Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Adaptations of Insects and Other Arthropods

Introduction

National Middle School Science Standards

Life Science

Key Terms

entomology, arthropod, adaptations, niches, competition, life cycles

Key Concepts

  • Defining characteristics of arthropods
  • Adaptations of arthropods for survival
  • Life cycles of insects and other arthropods
  • Ecology of arthropods
  • Technology used by entomologists

Resource Types

Smithsonian Science How

Scientist Spotlights

More Videos

Middle School Level

High School Level

Advanced Reading Level

Entomology Subject Guide Smithsonian Libraries

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

The Adaptations of Insects and Other Arthropods teaching resources support students in meeting the following middle school NGSS Performance Expectations:

Life Science

MS-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

  • MS-LS2-1 Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.

MS-LS4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

  • MS-LS4-3 Analyze displays of pictorial data to compare patterns of similarities in the embryological development across multiple species to identify relationships not evident in the fully formed anatomy.

  • MS-LS4-4 Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals' probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

Resource Type
Subject Guides
Grade Level
6-8
Learning Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
Topics
Life Science