Insect Discovery
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  • Workshops
    • Directions
    • UA courses
  • Classroom visits
  • Lesson plans & resources
  • Contact us
  • Costs & Support
  • Common Arizona Insects
    • Dragonflies and Damselflies
    • Roaches and Termites
    • Praying Mantis
    • Stick Insects
    • Grasshoppers and Crickets
    • Earwigs
    • True Bugs
    • Antlions and Lacewings
    • Beetles
    • Flies
    • Butterflies and Moths
    • Bees, Wasps and Ants
  • Discovery Notebook
  • Newsletter
Child looking at a praying mantisPhoto: Kimberly Hosey, www.arizona-writer.com
What is Insect Discovery?

Insect Discovery is a University of Arizona outreach program primarily for elementary school students. The program sparks  students’ scientific curiosity through hands-on activities using live and preserved insects. 


Children are natural scientists, and early engagement in science learning is important both to stimulate interest in a scientific career and to promote general scientific literacy. In Arizona, insects are major component of the 2nd grade science curriculum. Our program provides a variety of resources, including classroom visits, workshops and lesson plans, to help teachers make the most of their students’ fascination with the amazing and diverse world of insects.

Program Goals:
  • Spark an early interest in science and bring basic science concepts to life.
  • Encourage students to use observational, critical thinking, and problem solving skills to formulate questions and test hypotheses.
  • Instill an appreciation for the amazing and important insects all around us.
  • Introduce young students to the university and give UA students a chance to give back to the Tucson community.
Children at Insect Discovery looking atan insect display boxPhoto: Kathleen Walker
Program Statistics:
Since 2005 we have reached over 20,000 school children, and trained close to 150 UA students.

In a typical year we reach about 3000 children in 40 schools, with 45 workshops and over 100 classroom visits.

The majority of schools participating in Insect Discovery are Title I (more than 50% of students receive free or reduced price lunch) and have over 50% minority enrollment. 

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Logo design and site layout by CM Gibson, 2014.
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