Insect (Specific) Badge
(Discover the Outdoors)
By Kerry Cordy
NOTE: These requirements can be used to earn an individual badge for any specific insect including the Butterfly badge, the Ant badge, the Praying Mantis badge, and any other insect of your choice.
Preschool: Do three requirements including the two starred.
_____ 1.* Choose an insect and learn to identify them.
_____ 2.* Know the life cycle of your insect and what they eat.
Level 1: Do four requirements including the two starred.
_____ 1.* Do Preschool requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Draw or color a picture of your insect and know the basic anatomy of your insect.
Level 2: Do five requirements including the two starred.
_____ 1.* Do Level 1 requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Find out how your insect benefits or hurts the environment. What places are they native to? Make a map of locations.
Level 3: Do six requirements including the two starred.
_____ 1.* Do Level 2 requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Know how many varieties/species there are of your specific insect and how to recognize them.
Level 4: Do seven requirements including the two starred.
_____ 1.* Do Level 3 requirements 1 & 2.
_____ 2.* Learn the scientific name of your insect as well as the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Level 5: Do 9 requirements including the two starred.
_____ 1.* Do Level 4 requirements 1 & 2
_____ 2.* Teach someone how to do a skill from this badge or teach some knowledge about this badge to someone. You can teach kids, your spouse, seniors, anyone, just as long as you are sharing your new found knowledge. If for some reason you cannot teach what you have learned to someone else, you may choose an additional 2 optional requirements instead.
Optional Requirements:
_____ 3. Visit somewhere where you can see or interact with your specific insect.
_____ 4. If you insect is a local one, go outside and hunt for them.
_____ 5. Take a photograph of your insect.
_____ 6. Find out if you can eat them. Where do people actually eat these insect? How are they prepared? If possible, and with a parent’s permission, eat one properly prepared.
_____ 7. What is the largest species of your insect, what is the smallest?
_____ 8. Make a booklet or poster about what you have learned to share with others.
_____ 9. Are there any world records regarding your insect (largest, strongest, fastest, smallest, etc.)?
_____ 10. If your insect is endangered, what is being done to protect it? How can you help?
_____ 11. Participate in a community service project revolving around your insect.
_____ 12. Create a collage of at least 15 pictures of your insect.
_____ 13. If your insect is considered a pest, what is the safest, most environmentally safe way of controlling it?
_____ 14. If your insect is a beneficial one, plant some plants in your yard that will attract your insect.
_____ 15. Interview someone who studies or works with your insect.
_____ 16. Make a craft or piece of artwork that has to do with your insect.