CATALPA BIODIVERSITY PROJECT

Lesson Plan 8 Why Does the Caterpillar Live on the Tree?

This is the Southern Catalpa tree, Catalpa bignonioides, which has several other common names. Some of the common names are catawba tree, Indian bean tree, smoking bean tree, Indian cigar tree and caterpillar tree. (Green, 1939). The name catalpa comes originally from the word Catawba, which was used by the Indians to identify the plant. The Catalpa genus has 11 species of deciduous trees with large simple or 3 lobed leaves which are opposite and whorled heart shaped The leaves are maladous when crushed. The tree has panides or raemes of 2-tipped bell or funnel-shaped flowers which are white with yellow and purple markings in the throat. The flowers are followed by long cylindrical fruit pods. Most of the species are grown as ornamentals, while others are used for timber. The species are distributed throughout E.Asia and North America. The tree can grow to 15 m high.

Objective: Determine the role of the producer, consumer and decomposer in the Catalpa Tree Food Web

Materials: Worksheet, photographs of the caterpillar and moths, a video about the food web, yarn, student signs for role playing or puppets of a sun, tree, caterpillar, bird and bacteria or mushroom. Activities may be also be selected from these books by purchasing : Creepy Crawlies, Teacher Created Materials, Inc., Animal Life Cycles, Evan -Moor Educational Publishers, Insects; Mark Twain Media. Reference books about moths and moth pictures. A large map of the U.S.

Purpose: Students will learn about the food web and the roles of the producer, consumer and decomposer. Students will learn that energy flows through the web and materials are recycled. Students will be asked to identify how the web could change and the impact of changes. Students can use reference books to find out where else in the country the moths/caterpillars and trees are found and locate on a map.

**Check the background information sheet for specifics on the Catalpa Sphinx Moth's habitat range, etc.

Suggestions for adapting activity for younger students: Use a felt board or dry erase, etc. to do with students as a group instead of the worksheet.

Step One: Complete worksheet or group activity on web.

Step Two:Locate habitat range on a map.

Step Three: Watch a video about the food web.

Step Four: Use role playing or puppets to help reinforce the ideas and evaluate student understanding. You may want to have students make bag puppets or use oneีs you have purchased or simply let them draw a picture of their character and wear it around their neck. Have students use yarn to string between each person as they say what they do and where they get energy. This will help them see the web. You might include the sun.


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