loved working together to help rid the community of their mosquito problem. They were quite engaged in this lesson.”
· Shelia · Teacher
“Kids loved it, especially the extras. ”
· Laurie · Teacher
“It’s Fantastic! Kids really were thinking outside the box!”
· Christina · Teacher
“The students were very much engaged and found this topic very interesting. I thought the activity about the mosquito problem in Pondville really got my students thinking creatively about solutions.”
· Karen · Teacher
“Kids loved coming up with solutions. The brain storming was their favorite.”
· Claudeen · Teacher
“The activities were awesome and very relevant especially to our area.”
· Lisa · Teacher
“The students really enjoyed being problem solvers. They came up with tons of great ideas to the mosquito problem at the playground, picnic site, and the backyard. Thanks! ”
· Gwendolyn · Teacher
“My students enjoyed learning from various experts and collaborating to come up with ways of getting rid of mosquitos. ”
· · Teacher
“The step by step cartoon slides were very engaging and clearly portrayed.”
· Marjon · Teacher
“I loved watching the children mosquito-proof their surroundings!”
· · Teacher
“Kids solving real world problems”
· Kristen · Teacher
“Analyzing information from different expects.”
· · Teacher
“Great ideas on how to get rid of mosquitoes. And the best part was that my son had to think and figure then out. We will definitely be making be building bat boxes for this summer!”
· Suzanne · Homeschooler
“Students really understood and remembered the information”
· Suzanne · Teacher
“Kids loved having a chance to try to find a solution to a problem they've all experienced. I was excited that they came up with some viable solutions, and ones that don't harm the environment. The best part was asking them to find a way to measure the success of their plan. That was challenging for them, but a challenge they needed!”
· Carol · Teacher
“The students very much liked the application of the experts' advice to help the people of Pondville. They got super excited watching the ending video where they listened to what the Mystery Science experts would have suggested and how closely their suggestions matched. ”
· Tami · Teacher
“Really liked them having to come up with their own solutions to a problem.”
· Sandi · Teacher
“The implementation of their ideas on the Bug Off worksheet at the end of the activity. It was great to see and hear about their ideas and the students LOVED drawing out their ideas. ”
· Amber · Teacher
“As always, the lesson was superdeeduper! I love how thought-provoking and engaging the lessons are. Mystery Science for the win!”
· Mary · Homeschooler
“lesson encourages really good discussions among students”
· Jennifer · Teacher
“Requiring students to apply their learning to solve a problem.”
· Julia · Teacher
“Students loved coming up with a plan for the mosquitoes!”
· Stacy · Teacher
“This was a problem that everyone could relate to, and it was fun to see the solutions the kids came up with for each area. ”
· Sandra · Teacher
“We liked being able to design a solution to the problem and work with a partner. It gave good information and showed real mosquitoes life cycles. We liked finding out how to keep safe from diseases and being able to invent our own ideas.”
· Jill · Teacher
“The simplicity was the best part and step by step instructions for a low ability class”
· Nicolle · Teacher
“They were so engaged and I loved that they were solving real-world problems. ”
· Shawnda · Teacher
“The class was able to relate well; our town is surrounded by swampland.”
· Lorraine · Teacher
“The thinking process to come up with solutions and then the wrap up where some students matched your ideas and others had differing ideas. They also used knowledge from a mosquito expert who visited our class.”
· · Teacher
“ How structured the activity was, and the fact that students were expected to think critically about each possible solution.Students were engaged throughout the activity, and had fun while working.”
· Marcelle · Teacher
“The kids enjoyed learning about mosquitoes! Great discussion about how to control and prevent a large population of the critters!”
· Melissa · Teacher
“The kids loved coming up with their own solutions to the problem. ”
· Jan · Teacher
“the students building their own solutions and being so excited to share their ideas.”
· Courtney · Teacher
“The kids were creative while brainstorming and were engaged the whole time. Even my reluctant writers were eager to participate.”
· Jan · Teacher
“Super fun! They came up with some really creative ideas for how to save the town from the mosquitoes.”
· Alyssa · Teacher
“Students were fascinated to learn about mosquitoes. They loved coming up with solutions for the different environments. This mystery was very relevant to their lives.”
· Cheri · Teacher
“The lesson is great. The children are engaged in the topic. It is something they are familiar with. I like the short responses that they can give because many have difficulties writing. ”
· Ysabel · Teacher
“It was great to have the kids work together as problem solvers!”
· MaryEllen · Teacher
“Listening to the experts and coming up with solutions.”
· Anna · Teacher
“Watching my students design areas to help reduce the mosquito problem. Some of them were quite clever and imaginative.”
· Theresa · Teacher
“Loved the problem solving part of this!”
· Samantha · Teacher
“WE now have great ideas for our own houses to keep mosquitoes at bay! Great eye opener! ”
· Natalie · Teacher
“The ideas that the class came up with were incredible! ”
· Danielle · Teacher
“Students were able to draw and write about what solutions they came up with on how to stop mosquito bites.”
· Warren · Teacher
“the engineering ideas of the backyard and the park and the playground. thanks!”
· Kristina · Homeschooler
“Very informative, children were fascinated!”
· Paul · Teacher
“The activity was great and got the kids really thinking about how to solve problems.”
· Marcy · Teacher
“I liked the choice that students had and the creativity they had to use to design solutions to the mosquito problem!”
· Melanie · Teacher
“Students were able to be creative and actually draw solutions based on the "Bug Off" sheets”
· Nicole · Teacher
“I love the engineering component! ”
· Eileen · Teacher
“The students were engaged. It was easy to use and understand.”
· Teresa · Teacher
“Good opportunity for problem solving.”
· Elizabeth · Teacher
“Loved the differentiation in settings for students to figure out...”
· Emily · Teacher
“Mystery Science you really raised the bar with your new lessons! This one is a HUGE hit!”
· Krysten · Teacher
“Great idea for the students to work in pairs to solve problems”
· Elizabeth · Teacher
“My students loved this lesson. Especially hearing solutions from so many experts.”
· Nicole · Teacher
“it was a mini problem based learning activity and I loved that it pushed my students to use critical thinking skills!”
· Kat · Teacher
“The class loved engineering changes to their environments to keep the mosquitoes away!”
· Angie · Teacher
“The students really liked the up close videos, as well as drawing their ideas in the location pictures.”
· Michelle · Teacher
“The kids were so very interested because it is a real scenario for them! Mosquitoes in the summertime and how pesky they are! They enjoyed coming up with ideas and discussing them with classmates on what to do about mosquitoes.”
· Jessica · Teacher
“We enjoyed the problem solving and coming up with natural solutions to mosquitos, such as using plants and animals to control the mosquito problem. ”
· Claudia · Homeschooler
“This mystery was so fun! The students loved taking notes on what the different experts had to say and we all learned how to keep the mosquitos away!”
· Jeanne · Teacher
“Discussion with the class on how to get rid of or keep the population of mosquitoes to a minimum. Thanks”
· Sandy · Teacher
“My engineering oriented son enjoyed coming up with structural and mechanical solutions.”
· Gwen · Homeschooler
“This is something the students can relate to and are interested in!”
· Michelle · Teacher
“We had some good discussion about mosquitoes, their life cycle, and the various ways to keep them from biting us and reproducing. I'm impressed with the many varied solutions the students come up with.”
· · Other
“The students and I LOVED problem solving ways to help the residents of Pondville! I admire how Mystery Science always ties science content to REAL LIFE. Students stay engaged in learning because it connects with their lives outside the walls of school.”
· Wyndi · Teacher
“Student collaboration!”
· Jason · Teacher
“My students enjoyed coming up with solutions to end mosquitoes.”
· Chasity · Teacher
“The mosquitoes have been horrible this summer/fall in our area. The kids were really engaged in this lesson, as they tried to find ways to alleviate the mosquito problem.”
· Jason · Teacher
“This lesson is excellent. The extra, mosquito metamorphosis, and videos were so good! We have a pond behind our classroom loaded with larve, so it was perfect timing!”
· Christine · Teacher
“The students came up with great ideas after each expert had given their input. It showed that they were really taking the information they had learned and using it to make a positive change.”
· Kaitlin · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students investigate mosquito life cycles and habitats and discover the role of mosquitoes in carrying diseases such as malaria. In the activity, Bug Off!, students evaluate the merits of different solutions for getting rid of mosquitoes at various locations in a town. Students design a solution to help the town deal with an abundance of mosquitoes resulting from a very rainy summer.
Preview activity

