Insects
ant
bee
butterfly
caterpillar
ladybug
grasshopper
dragonfly
fly
mosquito
beetle
Vocabulary lesson plan & materials
Insects
A1–B1 · Insects and action verbs through reading, listening, speaking and writing, with Present Simple, Past Simple, there are, can and make.
Language Focus
Active Vocabulary & Grammar
Core vocabulary and grammar patterns used across the lesson.
Action Verbs
climb
make
fly
jump
bite
buzz
transform
pollinate
collect
plant
explore
sting
Useful Words
wings
legs
spots
features
nectar
pollen
hive
honey
garden
environment
Present Simple
Honey bees make honey. Mosquitoes can bite people and animals.
Past Simple
Tom didn’t know that bees were important pollinators.
There are
There are many different kinds of insects.
Can
Ants can climb. Grasshoppers can jump. Dragonflies can fly fast.
Make
Honey bees make honey. The verb make is followed by a thing or result.
Reading
Insects & Their Abilities
Insects
A1–B1Insects have six legs. Many insects also have wings. There are many different kinds of insects, such as ants, bees, butterflies, caterpillars, ladybugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, flies, mosquitoes, and beetles.
Ants can climb walls and trees.
Honey bees make honey.
Butterflies often have colorful wings.
Butterfly caterpillars turn into butterflies.
Ladybugs often have spots on their backs.
Grasshoppers can jump high.
Dragonflies can fly fast.
Flies can be annoying.
Mosquitoes can bite people and animals.
Beetles come in many colors.
In conclusion, insects are fascinating and can do amazing things. Many can fly or climb, and they see with eyes on their heads. So, take a closer look at insects next time you see one and appreciate their unique features!
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with words from the text.
Word bank: legs, wings (2), insects (2), ants, climb, bees, butterflies (2), caterpillars, ladybugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, fly (2), flies, mosquitoes, beetles, heads
Insects have six _____(1). Many insects also have _____(2). There are many different kinds of _____(3), such as ants, bees, butterflies, caterpillars, ladybugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, flies, mosquitoes, and beetles.
_____(4) can _____(5) walls and trees.
Honey _____(6) make honey.
_____(7) often have colorful _____(8).
Butterfly _____(9) turn into _____(10).
_____(11) often have spots on their backs.
_____(12) can jump high.
_____(13) can _____(14) fast.
_____(15) can be annoying.
_____(16) can bite people and animals.
_____(17) come in many colors.
In conclusion, _____(18) are fascinating and can do amazing things. Many can _____(19) or climb, and they see with eyes on their _____(20).
1
legs
2
wings
3
insects
4
ants
5
climb
6
bees
7
butterflies
8
wings
9
caterpillars
10
butterflies
11
ladybugs
12
grasshoppers
13
dragonflies
14
fly
15
flies
16
mosquitoes
17
beetles
18
insects
19
fly
20
heads
Task 2 — Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer.
1
What are some examples of insects mentioned in the text?
2
What do honey bees make?
3
What do butterfly caterpillars turn into?
4
What do ladybugs often have on their backs?
5
What can grasshoppers do?
6
What can mosquitoes do?
7
What is true about beetles in the text?
8
What does the text encourage you to do when you see an insect?
1
B
2
A
3
C
4
B
5
B
6
A
7
A
8
C
Task 3 — True or False
Decide whether each statement is True or False.
1
All insects have six legs.
TrueFalse
2
Every insect has wings.
TrueFalse
3
Honey bees make honey.
TrueFalse
4
All caterpillars become butterflies.
TrueFalse
5
Ladybugs often have spots on their backs.
TrueFalse
6
Grasshoppers can jump high.
TrueFalse
7
Dragonflies are described as slow flyers.
TrueFalse
8
Mosquitoes can bite people and animals.
TrueFalse
1
True
2
False — Some insects do not have wings.
3
True
4
False — Some caterpillars become moths.
5
True
6
True
7
False — The text says dragonflies can fly fast.
8
True
Insects Are Interesting!
A1–B1Tom
Wow, did you know that there are so many different types of insects?
Sophie
Yeah, absolutely! Ants can climb walls and trees.
Tom
And honey bees make honey!
Sophie
I love seeing butterflies with their colorful wings. Did you know that butterfly caterpillars transform into butterflies?
Tom
Really? That’s cool. Ladybugs often have spots on their backs, which look cute!
Sophie
Grasshoppers can jump really high. It’s fascinating to see them move around.
