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Coloring Exercises for Insect Identification and Conservation Awareness

Received: 30 May 2019     Accepted: 4 July 2019     Published: 15 July 2019
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Abstract

The Endangered Species Act in the United States of America currently protects more than 1,500 species, 74 of which are insects, including the american burying beetle (ABB) and the rusty patched bumble bee. Insects that are experiencing population declines, such as the monarch butterfly, are under consideration for protection. Awareness of biological diversity, the ability to recognize an endangered species, and understanding the conservation of beneficial insects can begin at an early age. We designed a coloring exercise to promote insect species awareness and introduced this activity to elementary and middle school students in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. We assessed students’ insect identification abilities by presenting a quiz on species diversity and ABB identification before and after the coloring exercise. Inspired by the quiz results, we created coloring templates for additional insect species, including the monarch butterfly, ladybird beetles, and bumble bees. These exercises will promote awareness of endangered species and improve science literacy in the classroom.

Published in International Journal of Elementary Education (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13
Page(s) 53-57
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Beneficial Insects, Population Declines, Coloring Templates for Identification

References
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[2] Pocock, M. J. O., Tweddle, J. C., Savage, J., Robinson, L. D. & Roy, H. E. (2017) The diversity and evolution of ecological and environmental citizen science, PLoS ONE 12 (4): e0172579.
[3] Ellwood, E. R., Crimmins, T. M., & Miller-Rushing, A. J. (2017) Citizen science and conservation: Recommendations for a rapidly moving field, Biological Conservation, 208, 1–4.
[4] James, D. G., James, T. S., Seymour, L., Kappen, L., Russell, T., Harryman, B., & Bly, C. (2018) Citizen scientist tagging reveals destinations of migrating monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus (L.) from the Pacific Northwest, Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society, 72, 127–144.
[5] Oberhauser, K. & Prysby, M. (2008) Citizen science: Creating a research army for conservation, American Entomologist, 54 (2) 103–105.
[6] Rosenberger, D. W., & Aukema, B. H. (2016) Stimulating curiosity and engagement with insects beyond the college classroom through citizen science, American Entomologist, 62: 120–122.
[7] Pearson, G., Skinner, K. & Hoback, W. (2007) Rearing the masses: Defining competencies for entomological literacy, American Entomologist, 53 (4) 216–223.
[8] Pocock, M. J. O., Roy, H. E., Fox, R., Ellis, W. N., & Botham, M. (2017) Citizen science and invasive alien species: Predicting the detection of the oak processionary moth Thaumetopoea processionea by moth recorders, Biological Conservation, 208, 146–154.
[9] Ryan, S., Lombaert, E., Espeset, A., Vila, R., Talavera, G., Dincā, V., Renshaw, M. A., Eng, M. E., Doellman, M. M., Hornett, E. A., Li, Y., Pfrender, M. E., & Shoemaker, D. (2018) Global invasion history of the world's most abundant pest butterfly: a citizen science population genomics study, bioRxiv. 1–56.
[10] Losey, J., Allee, L. & Smyth, R. (2012) The Lost Ladybug Project: Citizen spotting surpasses scientist’s surveys, American Entomologist, 58 (1) 22–24.
[11] Sickler, J., Cherry, T., Allee, L., Smyth, R. & Losey, J. (2014) Scientific value and educational goals: Balancing priorities and increasing adult engagement in a citizen science project, Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 13 (2) 109–119.
[12] Losey, J., Perlman, J. & Hoebeke, E. (2007) Citizen scientist rediscovers rare nine-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella novemnotata, in eastern North America, Journal of Insect Conservation, 11, 415–417.
[13] Urquhart, F. (1960) The monarch butterfly. London: Oxford University Press.
[14] Prysby, M. & Oberhauser, K. (2004) Temporal and geographical variation in monarch densities: Citizen scientists document monarch population patterns. In The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation, Oberhauser, K. & Solensky, M. (Eds.) pp. 9–20. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Elizabeth Dawnette Knowlton, Theresa Elizabeth Andrew, Andrine Adeline Shufran, Kerri Maureen Farnsworth-Hoback, William Wyatt Hoback. (2019). Coloring Exercises for Insect Identification and Conservation Awareness. International Journal of Elementary Education, 8(2), 53-57. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13

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    ACS Style

    Elizabeth Dawnette Knowlton; Theresa Elizabeth Andrew; Andrine Adeline Shufran; Kerri Maureen Farnsworth-Hoback; William Wyatt Hoback. Coloring Exercises for Insect Identification and Conservation Awareness. Int. J. Elem. Educ. 2019, 8(2), 53-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13

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    AMA Style

    Elizabeth Dawnette Knowlton, Theresa Elizabeth Andrew, Andrine Adeline Shufran, Kerri Maureen Farnsworth-Hoback, William Wyatt Hoback. Coloring Exercises for Insect Identification and Conservation Awareness. Int J Elem Educ. 2019;8(2):53-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13,
      author = {Elizabeth Dawnette Knowlton and Theresa Elizabeth Andrew and Andrine Adeline Shufran and Kerri Maureen Farnsworth-Hoback and William Wyatt Hoback},
      title = {Coloring Exercises for Insect Identification and Conservation Awareness},
      journal = {International Journal of Elementary Education},
      volume = {8},
      number = {2},
      pages = {53-57},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijeedu.20190802.13},
      abstract = {The Endangered Species Act in the United States of America currently protects more than 1,500 species, 74 of which are insects, including the american burying beetle (ABB) and the rusty patched bumble bee. Insects that are experiencing population declines, such as the monarch butterfly, are under consideration for protection. Awareness of biological diversity, the ability to recognize an endangered species, and understanding the conservation of beneficial insects can begin at an early age. We designed a coloring exercise to promote insect species awareness and introduced this activity to elementary and middle school students in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. We assessed students’ insect identification abilities by presenting a quiz on species diversity and ABB identification before and after the coloring exercise. Inspired by the quiz results, we created coloring templates for additional insect species, including the monarch butterfly, ladybird beetles, and bumble bees. These exercises will promote awareness of endangered species and improve science literacy in the classroom.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    T1  - Coloring Exercises for Insect Identification and Conservation Awareness
    AU  - Elizabeth Dawnette Knowlton
    AU  - Theresa Elizabeth Andrew
    AU  - Andrine Adeline Shufran
    AU  - Kerri Maureen Farnsworth-Hoback
    AU  - William Wyatt Hoback
    Y1  - 2019/07/15
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13
    T2  - International Journal of Elementary Education
    JF  - International Journal of Elementary Education
    JO  - International Journal of Elementary Education
    SP  - 53
    EP  - 57
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7640
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijeedu.20190802.13
    AB  - The Endangered Species Act in the United States of America currently protects more than 1,500 species, 74 of which are insects, including the american burying beetle (ABB) and the rusty patched bumble bee. Insects that are experiencing population declines, such as the monarch butterfly, are under consideration for protection. Awareness of biological diversity, the ability to recognize an endangered species, and understanding the conservation of beneficial insects can begin at an early age. We designed a coloring exercise to promote insect species awareness and introduced this activity to elementary and middle school students in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. We assessed students’ insect identification abilities by presenting a quiz on species diversity and ABB identification before and after the coloring exercise. Inspired by the quiz results, we created coloring templates for additional insect species, including the monarch butterfly, ladybird beetles, and bumble bees. These exercises will promote awareness of endangered species and improve science literacy in the classroom.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Environmental Science Graduate Program, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA

  • Environmental Science Graduate Program, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA

  • Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA

  • Environmental Science Graduate Program, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA

  • Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA

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