Table Manners
An insect's mouthparts are the set of structures used for eating. There are two basic types of insect mouths and mouthparts, those adapted for chewing and those adapted for sucking. Chewing insect mouths, like the beetle and fly, can be simulated by using a clothes pin for the beetle and a clothes pin plus a sponge for the fly. A sucking insect mouth, as in the mosquito and butterfly, can be explained through using a straw for the butterfly and a straw with a pointy end for the mosquito. Using these tools to simulate different insect mouths and having students use them to collect water allows them to better understand how the mouthparts work. This activity was super fun and very interesting. Simple for kids and still educational, great to use in the classroom.