GROUP ACTION PROJECTS!

Here are the group action projects that you can earn points from this term:

1. Build an insect hotel. Earn 150 points

You will need a place to build your insect hotel as well as materials to build it. This can range from pipes, bricks, sticks, dried grass, hollow plant stems, strings, wire – depending on the size and complexity of your hotel. If you are building a hotel with a frame – a drill, screws and hammer may be needed. Optional art supplies like paint can be used for decorating your hotel. Your group will earn 150 points for building a simple hotel and 250 points for a complex insect hotel. Submit a picture of your group with their insect hotel to earn your points!

2. Plant indigenous, insect-attracting trees, flowers or vegetables

Plant a tree, a flower, or a vegetable garden. Set up a window box or planter in your backyard or at your community park (with permission, of course.) Just plant something. The more plants there are, the more bees will find food and a stable habitat. Every plant counts, so you can contribute by planting anything! Your group will earn 100 points for planting a tree or starting a simple veggie garden. For a complex garden or veggie garden planted, earn your group 200 points. Submit a picture of your group before and after the tree or garden was planted (show the tree or garden in your pictures).

3. Do an insect-inspired skit

Assign a role to each child in the group and prepare a skit about insects. Some role ideas include beekeeper, nature conservation official, mayor, lady that kills insects, person that uses bug spray, child stung by a bee, a tree, a vegetable, ant, earthworm, bee, praying mantis. Some topic ideas include the benefits of insects, the threats to the planet in the face of declining insect numbers and how we can protect insects. Come up with a fun name for your skit, record it and send it to us! We suggest the skits be as impromptu as possible and be between two and five minutes long. Earn your group 150 points for completing a skit. Simply submit a video of the group in action!

4. Make insect- friendly household products

Many household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to insects and the environment. By using natural cleaning products, we can help protect nature while keeping our homes clean in a safer and eco-friendly way. There are many simple recipes available online or in your Group Leader lesson plan. Encourage learners to understand the benefits of using environmentally friendly cleaning products and how small changes can help protect the planet. Your group will earn 50 points for each recipe mixed. Simply submit a picture of the product you made, and the recipe used.

5. Visit a reserve, take pictures, identify insects and upload to i-Naturalist.

Visit any nature area and identify insects, snapping pics of these. Download the I Naturalist app and upload the pictures for identification. Your group can win 200 points for this project. Submit a picture of your group at the reserve or in the nature area as well as a picture/screenshot of one of the items entered and submitted onto the app.