Insects, in their amazing diversity and abundance, can be used to illustrate many principles of the living world in primary school science studies. The topics below are featured as units in the QCA Primary Science scheme for Key Stages 1 & 2 in England. Similar subjects are found in: the ACCAC Programmes of Study on ‘Life Processes and Living Things’ for Key Stages 1 & 2 in Wales; and the CCEA Science and Technology Programmes of Study on ‘Living Things: Animals and Plants’ for Key Stages 1 & 2 in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the SQA’s national assessment programmes are not prescriptive about science for ages 5-14, but we hope that the QCA-based topics may provide useful ideas for teachers of children aged 5-11.

The links will take you to suggestions about how insects in general – and the twelve insects in our ‘Insect Index’ in particular – can illustrate biological principles for primary school pupils.

• Plants and animals in the local environment
• Variation
• Moving and growing
• Habitats
• Life cycles
• Interdependence and adaptation