Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears is an adapted African tale about a mosquito that brings utter disaster to the jungle. The tale sets the stage for a careful examination of cause and effect.Students will learn about a mosquito’s anatomy and how mosquitos identify their prey. While teaching readers about mosquitoes and what we can do to repel them, the module encourages students to apply problem-solving skills, like those of Rube Goldberg, to solve problems (big and small). This module invites students to dance, design, and demonstrate the art of storytelling as they tell their own tales.
Before you begin...
Each Artful Reading Module is flexibly designed for a 2-3 week duration. Lessons are marked for Before-, During-, or After-Reading to guide your planning. We have added a sample of an After Reading lesson entitled Rube Goldberg: Energy for you to preview. Each lesson is designed in an easy to read format, with standards, materials needed, and step-by-step directions to ensure you are fully prepared when it’s time to deliver.
This module contains the following lessons:
- Vampires?
- Buzz! Over Here! Centers: Mosquito Repellent, Life Cycle of a Mosquito, and Swat-a-Word
- Mosquito Parts
- How Mosquitoes Find You
- I Heard a Buzz in My Ear
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz ...
- Just Like Rube Goldberg
- Rube Goldberg: Energy
- Energy Transfer
- Just Like Dominoes
- Tales to Tell
optional extensions that can stretch the module further.
Standards Matrix
For your reference, we have added images of the literacy standards matrix for this module.
Key Vocabulary
- Onomatopoeia
- Harmony
- Unified
- Cause and Effect
- Folktale
- Conscience
- Personification
- Life Cycle
- Mosquito
- Repellent
- Collage
- Phenomenon
- Abdomen
- Antennae
- Proboscis
- Thorax
- Wings
Note: This module is part of 4th Grade: Series 2. The four modules in Series 2 collectively address all National ELA and Core Arts Standards.
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears is a certified AR: Sci module; it has been written in collaboration with Phenomenon Science Education and is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards.