Fireflies or Lightning Bugs - the name refers to the same insect. A type of beetle that shows up only for a few weeks each summer. They glow to communicate, find a mate, and start a family.
You will only be able to do this mission in the next week or two. By that time, the adults will be gone and there will be no more flashing fireflies. Your mission this week is to see if you can find some fireflies and, if you choose, help scientists by adding information you gather to a Citizen Science Project from the Museum of Science in Boston.
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
Things to Do and Notice
Look at the Types of Fireflies, Flashing Facts, and Range Maps to find out a few types of fireflies and where they live. There is lot to explore and learn about fireflies. Maybe you can read some of it to your Science Buddy and they can help you with the scientific names.
Watch this fun Firefly Song!
You will only be able to do this mission in the next week or two. By that time, the adults will be gone and there will be no more flashing fireflies. Your mission this week is to see if you can find some fireflies and, if you choose, help scientists by adding information you gather to a Citizen Science Project from the Museum of Science in Boston.
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
- You will need a computer or tablet to explore the Museum of Science - Boston: Firefly Watch Website with your Science Buddy.
- A clipboard will make recording your observations easier.
- A stopwatch will help you keep track of flashes.
- If you have an iPad/iPod the free Firefly Flash Counter might be helpful.
Things to Do and Notice
Look at the Types of Fireflies, Flashing Facts, and Range Maps to find out a few types of fireflies and where they live. There is lot to explore and learn about fireflies. Maybe you can read some of it to your Science Buddy and they can help you with the scientific names.
- Get a coloring sheet with labels from Enchanted Learning and learn the parts of a firefly. See if you can draw and label one yourself on your mission report.
- Check out the Firefly Life Cycle
- Practice your observation skills on the Virtual Habitat.
- You and Your Science Buddy should check out and follow the Tips and Tools for Observing. Please remember to Practice Safe Science.
- Print a copy of the Observation Sheet.
- Ask your Science Buddy if you can stay up until the sun sets. Find a good spot and practice your observations. Fireflies will start to come out just as the sun is setting. They will start out close to the ground and move farther up into the sky as it gets darker. Only male fireflies will go higher up, females will stay near the ground. Their light patterns are different too. If you have a stopwatch, it will help you keep track of how long they wait in between flashes. This will help you to tell what type they are. Use the flash chart to help you see how long between flashes. You and your Science Buddy may need to work together to time flashes and use the flash chart.
- If you choose, track for 10 minutes and sign up and submit your data to the Firefly Watch Website.
- If you want to go more in depth, you can also try some FireFly Science Project Ideas.
Watch this fun Firefly Song!
Things to Record (Write and Draw)
Clean Up
Websites to visit for more information:
- Please remember to make a Mission Report to keep track of your observations. Scientists keep a written and drawn record of what they do. Write down and draw what you did, what happened, and what you discovered.
- Draw a picture of a firefly and label the parts.
- Answer the following questions: What type of insect is a firefly? How do we know that a firefly is an insect? Why do fireflies flash?
- Write down what you did and what you discovered during your search of the website and from your observations outside.
Clean Up
- Nothing to clean up!
Websites to visit for more information:
- Museum of Science - Boston: Firefly Watch
- Firefly.org
- Animal Diversity Web
- Summer Night Lights
- National Geographic Animals
- National Children's Museum - Ready Set Glow! (They have a game here to help Flicker find a mate!)