Summary
A roly-poly isn't an insect -- it's a land crustacean, a relative of shrimp and crabs that left the ocean long ago. Deep Look shows the gill-like structures that let this backyard critter breathe air and thrive on land.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Roly-polies still breathe with gill-like parts, a leftover from their sea ancestors, kept damp so they work on land. Their bodies show how structures fit an animal to where it lives.
- What surprising group of animals are roly-polies related to?
- How does a roly-poly breathe on land?
- Why must a roly-poly stay in damp places?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: crustacean, gill, structure, habitat.
Try it: Find a damp, shady spot outside (or picture one). Write why a roly-poly with gill-like breathing needs to live there.