Insect Week (22-28 June 2026) is an annual event that celebrates the weird and wonderful world of insects. It’s a golden opportunity for educators to engage children in STEM learning inspired by these creatures’ unique characteristics, including how they breathe, smell, and communicate. Read on for insect facts and STEM ideas to explore insects with children.
You can also join our Facebook group “Early STEM Educators Network” to exchange ideas and questions with other educators about Insect Week and STEM learning.
STEM learning ideas
🐝 Bees “waggle dance” to tell other bees where to find flowers with nectar.
Watch a video of bees dancing to communicate. Then, turn on some music and invite children to move their bodies like bees and imagine they are searching for nectar. You can extend this activity by changing the song to explore movements to suit different beats and rhythms.
You can then encourage the children to make a secret “bee code” by using their body movements to replace words. For example: waving with the left hand can mean “hello”.
🦗 Grasshoppers hear sounds through tiny ears on their bellies.
Take the children outdoors and ask them to describe the different sounds they hear. Then, have them block their ears with their hands and compare the difference.
🌕 Most moth species are nocturnal and fly at night.
Support the children to share ideas and knowledge about what kinds of insects they might find and where and how to look for them. For example, do some insects only come out where it’s dark like moths?
Extend this provocation by exploring: What insects can the children find in the outdoor area or nearby park? Watch the video above with the children to show them how many insects Sarah can find in 3 minutes.
🪳 Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes to save energy.
Invite the children to try holding their breath for a few seconds and share how they feel. Do they feel tired or need to take more breaths now? Or do they feel more energetic?
🦋 Butterflies use their feet to taste plants that they can lay eggs on.
Encourage the children to discuss what type of plant a butterfly needs to find to lay its eggs on. Does it have to have big leaves? Does the colour of the plant matter?
You can learn more about Insect Week and check out their 0-5 learning resources here.
Develop your STEM skills with our pedagogy-based STEM PD:
- Browse our in-person STEM workshops.
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- Browse our online STEM Hours.
- Book an in-service workshop for your team.
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