Uma and the Mystery Beetle
Uma discovers a strange beetle and follows the clues to find out what it is.
On a summer morning, Uma found a strange insect on a log. She had never seen one like it. She took out a notebook and magnifying glass. ‘This is a mystery,’ she whispered.
Uma drew the bug carefully. She counted its legs: six. She noticed its shiny shell and tiny feelers. ‘Come look,’ she called to Flo. They crouched in the grass, watching it walk.
They visited Priya the pony, who knew everything about insects. ‘Ah,’ said Priya, studying the drawing. ‘That’s a stag beetle! It has big jaws that look scary but only wrestle other beetles.’
‘Amazing,’ breathed Uma. They went back and watched the stag beetle for a long time. They were careful not to touch or hurt it. When it had gone, they wrote down everything they had learned.
At school the next day, Uma showed the class the drawing and told them all about the stag beetle. ‘Bugs are brilliant,’ she said. And the whole class went out to look for more.
From then on, Uma was known as the Bug Scientist. And whenever she found a new creature, she sat down quietly, took out the notebook, and began to wonder.
The little lesson
Careful watching and asking questions lead to discovery.
Let’s talk about it
- What would you do to learn about a bug?
- How did Uma take care of the beetle?
Finish stories to collect Uma as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Little Scientists stories
The Rainbow Maker: Wren
Wren wonders where rainbows come from, and discovers how to make one at home.
The Volcano Experiment with Remy
Remy builds a volcano for the science fair, and the experiment goes bubbly wrong!
Where Do Rainbows Come From, Sana?
Sana wonders where rainbows come from, and discovers how to make one at home.
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