Students from Fannin County High School and Fannin County Middle School learned about seed stratification and grew out milkweed plants for a community giveaway! If you are in the area, join us on May 10th and pick up a free plant!
Do you call them "fireflies" or "lightning bugs?"
Whether you call the glowing beetles with flashes “fireflies” or “lightning bugs” can depend on where you grew up. Southerners tend to use the term “lightning bugs” while those growing up in the north use “fireflies.” Use this poll to ask your class their preferred terminology and graph the results!
PowerPoints for Educator Use
PowerPoints for Educator Use piloted in a 4th grade class and an 8th grade class.
Part 1: Firefly Biology and The Big Dipper Firefly
Part 2: Firefly Habitat and Steps We Can Take for Firefly Conservation (in progress)
Incorporate Fireflies into your Language Arts Curriculum
Books Used by Educators
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle (preschool through early elementary)
Glow: Animals with Their Own Night Lights by W.H. Beck (early elementary)
Light the Sky, Firefly by Sheri Mabry Bestor (6-9 years)
Fireflies in the Night by Judy Hawks and Ellen Alexander (4-8 years)
Fireflies by Julie Brinklove (6-7 years)
Fireflies Book: Fun Facts about the Fireflies You Loved as a Kid by Brett Ortler (upper elementary – middle school)
Firefly Habitat
Your school garden could become a certified habitat for fireflies.
To become a certified firefly habitat you will be asked if you are:
- Providing undisturbed cover for adults and glowing larvae
- Encouraging plant diversity to preserve soil moisture
- Reducing Light Pollution
- Restricting Pesticide Usage
Links, Interviews and Podcasts:
Becky Griffin’s interview with Lynn Faust about her career as a firefly entomologist and advocate.
Xerces Information on Firefly Conservation.
Firefly Coloring Sheet 1 – Lifecycle of the Big Dipper
Firefly Coloring Sheet 2 – Firefly color by numbers
Information sheet on Big Dipper Firefly (Photinus pyralis)
National Geographic’s 3 minute audio on The Dark Side to the Firefly’s Flashes. This discusses how some females from the Photuris firefly family lure males for food.
Scientific American’s 11 Cool Things You Never Knew about Fireflies.
National Geographic’s 1 minute film on The Science of Summer – Fireflies.
Atlanta Firefly Project.
Feel free to download and use these firefly mascots :
