The insect body plan

Science · Insects & Minibeasts · ages 7-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

How many legs does an insect have?
- 4
- 6
- 8
Which body part sits in the middle of an insect, between the head and the abdomen?
- Thorax
- Antenna
- Exoskeleton
Insects have bones inside their bodies, just like you do.
Circle one: True False
Count the legs shown below for this insect. Type the number.
Answer: ______________
Look at a grasshopper. Its six legs attach to which body part?
- Head
- Thorax
- Abdomen
Which body part has the antennae?
- Head
- Thorax
- Abdomen
Ben says his pet beetle must have bones inside to stand up. Is Ben right?
- No, beetles cannot stand up at all
- Yes, insects have bones like people do
- No, a hard exoskeleton holds the beetle's body up instead of bones
Jake counts 8 legs on a bug and says it must be an insect. What is wrong with his idea?
- Nothing, 8 legs means it is an insect
- Insects always have exactly six legs, so a bug with 8 legs is not an insect
- Insects don't have legs at all

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

6 · Every insect has exactly six legs. That is one way to tell it is an insect.
Thorax · The thorax is the middle part. The head is at the front, and the abdomen is at the back.
False · Insects do not have bones inside. They have a hard exoskeleton on the outside instead.
6 · Insects always have six legs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Thorax · Legs always attach to the thorax, the middle part of the body.
Head · Antennae are on the head, along with the eyes and mouth.
No, a hard exoskeleton holds the beetle's body up instead of bones · The exoskeleton is a hard shell on the outside. It supports the insect's body instead of bones.
Insects always have exactly six legs, so a bug with 8 legs is not an insect · Six legs is the rule for insects. A bug with eight legs, like a spider, is not an insect.