In the QCA Scheme, this topic is Unit 6A for Year 6. It builds on earlier units (especially the ones on Variation and on Habitats) to examine: how animals in different habitats are suited to the conditions; feeding relationships between organisms and the concept of food chains; and the use of keys to identify animals.

Please follow the links to Variation and Habitats for suggestions about the relevance of insects to studies of different habitats and of food chains, with appropriate adjustments to detailed activities and expectations for a Year 6 programme.

Because there are so many species of insects, their accurate identification can be difficult and often requires specialist knowledge. Simple ‘minibeast’ identification guides can be used to identify insects and other invertebrates to major groups: the laminated fold-out charts “Woodland Name Trail”, “Freshwater Name Trail” and “Bugs on Bushes” published by the Field Studies Council (www.field-studies-council.org) are specifically intended for use by Key Stage 2+ pupils. A new book by Peter Smithers “Minibeasts: An Identification Guide” has recently gone to print.

Some insect groups are more easily identified to species because they are large or colourful. These provide the satisfaction of finding out precisely which insect you have seen and therefore what its habits are (as in most of the species in our ‘Insect Index’). The Field Studies Council also produces fold-out charts on “Butterflies of Britain”, “Caterpillars of Butterflies of Britain and Ireland” and “Dragonflies and Damselflies of Britain” that are suitable for use by Key Stage 2+ pupils and will help them to identify the common species in these groups.