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Giant Bugs of the Past

Activity

How Do Modern Insects Compare to Their Ancient Ancestors?

Did you know bugs used to be giants? Take a walk in your wildlife habitat and measure insects using your hands or a ruler. Then, use clay and recyclables to create your own giant dragonfly or centipede. Try making it life-sized—or even bigger! Compare your creation to the insects you found and imagine how tiny bugs today measure up to their jumbo ancestors!

Science Seed

The Carboniferous Period, hundreds of millions of years ago, was a time when Earth’s climate and atmosphere allowed insects to grow to enormous sizes. The term comes from the carbon-rich ground layers that are found around the world. High oxygen levels—much higher than today—were a result of dense forests and plant life, which produced oxygen during photosynthesis. This oxygen-rich environment allowed insects like dragonflies to grow to the size of modern hawks and centipedes to grow as large as humans. The warm, humid climate of the Carboniferous Period, combined with the lack of large predators, created ideal conditions for insects to thrive and dominate the land. This shows how changes in Earth’s atmosphere and climate directly affect ecosystems and the size, behavior, and survival of species. Studying past climates helps scientists understand the long-term impacts of climate change and provides information on how current shifts may shape the future.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

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join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.