Thursday, May 17, 2012

ESL Discussion Questions about Insects

What are they?

Other words for insects? Bugs, Pests, ant, aphid, arachnid, arthropod, bedbug, bee,beetle, bumblebee, butterfly, cockroach, cootie,daddy long-legs, dragonfly, flea, fly, fruit fly,gnat, grasshopper, hornet, ladybug, louse, mite,mite, mosquito, moth, pest, praying mantis,spider, termite, tick, vermin, yellow-jacket

What does the word "bug" mean as a verb?

Can you tell some insects? Bees, Crickets, Hornets, Ants, Crickets, fleas, butterflies, grasshoppers, cockroaches,

What is your favourite insect?

How do insects help us?

Can we eat insects?

You must be an insect. What insect would you be?

What insects do you hate?

What insects do you see everyday?

What stories can you tell me about you and insects?

Did you play with insects when you were young?

What is a fly swatter?

Do you like killing insects? How can you kill them? What things do you use to kill mosquitoes? Is it okay to kill insects? Is killing a mosquito murder?

Have you ever had your home infested with bugs? What did you do about it?

Have you been stung by a bee? Have you ever come upon a hornet's nest or bee hive? What did you do?

Do insects make good pets?

If insects could talk, what would they talk about?

What bugs bugs?

Do only bugs bug us?


Tell me about insect characters that have appeared in movies and t.v. Shows.

Mention some Aesop tales involving insects. Tell the story. Ask for students to tell you their meaning.


The Ant and the Grasshopper

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.


The Bald Man and the Fly

A Fly settled on the head of a Bald Man and bit him. In his eagerness to kill it, he hit himself a smart slap. But the Fly escaped, and said to him in derision, "You tried to kill me for just one little bite; what will you do to yourself now, for the heavy smack you have just given yourself?" "Oh, for that blow I bear no grudge," he replied, "for I never intended myself any harm; but as for you, you contemptible insect, who live by sucking human blood, I'd have borne a good deal more than that for the satisfaction of dashing the life out of you!"


The Ant and the Chrysalis


An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in search of food came across a Chrysalis that was very near its time of change. The Chrysalis moved its tail, and thus attracted the attention of the Ant, who then saw for the first time that it was alive. "Poor, pitiable animal!" cried the Ant disdainfully. "What a sad fate is yours! While I can run hither and thither, at my pleasure, and, if I wish, ascend the tallest tree, you lie imprisoned here in your shell, with power only to move a joint or two of your scaly tail." The Chrysalis heard all this, but did not try to make any reply. A few days after, when the Ant passed that way again, nothing but the shell remained. Wondering what had become of its contents, he felt himself suddenly shaded and fanned by the gorgeous wings of a beautiful Butterfly. "Behold in me," said the Butterfly, "your much-pitied friend! Boast now of your powers to run and climb as long as you can get me to listen." So saying, the Butterfly rose in the air, and, borne along and aloft on the summer breeze, was soon lost to the sight of the Ant forever.

Appearances are deceptive.



What insects are: interesting, annoying, dangerous, helpful, delicious, ugly, beautiful, big, very tiny



What do the following expressions mean:

Stop bugging me!

As busy as a bee.

As mad as a hornet.

Have butterflies in the stomach.

Wouldn't hurt a flea.

It is the bee's knees!

To be a fly on the wall

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