Moth Education

03/12/2025

MothEd is looking for teachers who have never used MothEd in their classroom before to pilot our new MothEd Teacher Guide and associated curricular support materials this spring! This opportunity is best suited for teachers in moderately warmer US climates, where nighttime temperatures are regularly above ~55ºF by the beginning of May.

Participants will implement 8 classroom modules, over approximately eight to ten instructional days. They will then share their experiences with us, along with any curricular support materials that may have been generated (or adapted). For complete details, see the Application Information sheet, linked below.

Applications are due by FRIDAY, MARCH 14th, 2025!
We will be in touch by March 21st to let you know if you have been selected for participation. Please feel free to share this application with other teachers who may be interested!
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the MothEd program director, Pete White ([email protected]).

Link to the application: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_291ju2JvzXUbSiW
Link to Application Information Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/.../18VC7X2DfZlfCBXsGn63K.../edit

09/23/2024

This month's Teacher Spotlight: Dave Murduck!🐛✨

Dave Murduck, a dedicated 5th grade MothEd teacher, has been up to some incredible work in his classroom! Recently, he and his students have been constructing their own moth traps, and they’ve been having great results. What’s more, his students took the initiative to test the traps at different heights, sparking even more curiosity and engagement with authentic science.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Murduck brought some moth education to the community by creating a storybook trail featuring An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth by Karlin Gray. This interactive trail has attracted learners from grades K-6, and even high school students have come out to explore and learn about moths in a whole new way.

Mr. Murduck’s passion and creativity continue to elevate the MothEd program. Way to go, Dave!

09/04/2024

Have you thought about trap placement recently? Here at MSU, we spend a lot of time thinking about when, how, and where we place traps. Check out these parameters that make for a great trap night!🌕🔍

We also made you a nifty little diagram to help you start some conversations about experimental design and trap placement 🪤✨. You're welcome 😏.

08/15/2024

Hey Teachers!
As summer slips away and y'all begin to prepare for this school year, we are excited to have a ✨one-stop-shop✨ of resources to help you prep for some moth trapping this fall!

Head over to the resources page to find tutorial videos, worksheets, slideshows, and links to relevant materials.

If you don't see something you need, use the request link at the top of the page and we'll get on it! 🔨

Happy teaching! 🍎

Check out our curated resource catalogue for teachers.

08/01/2024

We currently have a lot of things going on in our Lep Lab here at Michigan State! One of our current projects involves using 3D-printed moth traps to test if funnel size has an effect on how many moths we catch. Check out one of our 3D-printed traps set up in a local woodlot (left) along with pinned specimen from one of our traps (right)!

07/24/2024

This afternoon, we wrapped up our summer PD! These amazing teachers helped us co-develop and establish next steps. We are so excited for the future of MothEd that these teachers have helped curate.

Teachers, big thanks for diving into MothEd with us! Your enthusiasm and expertise have made a real difference.

07/24/2024

Welcome to the MothEd social media!

We are an NSF-funded project dedicated to providing both elementary and middle school students with the opportunity to shape scientific practices within their classrooms, survey moth abundance and diversity of their local places, and to inform the ongoing ecological work of entomologists. All in all, we strive to support teachers in bringing authentic science into the classroom.

Feel free to follow along to see what we are up to and contact us with any questions!