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Why are so many people scared of bugs?
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Why are so many people scared of bugs?
Exploration 10 min
Hands-On Activity 30 min
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:

How do you feel about bugs?

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Step
01/21
Get your supplies.
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02/21
You need a long strip of paper. So fold your paper the long way, then
cut along the fold to make two pieces.
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Step
03/21
This simple centipede has 16 legs. It would take a long time to cut out
all those legs! Think about this:
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04/21
Fold one of your pieces of paper in half the long way. Run your finger
along the fold to make a good crease. Then unfold it.
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05/21
Draw a wiggly line down the fold you just made. Fold the paper again,
with the line on the outside.
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06/21
Now fold this long strip in half, like this. Fold it again, like this.
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07/21
Find the wiggly line you drew on the first fold you made. Line your
finger up with that fold. Draw a line along the side of your finger,
like this.
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08/21
Draw a V on your folded paper. Line up one side of a finger with one
side of the V. Draw a line on the other side of your finger. Write LEG
or scribble in this leg.
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09/21
Line up the side of a finger with the other side of the V. Draw a line
on the other side of the finger. Write LEG or scribble in this leg.
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10/21
Before you start cutting, think about this:
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11/21
Cut around the legs on your centipede. If it’s too hard to cut through
all the layers, ask a grown-up for help.
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12/21
Carefully unfold your centipede. Count the legs. Think about this:
How did you cut so many legs so quickly?
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Step
13/21
Look at how colorful real centipedes can be. Think about what your
centipede could look like.
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14/21
Put a blank sheet of paper under your centipede. Start at the body
and color outward. Add eyes. Fold the front legs forward to make
antennae.
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15/21
Now that you’ve made one centipede, use the other half of your
paper to make another. Here’s a reminder of how to fold the paper.
There are also pictures of different ways to make the legs!
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16/21
YOUNGER STUDENTS: you're all done!
OLDER STUDENTS: If you have time, here are more things to try.
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17/21
Now that you’ve tried our folding trick, think about why it works.
Discuss:
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18/21
Here’s how they’re the same: You can fold them down the middle and
the sides match. That’s why you can fold the paper and cut out both
sides at the same time.
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19/21
Here’s how they are different: The top half of the centipede and the
spider matches the bottom half. That’s not true of the heart. Discuss:
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20/21
The top of the folded centipede matches the bottom—so you can
fold it one more time. The spider has one last super tricky fold.
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When you fold a shape and the sides match, people say the shape is
“symmetrical.” Knowing this makes it easy to cut out hearts, flowers,
centipedes, or spiders!
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Exploration 10 min
Hands-On Activity 30 min
Overview
Grade K-5
Topic Current Events And Trending Topics
Focus Biodiversity
Print Prep
Activity Prep

This mini-lesson features a guest scientist, insect expert Dr. Samuel Ramsey. Guided by Dr. Ramsey, students will explore the wide variety of life found in the bug world and learn to appreciate the unique traits and abilities of bugs. In the activity, Paper Creepy Crawlers, students learn about symmetry by creating colorful paper centipedes.

Preview activity

Number of students:
Blank Paper (8.5 x 11")
You can also use construction paper, notebook paper, copy paper, even letters from junk mail.
Details
90 sheets
Crayons
Colored pencils or markers will also work.
Details
90 crayons
Pencil
30
Scissors
30
Prep Instructions

This is an activity that kids can do in class or at home, solo or with others. No print-outs needed!

Overview
Grade K-5
Topic Current Events And Trending Topics
Focus Biodiversity
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Extensions
Discussion
Activity
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