Click here to watch an amazing Return of the Cicadas Video
This spring offers students in the North East an opportunity to watch the emergence of the periodical 17-year cicadas. Another periodical cicada has a 13-year cycle. Math teachers and students might wonder why prime numbers? Such cycles could serve an evolutionary purpose. The appearance of the Magicicada this year is special because Brood II has been underground feeding on tree sap since 1996. It’s also estimated to be especially large. As adults cicadas live 4-6 weeks, just long enough to mate and lay eggs.
National Geographic reports that there are 3,000 species of cicadas. Some cicadas are annuals and appear in late summer. These are the dog-day cicadas.
K-12 science students can do science using RadioLab’s Cicada Tracker. The site has a map covering the 17-year cicada’s range from Georgia to Connecticut. Primary students can collect soil temperature data with soil thermometers. Cicadas begin to emerge when soil temperatures reach 64 degrees 8 inches below the surface. Secondary students can build a temperature sensor with parts from RadioShack. Build Your Own Sensor includes a parts list and instructions. Data can be submitted to the Cicada Tracker website.
Most states have web pages with information specific to their state, but one comprehensive website is Cicada Mania. The site provides information, multimedia, and links. The site is large and offers plenty to explore, including many photos of unusual species from around the world and audio files of their distinctive songs.
For cicada anatomy, Scholastic Australia has a blackline master and Invertebrate Anatomy OnLine has a more detailed drawing and supporting information.
K-12 students can write cicada haiku. Cicadas are a seasonal presence, and the seasons are an integral element in traditional Japanese haiku. Basho (17th century) wrote at least two: Cicada— did it / chirp till it / knew nothing else? and Cicadas sing— / know not how soon / they all will die. Paul Fleischman’s Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices includes a cicada poem. Students can probably find other cicada poems.
Students in grades 3-8 might like to try their paper folding skills with two traditional origami cicadas, #1 and #2. Traditional origami patterns produce a stylized cicada. To see a realistic paper rendition of a cicada, see Brian Chan’s Cicada Nymph page.
Students in grades K-5 can collect abandoned nymph shells for closer study. Students in grades 6-12 can collect adult cicadas. How to Preserve Your Cicadas – Pinning describes how to preserve and display specimens. I like the suggestion that freshly dead cicadas can be used rather than collecting live specimens for a killing jar.
The cicada’s song can reach 100 decibels and can be heard a mile away. How can something so small be so loud? I should know better. I asked the same question when my youngest daughter was colicky. Producing “How the Cicada Sings” includes a finished animation that shows how they do it. This artist’s work might inspire future computer graphic artists. And Insect Minute – Cicadas provides labeled diagrams of their musical instruments.
K-12 students might enjoy reading if not following the recipes in Cicada-licious: Cooking and Enjoying Periodical Cicadas. But have a heart. Not before lunch.
Other sites that may be of interest:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/cicada/