A Bug/Insect Unit Using Eric Carle Books ~ The Very Quiet Cricket
Two weeks ago I shared The Grouchy Ladybug portion of our Bug/Insect Unit Study. Then last week we continued our Bug/Insect Unit, entering the world of spiders. This week we are learning about crickets, enjoying The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle, and also comparing/contrasting crickets to grasshoppers.
The Very Quiet Cricket Storybook:
The Very Quiet Cricket Video:
You can watch a video adaptation of The Very Quiet Cricket here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhm9kf_the-very-quiet-cricket_animals
Watch the cricket life cycle in a breeding habitat:
What is the difference between Cricket and Grasshopper?
• Crickets have long antennae while grasshoppers have short ones.
• Crickets make sounds with the help of organs on their forelegs, while these organs are on the abdomen of the grasshoppers.
• Crickets make sound by rubbing wings together, while grasshoppers do so by rubbing hind leg with forewings.
• Grasshoppers can be seen in both day and nights, while crickets come out only at nights.
• The feeding habits of grasshoppers differ from that of grasshoppers. While grasshoppers are herbivorous, crickets are predatory in nature and are both omnivorous as well as herbivorous.
• Grasshoppers are mostly green to blend into grass or vegetation though there are many bright colored varieties of grasshoppers in the world.
• Crickets are mostly dark colored (black or brown) to blend into the night or vegetation.
• Crickets have ears in legs, whereas grasshoppers have ears in their abdomen.
• Grasshoppers can fly, also jump higher. Crickets’ wings are mostly absent, and they do not fly.
Other Resources:
- Read more: eHow’s How to Tell a Cricket from a Grasshopper
- The Very Quiet Cricket Craft
- A plethora of Very Quiet Cricket Activities like bookmarks, story sequencing, a puzzle, and more!
Check out the other books in this Bug/Insect unit:
June 22, 2012 @ 2:26 pm
Very interesting video on the crickets and learning the difference between a grasshopper and a cricket. What fun to learn so many interesting things about nature. When I learn these things it gives me a greater appreciation for God’s creation which is so multifacited.
June 23, 2012 @ 6:23 pm
I always learn something here. I didn’t know any of these facts. Other than colour, I thought Grasshoppers and crickets were nearly the same. See? You can teach an old dog! thank you for sharing!!!
June 25, 2012 @ 7:51 pm
That’s really cool! I never really knew the differences between grasshoppers and crickets (though I can tell which is which when I see one). My 8-year-old was just asking me this last week, and I didn’t know what to tell him. Now I do! 🙂
May 15, 2014 @ 4:31 pm
This is so adorable! What a creative way to tie in learning about bugs. I never knew these differences between crickets and grasshoppers either. Learn something new every day!
May 15, 2014 @ 6:08 pm
Shannen, that is one of the things I love about homeschooling! I truly get to learn right along with my children! The Eric Carle books made great bases for an insect unit study that my daughter really enjoyed!