Tom
Dragonflies fly so fast in the air! Flies can be annoying, though. They buzz around everywhere.
Sophie
Yeah, and mosquitoes can bite people and animals, which can make them even more annoying than flies!
Tom
On a positive note, beetles come in many colors, which is interesting to see.
Tom
Insects certainly have unique features. We should explore their world more.
Sophie
Definitely. Let’s take a closer look at insects next time we see one!
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with words from the text.
Word bank: grasshoppers, bees, buzz, features, butterflies, beetles, caterpillars, explore, ladybugs, dragonflies, climb, flies, insects, mosquitoes, cute, types
Tom: Wow, did you know that there are so many different _____(1) of _____(2)?
Sophie: Yeah, absolutely! Ants can _____(3) walls and trees.
Tom: And honey _____(4) make honey!
Sophie: I love seeing _____(5) with their colorful wings. Did you know that butterfly _____(6) transform into butterflies?
Tom: Really? That’s cool. _____(7) often have spots on their backs, which look _____(8)!
Sophie: _____(9) can jump really high. It’s fascinating to see them move around.
Tom: _____(10) fly so fast in the air! _____(11) can be annoying, though. They _____(12) around everywhere.
Sophie: Yeah, and _____(13) can bite people and animals.
Tom: On a positive note, _____(14) come in many colors.
Tom: Insects certainly have unique _____(15). We should _____(16) their world more.
1
types
2
insects
3
climb
4
bees
5
butterflies
6
caterpillars
7
ladybugs
8
cute
9
grasshoppers
10
dragonflies
11
flies
12
buzz
13
mosquitoes
14
beetles
15
features
16
explore
Task 2 — Reading Questions
Answer the questions.
1
What is the conversation about?
2
What interesting facts about ants, honey bees, butterflies, ladybugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, flies, mosquitoes, and beetles are mentioned?
3
Why does Sophie enjoy seeing butterflies?
4
What do ladybugs often have on their backs?
5
Which insect can jump really high?
6
What is the speakers’ attitude toward insects?
1
The conversation is about different types of insects and their features.
2
Ants can climb; honey bees make honey; butterfly caterpillars become butterflies; ladybugs often have spots; grasshoppers can jump high; dragonflies fly fast; flies buzz; mosquitoes can bite; and beetles come in many colors.
3
She enjoys seeing butterflies because they have colorful wings.
4
Ladybugs often have spots on their backs.
5
Grasshoppers can jump really high.
6
The speakers have a positive, curious attitude toward insects and find them interesting.
Bees in the Garden
A1–B1Tom
Look at all those bees in the garden, Jack. I’m afraid of them.
Jack
Don’t be afraid, Tom. Bees are very important pollinators.
Tom
Really? How so?
Jack
Bees move pollen between flowers, which helps many plants produce seeds and fruit. Honey bees also make the honey that people eat.
Tom
Wow, I didn’t know that. But what should we do if a bee comes near us?
Jack
Stay calm and avoid sudden movements. Give the bee some space and let it move away.
Tom
What happens if a bee stings a person?
Jack
A worker honey bee may die after stinging a person because its barbed stinger can get stuck. Other bees do not always die after one sting.
Tom
That’s interesting. How can we help bees?
Jack
We can plant more flowers in our garden or on our balcony. Bees need flowers for nectar and pollen.
Tom
Okay, let’s get some flowers then. Maybe we’ll see a bee collecting nectar!
Jack
That would be great. Let’s go and buy some seeds right now.
Task 1 — Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer.
1
Who is afraid of the bees in the garden?
2
Why are bees important?
3
What should Tom do if a bee comes near him?
4
What may happen to a worker honey bee after it stings a person?
5
How can Tom and Jack help bees?
6
What do bees get from flowers?
7
What do Tom and Jack plan to buy?
8
Why should you avoid sudden movements near a bee?
9
Do all bees die after one sting?
10
What is a sensible way to observe bees?
1
B
2
C
3
B
4
A
5
A
6
B
7
B
8
A
9
B
10
A
Task 2 — Reading Questions
Answer the questions.
1
Why is Tom afraid of the bees, and how does Jack respond?
2
What is one important role of bees in the environment?
3
How does pollination help plants?
4
Which bees make the honey that people eat?
5
What should Tom do if a bee comes near him?
6
What may happen to a worker honey bee after it stings a person?
7
How can Tom and Jack help bees?
8
What do Tom and Jack plan to buy?
