The Very Quiet Cricket
                     By Eric Carle

Materials
The book, The Very Quiet Cricket, by Eric Carle 
Paper
Pencil
Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
access to internet
access to printer
 
 

Before You Read
Before you read the book
complete the following activites: 

*How much do you know about crickets?  Let's find out.  Print out this
page  and fill out the first 2 sections.  (We'll fill out the last section later).

*Click here to find out more about the features and habitat of crickets.  What do you notice about the cricket?  What does it look like? How many legs does it look like it has?  Does it have antennaes? Where is the ear located? What color is it?  Is it cute??? Ugly?  Write a short paragraph physically describing the cricket.

**Let's be creative. Draw your very own crickets.
(Print this page out)

*Crickets have 3 general types of songs (sounds) they make.
1.)  Calling Songs are used to "call" females from far away
2.) Courtship songs are usually used when the male and female antennaes are touching.
3.) Aggressive songs are "battle calls" that males use to say "stay  away!"

*Did you know that only male crickets can chirp??? 
Listen to some cool cricket sounds!
(Click on the 3 cricket sounds in the table)
 

While You Read
*While you read, see if you can figure out why
the cricket cannot say "Hello"

*Think about how it would be to not be able to talk.  What would you do?
Would you use other ways to communicate?  What are some other ways you would use to communicate?  Click here to see some of my ideas.

*Check out pictures of the insects that the cricket runs into.
Click on each link as the cricket meets them.
*locust
*praying mantis
*worm
*spittlebug
*cicada
*bumblebee
*luna moth
*dragonfly
 
 

After You Read
*Print out this storymap and fill it out.

*Let's write a short story about the crickets you drew earlier.
(Print this page out)

*Click here and publish your story! 

*Fill out the "Learned" part on your KWL chart.
 

Beyond What You Read

*Click here to visit a web site that will tell you how you can raise your very own cricket or crickets!  Cool, huh!

*Here is a fun crossword puzzle.  Find the different bugs hidden.

*Hungry? Try some Chocolate Chirpie Cookies!

*Did you know that crickets are a great source of calcium.  Check out some nutritional values of bugs!

*Would you like to be part of the BUG CLUB? Check it out!!! 

*Take this quiz and see what you have learned!  You may use the book and the sites on this page as a reference.

*Time to see how well you did.  Print the rubric and fill it out.
 
 
 

   This CyberLesson was developed by Angela Enders