beetle

Everyday

1. A beetle is an insect with a hard shiny back. Like all insects it has 6 legs. tree →
2. The hard back is really a pair of wing cases that cover thin wings, so most beetles can fly. tree →
3. There are more kinds of beetle than of any other animal. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: a counted animal with 6 legs, used in legs puzzles (beetles and spiders). In science: insects have 6 legs, 3 body parts and often wings; ladybirds (ladybugs) are beetles; beetles help break down dead plants. In stories and everyday life: finding beetles under logs, a bug hunt. Phrases: «a dung beetle», «a stag beetle», «busy as a beetle».

Examples

• A beetle has 6 legs. tree →
• Spiders and beetles have 54 legs in all. tree →
• Tom found 7 beetles in the garden. tree →
• How many legs do 4 beetles have? tree →
• A ladybird is a kind of beetle. tree →
• We went on a bug hunt and found three beetles under a log. tree →
• The dung beetle rolls a ball of dung. tree →
• The beetle opened its shell and flew away. tree →
• The Beetle smote upon the drum. tree →

Note

Countable: «a beetle». A beetle is an insect; a spider is not. Maths: hides «6 legs each». Trap: the number 6 is not written; a spider has 8, a beetle 6.