INSECT HABITAT

BUILDING CHALLENGE
 DISCOVER.MAKE.
WHAT IS STEAM?
STEAM is the abbreviation for
Scien ce, Technology, Engineering,
PLAY.LEARN.
Art, & Math.
WHAT’S INSIDE:
It’s an integrated approach to
learning that encourages studen INSECT HABITAT BUILDING CHALLEN GE
ts ng!!
to think more broadly about real- This activity is loaded with creative STEAM learni
world problems. This sneak peek into the STEAM Explorers Insects Ebook
Why do we need the A in STEAM? includes:
1. Easy-to-follow instructions for making a paper insect
Because art makes STEM better
! habitat triarama
Here are some of the concrete
benefits of incorporating the art 2. Ready to color insect challenge cards
s 3. What’s the STEAM Behind It? background information
into science:
about animal habitats
• It helps remove idea inhibition 4. Makerspace paper techniques to use in this project and
(there’s no wrong answer in
more
art!).
• It focuses on the process which
helps drive innovation.
• It teaches the power of What is ?
observation, of people and your
surroundings.
This activity is a sneak peek into the STEAM Explorers
• It helps hone spatial awareness subscription. STEAM Explorers is a monthly digital
and mathematical concepts like magazine plus kid-safe online project portal filled with
geometry. STEAM. Each issue has a monthly activity calendar, fun
articles to read, jokes to tell, projects to do, printables to

SAFETY FIRST! color, & more. Kids will love making, playing, discovering,
& learning their way through each month’s issue!
STEAM Explorers projects are
intended to be perfor med under adult You can learn more about STEAM Explorers here:
supervision. Although this is a low leftbraincraftbrain.com/exploresteam
risk activity, we like to leave this
e
here... Appropriate and reasonabl
caution is recommended when How to Join the STEAM Explorers
activities call for any items that
could be of risk, including, but not
& Left Brain Craft Brain
limited to: sharp tools, hot glue, Community
chemicals, batteries, scissors, and STEAM Explorers (and Left Brain Craft Brain, too) is
small items that could present a a global community! Come get activity ideas, chat
of
choking hazard. If you are unsure about STEAM, and share your pictures with us on both
the safety or age appropriateness Facebook and Instagram. We love to see all of the ways
r
of an activity, please consult you you incorporate STEAM into your kids’ worlds!
child’s doctor.
Except for individual classroom use, no part of this book
may be reproduced or used, in any form or by any means,
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electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in
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 INSECT HABITAT
MAKE

BUILDING CHALLENGE
CRAFT A PAPER HABITAT FOR A SPECIAL INSECT.

Copyright © 2022 Left Brain Craft Brain

DIFFICULTY: TIME: 60 MINUTES
SUPPLIES:
• Paper and/or • Markers
card stock or colored
• Scissors pencils
• Clear tape
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Print and cut out the insect habitat
building challenge cards.
2. Pick a card and research the insect.
What type of habitat do they live
in? What are the insect’s needs for
food, shelter, and surroundings?
How do they raise their young?
3. Make a triarama using the
instructions in the Makerspace
Paper Techniques section following
the insect challenge cards.
4. Design and build a habitat for
your insect using the paper
techniques. Which technique looks
like characteristics of the insect’s
habitat? For example, try fringe for
grass or rolls for logs.
5. Color in the insect card and use it
as a decoration for the habitat.

WHAT’S THE STEAM BEHIND IT?

A habitat is the place an insect calls home. It fulfills all of their needs to survive, such as food,
shelter, protection, and a place to raise their young. Habitats may be on land or in water. Listed
below are some interesting habitats from around the world. In what other habitats might you
find insects?
Tropical Forest: Areas near the equator with heavy rainfall of at least 60 inches per year.
POLAR REGION: Arctic and Antarctic areas of tundra and ice caps. Tundra contains areas of
permanently frozen ground called permafrost.
DESERT: Areas that receive less than 10” of rain a year. May be hot or cold.
CORAL REEF: Large underwater structures made of the exoskeletons of marine creatures called
coral that line the ocean floor.
FRESHWATER: Bodies of water like rivers, ponds, and wetlands like swamps that are often
filled with grasses and reeds.
TEMPERATE FOREST: Forests that experience four seasons a year. Trees may be deciduous,
coniferous, rainforest, or mixed.

Copyright © 2022 Left Brain Craft Brain

INSECT HABITAT BUILDING CHALLENGE CARDS

MOSQUITO HONEYBEE

LADYBUG COCKROACH

DIVING
ANT
BEETLE

LOUSE FLY

Copyright © 2022 Left Brain Craft Brain

MAKE
MAKERSPACE
PAPER TECHNIQUES ROLL

LOOP
SPIRAL
CURL

RECTANGLE

DIAMOND
FRINGE

CURLY
FRINGE

PLEAT
TAB

CONE

FOLD & CUT

Copyright © 2022 Left Brain Craft Brain

DIFFICULTY: TIME: AS LONG AS YOU LIKE!
SUPPLIES:
• Paper or cardstock in • Tape or glue stick
assorted colors • Ruler or bone folder
• Scissors (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE A TRIARAMA
1. Place a sheet of letter size paper horizontally
in front of you. Fold the lower left corner of the
paper upwards just until it meets the top edge.
Crease the fold. Cut off the excess strip on the
right hand side with scissors.
2. Fold the bottom right corner up to the top left
corner. Crease the fold.
3. Open the triangle. Cut from one corner to the
TRIARAMA
center of the square.
4. Pull the triangle to the left of the cut over the
triangle to the right of the cut. Tape together with
clear tape on the bottom of the triarama and a
tape loop in between the two layers.
5. 4 triaramas can be put together back to back to
make a pyramid triarama scene.
INSTRUCTIONS: PAPER TECHNIQUES
ROLL: Cut a rectangle of paper. Roll and tape.
LOOP: Make a roll and flatten into a tear drop shape.
CURL: Wrap a rectangle of paper around a round
object like a pencil. Let go and tape into a curl.
FRINGE: Cut a rectangle and make lots of snips 3/4
of the height of the paper.
CURLY FRINGE: Curl a piece of fringed paper.
TAB: Cut a rectangle and fold in half longways. Open
and cut lines from one edge to the fold line. Bend
alternating tabs to each side.
PLEAT: Fold paper accordion style.
CONE: Cut a circle. Cut a radius from one edge to the
center. Overlap the edges and tape into place.
FOLD & CUT: Fold paper in half and cut out shapes
from the folded edge.
RECTANGLE/DIAMOND: Cut a rectangle of paper. Fold
one edge 1/4” towards the middle. Fold the other
side to meet it. Fold the 2nd folded edge to edge of
the first fold. Open and tape into a rectangle.
SPIRAL: Cut a spiral shape of decreasing size from
the edge to the middle of the paper.
Copyright © 2022 Left Brain Craft Brain
 This activity is a
sneak peek into the
STEAM Explorers
digital magazine
subscription. Get a
new issue every month
filled with fun projects,
printables, recipes,
& more!

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