Outreach Update

The Manduca Project:
A Hands-on, Minds-on Science Education Program

www.manducaproject.com

by Michael A. Wells, Ph.D.

THE MANDUCA PROJECT is a hands-on and minds-on science education program designed for elementary school students and is based in student explorations of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. The project was initiated in 1991. We provide teachers with eggs and artificial diet, and a teacher's manual with materials in English and Spanish. Since its inception, nearly 50,000 elementary students in Southern Arizona have studied Manduca sexta in the classroom. The success of the program is a combination of the dedication, creativity, and energy of the teachers in developing lesson plans, and the ready availability of insect eggs and an artificial diet upon which to rear the insects in the classroom. Each student has their own insect to observe and care for, instilling a real sense of responsibility in the student, and heightening their observation skills. Caring for the caterpillars requires the students to take them home over the weekend, which has generated, for the most part, an enthusiastic response from parents. THE MANDUCA PROJECT has been successfully implemented in kindergarten and even in a few preschools. To paraphrase a popular television show "Everyone loves Manduca".

A yearly summer workshop is offered to acquaint teachers with the project. In the workshop, organized and led by two experienced project teachers, participants learn about the insect, how to rear it in the classroom, and there is extensive discussion of possible lessons. University faculty and students serve as expert consultants during the workshop. Support for the workshop, production of the rearing video and the cost of the diet is provided by a HHMI grant to support undergraduate teaching and outreach.

We have made a commitment to bring THE MANDUCA PROJECT to a national audience. In order to accomplish this expansion, we have developed a web site, www.manducaproject.com, that provides extensive information on rearing the insect in the classroom and includes (a) The teacher's manual and lesson plans and worksheets in PDF; (b) Information and links to information about insects that will be a valuable resource to teachers and students; (c) A feature that allows teachers to post new lesson plans to the site for all to share. The site has an "Ask Manny" feature that allows teachers and students to send questions via email to Manny Manduca (Dr. Wells). There is a listserv associated with the web site to facilitate networking amongst teachers. There is online ordering of eggs and diet on the website. The web site features online videos illustrating key events during Manduca development. We also produced a CD that has the manual, all the developmental videos plus the rearing video and other useful information from the web site.

Our current model is that students and teachers will visit the web site and learn the basics. Then they will order eggs, diet and the CD. Students will work with the insect in the classroom, using available lessons plans or those of their own design, which we hope they will share. Students can visit the web site many times, looking up new material or asking questions. In this way they can learn from their own experiments and use the web to help them expand their knowledge and understanding.