MSU’s Department of Entomology has been taking time to share its knowledge about little creatures with little people.
Elementary students from Lansing and East Lansing school districts made a trip to campus Wednesday for the second annual insect expo at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.
The event united students who participated in this year’s “Get Bugged” Mentor Program - which pairs entomology graduate students with local classrooms on a weekly basis to share insect-related projects.
“It’s a way to showcase MSU primarily, and secondly, a way to interest people in insects and science,” said Barb Stinnett, outreach coordinator for the Department of Entomology.
“Plus, it’s a lot of fun because the students are excited and they really want to learn.”
At the expo, the first-, third- and fourth-graders shared their completed projects with faculty and staff from the Department of Entomology. Lansing Mayor David Hollister also made a special appearance.
Students attended workshops where they constructed crafts - like bumblebee wind socks and painted magnets - while learning about insects and their role in nature from participating graduate students.
Natalia Botero-Garces, an entomology graduate student and program mentor, said it’s important for the young generation to learn not all bugs are harmful.
“It teaches them that life around them is beautiful and nature and even insects are beautiful,” she said. “They can become friends with insects that many adults would just destroy.”
Lorrie Waller, a first-grader at Pleasant View Elementary School, 4501 Pleasant Grove Road in Lansing, said she liked learning so much about insects, although she was a little apprehensive about them at first.
“They were tickly and little bit scary,” she said. “But it’s fun.”
And Tyler Gidley, Waller’s classmate, said he felt proud of the projects he and his classmates constructed.
“I like it when I show people the stuff that we made,” he said. “I liked the part when the mayor asked us questions.”
Tammy Miller, a first-grade teacher at Pleasant View Elementary School, said the mentor program has contributed greatly to the children’s classroom learning experiences.
“It’s really been helpful in teaching them about cooperative learning and teamwork,” she said. “And I’ve learned a tremendous amount about insects that I’ve been able to continue teaching to my students.”
But the elementary students weren’t the only students who discovered new things through the mentor program, said Jennifer Donovan, an entomology graduate student and coordinator of the mentor program.
“For the graduate students, it gives them a teaching experience and a way for them to share their excitement,” she said. “We have incredible support from entomology faculty that allows grads to take time from their research to do things like this.”