1
Tom is afraid of the bees. Jack tells him not to be afraid and explains that bees are important pollinators.
2
Bees help pollinate flowering plants.
3
Moving pollen between flowers helps many plants produce seeds and fruit.
4
Honey bees make the honey that people eat.
5
He should stay calm, avoid sudden movements, and give the bee space.
6
A worker honey bee may die after stinging a person because its barbed stinger can become stuck.
7
They can plant more flowers in the garden or on the balcony.
8
They plan to buy seeds.
Listening
Video 1 — Bees
Watch the video and complete the listening-comprehension tasks.
Task 1 — Video Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer.
1
What is the main topic of the video?
2
Which types of bees are mentioned near the beginning?
3
What is the difference between solitary bees and social bees?
4
What is the queen bee’s main job?
5
What is true about drones and worker bees?
6
What material do honey bees use to build comb?
7
Which jobs do worker bees do in the hive?
8
What do worker bees collect from flowers?
9
Why are bees important to plants?
10
What is honey used for in a honey-bee colony?
1
B
2
A
3
A
4
C
5
C
6
C
7
D
8
A
9
A
10
A
Task 2 — Video True or False
Decide whether each statement is True or False.
1
Bees can be found in many parts of the world.
TrueFalse
2
There are only two types of bees.
TrueFalse
3
Solitary bees live alone.
TrueFalse
4
The queen bee’s main job is to collect pollen.
TrueFalse
5
Drone bees are male and worker bees are female.
TrueFalse
6
Honey is used to help feed the colony.
TrueFalse
7
Bees are unimportant to plants.
TrueFalse
8
Bees help pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
TrueFalse
9
Worker bees carry pollen on specialized structures on their bodies.
TrueFalse
10
Social bees such as honey bees live in colonies.
TrueFalse
1
True
2
False — The video says there are many types of bees.
3
True
4
False — The queen’s main role is to lay eggs.
5
True
6
True
7
False — Bees are important pollinators.
8
True
9
True
10
True
Task 3 — Video Questions
Answer the questions.
1
What types of bees are mentioned in the video?
2
How do solitary bees differ from social bees?
3
What is the queen bee’s main role?
4
What jobs do worker bees perform?
5
What do worker bees collect from flowers, and how do they carry pollen?
6
What do honey bees use beeswax for?
7
What is honey used for in a honey-bee colony?
8
Why are bees important for plants?
9
What does the video show about wild hives and beekeeper hives?
10
What other animals or insects can be important in an ecosystem?
1
The video mentions honeybees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, and mining bees.
2
Solitary bees live alone, while social bees such as honey bees live in colonies.
3
The queen bee’s main role is to lay eggs.
4
Worker bees care for young bees, clean the hive, groom the queen, collect food, and perform other colony tasks.
5
They collect nectar and pollen. Pollen is carried on specialized hairs or pollen baskets on their bodies.
6
Honey bees use beeswax to build the comb structure of the hive.
7
Honey is stored food that provides energy for the colony.
8
Bees pollinate many flowering plants, helping them produce seeds and fruit.
9
The video shows examples of both wild hives and a beekeeper’s hive, but it does not explain their differences in detail.
10
Possible answers vary. Other important animals include butterflies, beetles, birds, bats, and many other pollinators or predators.
Language Production
Discussion & Speaking
Pair and small-group prompts for using the target vocabulary and grammar.
1
Which insect do you see most often where you live?
2
Which insect do you find the most interesting? Why?
3
What can ants, bees, butterflies, grasshoppers, and dragonflies do?
4
Describe an insect using there are, can, and Present Simple.
5
Have you ever watched bees or butterflies in a garden? What happened?
6
What did you see the last time you visited a park or garden?
7
Why are bees important for plants and people?
8
How can people make gardens and balconies friendlier to pollinators?
9
Which insects do people often dislike? Why?
10
Imagine you are an insect explorer. What do you want to observe?
Language Production
Creative Writing
Added to match the lesson metadata, which includes writing but provides no separate writing section.
1
Write 6–8 sentences about your favorite insect. Use the Present Simple.
2
Describe what an insect can do. Use can at least four times.
3
Write a short paragraph about insects in a garden. Use there are at least three times.
4
Write about an insect you saw in the past. Use the Past Simple.
5
Write a short dialogue between two friends talking about bees or butterflies.
6
Create a mini fact file for one insect: appearance, habitat, food, actions, and one interesting fact.