backyard - nature study australia · backyard minibeast challenge find a flying minibeast with...

Backyard Minibeast Challenge

Find a flying

minibeast with

taste buds on their

feet.

What minibeasts

will you find in the

soil?

Search for an

insect

which

scurries around car-

rying food for the

nest.

Explore the yard

for an insect which

eats nectar from the

flowers.

Investigate the yard

for an insect which

eats grubs.

Find a minibeast

with a

hard

shell on

the back.

Can you find a

minibeast with

more than six legs?

Search for an insect

that hops.

Explore the yard

for a slithering

minibeast.

Find a

smelly

bug.

Can you

find a

camouflaged

minibeast?

What insects can

you hear?

What minibeasts

are eating the

vegetables?

Search

for bugs

on and

underneath

the bark of a tree.

Can you find an

insect with four

wings?

What insects come

out at night?

Nature Study Australia © Marie Viljoen 2018 5 Day Backyard Minibeast Challenge

Ideas for the Backyard Challenge

Print out the table and stick it on the fridge to encourage the children to search for minibeasts.

Print out the Backyard Minibeast Notebook pages for easy access.

Prepare a nature caddy with an insect jar, a spoon to lift insects with and a magnifying glass.

Search for insects in these places:

• On walls, especially near outside lights. • In the air flying about. • In the garden beds. • Under pot plants. • Under logs, firewood and bark. • Under rocks. • In the soil. • On top of or under leaves and flowers. Be cautious of snakes and dangerous spiders.

A few things to do once a minibeast is found:

• Take photographs and paste them in a nature journal. • Make a sketch of the minibeast found each day on the notebook pages provided

for the challenge. Label the sketch. • Write a few things you know about the minibeast: where did you find it? What

time of day was it? What does it eat? How big is it? Can it fly? Does it burrow? • A bug may be collected and stored in a bottle with breathing holes and plant

matter for observation. When the investigation is over, set the insect free. • Start a backyard field guide with the photos and information you have com-

piled.

A few more backyard activities:

• Make a list of the minibeasts which visit the backyard. Make note of the time and date for future reference.

• Build an insect motel to encourage insects to stay in the backyard. • Keep an ant or worm farm. • Keep silkworms and rear butterflies. • Start a bug collection.

Instructions for the Backyard Challenge:

• Join our Nature Science for Aussie Families Facebook Group or Nature Study Australia’s Forum to

share photographs of the children (and adults) participating OR of the minibeasts observed. The

photos can be discreet. If you prefer Instagram use the hashtag #backyardminibeastchallenge.

• Post at least once a day or as many times as you like.

• There are four books to giveaway. The Giveaway will be drawn Saturday, 27th January 2018.

• The winners will receive an Australian Guide by Bob Winters and published by Gould League.


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Backyard Minibeast

Note your observations above and sketch below.


Backyard Minibeast ________________________________________________________________

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Backyard Minibeast

Draw, paint or paste a picture of a minibeast.



Backyard Minibeast List

Minibeast

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backyard - nature study australia · backyard minibeast challenge find a flying minibeast with...

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