I have a Mystery Pack

Bug Off! Backyard worksheet 1 per student
Bug Off! Picnic Area worksheet 1 per student
Bug Off! Playground worksheet 1 per student
Problem Solver’s Sheet worksheet 1 per student
Prep Instructions

We suggest students work in pairs so they can share their ideas with a partner. Homeschool students can work on their own.

We have provided three Bug Off! worksheets, each picturing a different location in town. In a class, we suggest giving students a choice of which site they’d like to work with. You could also choose to have everyone come up with a solution for the same site. If students finish early, you can have them work on other sites so they can think of multiple solutions to the mosquito problem.

Exploration

21 mins

Hands-On Activity

35 mins

Wrap-Up

4 mins

Extend this lesson

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

Unit Readings

Unit Readings

Mystery Science Fruit Salad

In this reading, students learn how some mischievous people at Mystery Science made a "fruit salad" while thinking like plant scientists.


Wild Sunflowers, Wonderful New Traits

In this reading, students learn about two scientists who study wild sunflowers.

Videos

Videos

  • Take a (really) close-up look at the mosquito’s bite. (Warning! You may want to close your eyes for some of the yucky parts.) (2:55, PBS)

  • How can mosquitoes make you sick? Watch this video to find out. (1:29, Wadada)

  • In the movie Jurassic Park, fictional scientists create dinosaurs from blood found in long-dead mosquitoes. When that movie was made, nobody had ever really found a blood-filled mosquito from millions of years ago—but now they have. Could blood from a real 46-million-year-old fossilized mosquito be used to resurrect dinosaurs? Well, no—but it’s still a cool find. (2:18, D-News/Seeker)

  • Shelly Redovan grew up in Florida where there are lots of mosquitoes. Watch this short video where she talks about the details of her job as a mosquito biologist. (2:50, WGCU Curious Kids)

Mini-lessons

Mini-lessons

You can elaborate student learning and engagement with Mystery Science mini-lessons.

If you are in an NGSS state, this mini-lesson supports the DCI LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms

Transcripts

Credits
 
Circle Of Life Lesson 2: What's the best way to get rid of mosquitoes?

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