Insect Parts Craft

Overview

This 30-minute lesson engages Year 2 students in New Zealand in the hands-on creation of insect costume parts — specifically wings and antennae. As part of the unit "Insect Costume Creations" (lesson 4 of 5), students practice cutting, gluing, and joining materials, focusing on neatness and durability in their craftwork.

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson aligns closely with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (Te Mātaiaho), particularly within the Learning Area: The Arts (Visual Arts), and also draws on key competencies and achievement objectives relevant to Year 2 learners (aged 6-7).

Learning Area: The Arts — Visual Arts (Level 1)

Students will:

• Develop ideas by exploring and imagining insects as visual forms.
• Develop practical knowledge of materials, techniques, and processes for visual communication (cutting, gluing, joining).
• Develop ideas in response to a variety of stimuli, here the context of insects.
• Produce work that communicates ideas for a purpose — making costume parts.
• Develop habits of care and collaboration when using materials and when working alongside peers.

Key Competencies

• Using language, symbols, and texts: Explaining what they are making and how.
• Managing self: Concentrating on their work, practising new skills deliberately.
• Relating to others: Sharing materials, helping maintain a busy, safe workspace.
• Participating and contributing: Being involved in the classroom community of learning and creativity.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Cut and shape simple materials to form insect wings and antennae.
2. Use glue and joining techniques safely and neatly to assemble parts.
3. Explain the function of wings and antennae on insects.
4. Demonstrate pride in the quality and neatness of their constructed parts.

Resources

• Pre-cut cardboard or stiff paper for wings
• Pipe cleaners or flexible wire for antennae
• Safety scissors suitable for Year 2 students
• PVA or glue sticks
• Tape
• Markers or crayons (optional for decorating)
• Images/models of insects showing wings and antennae

Lesson Sequence (30 minutes)

1. Introduction & Engagement — 5 minutes

• Gather students and briefly revisit the insect unit.
• Show images or a sample insect costume focusing on wings and antennae.
• Discuss briefly the role of insect wings and antennae — “What are wings for? How do insects use their antennae?”
• Introduce the materials and safety reminders for scissors and glue.
• Explain the goal: “Today we will start making our insect wings and antennae to wear!”

2. Guided Demonstration — 5 minutes

• Teacher models how to cut out a wing shape from cardboard/paper.
• Show how to securely attach pipe cleaners as antennae — bending and twisting them neatly.
• Demonstrate safe gluing: putting glue on the edge, pressing firmly but gently.
• Highlight tips for neatness and strength (e.g., don’t use too much glue, hold parts until set).

3. Hands-on Creation — 15 minutes

• Students work independently or in pairs.
• Scaffold support for cutting: provide wing stencils or simple outlines if needed.
• Support joining materials—assist where fine motor precision is needed.
• Encourage students to check their work for neatness and sturdiness.
• Circulate, providing feedback and encouragement, modelling language to describe their work.

4. Sharing & Reflection — 5 minutes

• Invite students to share their wings and antennae with the class.
• Guide them to describe one thing they did carefully to make their parts strong or neat.
• Reinforce the learning: “You used tools and materials carefully to make parts that will help your insect costume look great.”

Assessment & Learning Support

• Observe students’ ability to use scissors safely and effectively.
• Check the neatness and construction quality of wings and antennae.
• Use questioning to assess their understanding of insect anatomy and function of parts.
• Provide extra support for students struggling with fine motor skills by simplifying shapes or assisting joining.
• Praise effort and creativity to build motivation and confidence.

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Notes to Teachers

• This lesson supports layered development of fine motor control, sequential thinking, and creativity.
• Emphasize the process over perfection — mistakes are learning opportunities.
• Incorporate te reo Māori vocabulary where appropriate, e.g., kākano (seed) for wings or pūreretā (antennae if applicable).
• Link the activity with other curriculum areas such as Science (nature, insects) and English (describing, explaining).

By meeting these objectives and integrating cross-curricular skills, this lesson respects the New Zealand Curriculum's holistic approach to young learners’ development and prepares students for the culminating insect costume showcase in the final lesson.

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If desired, I can also generate a detailed template for the last lesson (#5) to show how these created parts come together in costume assembly.