Teacher Resources

This digital educational tool for entomology, the Virtual Insect Collection Lab, allows learners to practice pinning, pointing, and spreading insects to preserve them for scientific study. Created for specifically for middle school students and educators, with a focus on meeting science standards in New Mexico, the lab has been particularly relevant to students and teachers doing remote or hybrid learning. It is also suitable for learners of any age studying insect collections, whether in 4-H, other informal learning, or in classrooms.

Using the Virtual Insect Collection Lab in Classrooms

This virtual lab can be used in various ways, depending on your curriculum. For example, you can:

• Use the Virtual Insect Collection Lab to prepare students before they create their own collection. Students often struggle with some aspects of creating insect collections, such as preparing specimens for pinning, labeling the samples, and applying proper techniques for pinning, pointing, or spreading insects. Using this as a pre-activity, students can practice creating an insect collection before doing it independently.
• Assign the Virtual Insect Collection Lab as an alternative lesson for students unable to do a real collection. If students are unable to create an insect collection, you can assign this lab and have students answer questions such as:
  • What information should be included on insect collection labels?
  • Why is it important to correctly pin, point, or spread insects?
  • Why are different types of insects mounted in different ways (e.g., pinning, pointing, and spreading)?
  • What kinds of science questions can be answered with insect collections?
• Have students share the Virtual Insect Collection Lab with their families and younger students as homework or at school events like science nights.
• Use the Virtual Insect Collection Lab as an opportunity to explore and discuss how natural history collections are used to answer research questions about topics like climate change, invasive species, and extinction. After your students complete the lab, follow up with guiding questions such as:
• What kinds of things can we learn by looking at collections over time?
• How is an insect collection similar to and different than a library?
• How is an insect collection similar to and different than a history book?
• Would the insect collection help answer these questions if the labels were incomplete or lost? Why or why not?
• What other types of collections do scientists use?
• Invite experts to your classroom or go on field trips to learn more after your students have engaged in the Virtual Insect Collection Lab. Visit natural history collections at universities, natural history museums, botanical gardens, and zoos.
• Have your students explore data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON; https://www.neonscience.org), a field site network that provides standardized, open data for all. NEON provides data on ground beetles (https://www.neonscience.org/data-collection/ground-beetles) because they are excellent indicators of environmental change and arthropod biodiversity.

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Virtual Insect Collection Lab Next Generation Science Standards Alignment

The Virtual Insect Collection Lab can be woven into curriculum units aligned with multiple Disciplinary Core Ideas from the Next Generation Science Standards, including:

• LS1.A Structure and function
• LS2.A Interdependent relationships in ecosystems
• LS2.C Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience
• LS3.B Variation of traits
• LS4.A Evidence of common ancestry and diversity
• LS4.B Natural selection
• LS4.C Adaptation
• LS4.D Biodiversity and humans
• ESS3.C Human impacts on Earth’s systems

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Ways to Explore For More:

Ag in the Classroom Lessons:

• Hungry Pests
• Pests and Pesticides in Agriculture
• Journey 2050 Lesson 2: Plant Health (9-12)
• Journey 2050 Lesson 2: Plant Heath (6-8)
• Companion Resources:
  • Agricultural Pests: https://www.agclassroom.org/matrix/resource/1115/

Extend Your Learning: Tours, Field Trip, and Experts in the Field Connections

• Visit or request a visit from the New Mexico State University Arthropod Museum and see their extensive collections and see first-hand why insect collections are important!
  To schedule a visit:
  Call: (575) 646-6850
  Book online: NMSU Arthropod Museum
• If you are lucky enough to live near one, please visit or request a visit from experts at your nearest New Mexico State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Each station offers a better understanding of how important research is in our daily lives. Click on a research station near you to learn more and ask about connections to entomology.
• Explore Careers in Entomology: Contact your local experts for an in-person or virtual classroom visit
• Local experts to contact for more information
• Crop specialist County Cooperative Extension Agents – Ask about 4-H entomology educational resources and presentations
• Area colleges with entomologists/ entomology departments
• New Mexico Department of Agriculture Entomology & Nursery Industries
• New Mexico State University Extension Entomology Ag Science Center Artesia
• Local veterinarian to discuss impacts of insects on animals
• Local beekeeper
• Local county Vector Control program
• Local pest control expert
• Local garden experts to discuss beneficial and harmful insects in food production and explore pollination and insect interaction with plants: List of botanical gardens and arboretums in New Mexico
• Local museums: Inquire about current museum exhibits that focus on insects/entomology
• Albuquerque Garden Resources:
• Gutierrez-Hubbell House http://gutierrezhubbellhouse.org/
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Resilience Garden. https://www.indianpueblo.org/learn/resilience-garden/
• Kiwanis Learning Garden. Garden Discovery at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Sciences: Both In-House and Outreach programs are available. Themes (including Discover Compost and Discover Groundwater) change each month. See website for more info. https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/youth-and-family-programs/garden-programs
• NMSU Bernalillo County Extension UFO Demonstration Gardens. Open to the public year round. 1510 Menaul Blvd NW Ext, Albuquerque, NM 87107
• Open Space Visitor Center. 6500 Coors Blvd. NW ABQ. “Traditions Garden”, Permaculture Garden, compost bins, bee hives, and more. https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/open-space-visitor-center
• Rio Grande Nature Center. 2901 Candelaria Rd. NW ABQ 87107. 505 344-7240. Heather.Maccurdy@state.nm.us https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/rio-grande-nature-center-state-park/