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At a Glance
SUBJECTS
ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies
LESSONS
6 per subject: 1 shared launch, 4 subject lessons, 1 shared showcase
TOPICS
Insect biology, scale & proportion, persuasive writing, bugs and humans through history
FINAL PRODUCT
An insect model (2-D or 3-D) plus a written argument for why that insect deserves to be seen
FACILITATION GUIDE
Lesson plans for all four subjects, slide decks, student handouts, scoring rubric, standards documentation, contest details
WHAT YOU SUPPLY
Paper, pencils, art materials, rulers, printed handouts
Teach all four subjects, or just yours — each subject's lessons stand on their own.
THE ARCS
Four subjects, four arcs
Lessons 1 and 6 are shared across all four subjects. In between, each subject's four lessons build on each other, toward what that subject contributes to the final product.
ELA
Argument & persuasive writing
CCSS ELA/LITERACY
1
Bugs, Bother, and Benefit
Four ways to look closer: scientist, mathematician, writer, historian
2
Build a Strong Paragraph
Paragraph structure: topic sentence, supporting detail, closing
3
What Makes an Argument?
Claim, evidence, reasoning and call to action
4
Make Your Case
Citing text evidence to support a claim
5
Make It Impossible to Dismiss
Counterargument, rebuttal and revision
6
Make It Seen
Building the model and finalizing the written statement
CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRODUCT
The written persuasive argument.
MATH
Ratios, proportion & scale
CCSS MATHEMATICS
1
Bugs, Bother, and Benefit
Four ways to look closer: scientist, mathematician, writer, historian
2
Measure Your Bug
Measurement and unit conversion (mm, cm, inches)
3
What Scale Is This Card?
Ratios and ratio language: part-to-part, part-to-whole
4
The Multiplier
Scale factor: enlargement and reduction
5
Draw It to Scale
Scale drawings and proportional consistency
6
Make It Seen
Building the model and finalizing the written statement
CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRODUCT
The scaled drawing, and the math that scales it.
SCIENCE
Insect biology—structure, function & ecosystems
NGSS
1
Bugs, Bother, and Benefit
Four ways to look closer: scientist, mathematician, writer, historian
2
Insect Anatomy 101
Insect anatomy: structure and function
3
Built to Survive
Adaptation: camouflage, mimicry, specialized structures
4
Insects in the Ecosystem
Ecosystem roles and food webs
5
The Art of Science: Looking Closer
Scientific illustration and close observation
6
Make It Seen
Building the model and finalizing the written statement
CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRODUCT
An anatomically accurate model, and what its parts do.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Bugs & humans through history
C3 FRAMEWORK
1
Bugs, Bother, and Benefit
Four ways to look closer: scientist, mathematician, writer, historian
2
The Scientists Who Drew Insects
Scientific illustration as a historical source
3
Bugs & Humans Through History
Human–environment interaction and change over time
4
Friend and Foe
Perspective and point of view in history
5
Make the Case
Building a historical argument: claim and evidence
6
Make It Seen
Building the model and finalizing the written statement
CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRODUCT
The historical case for the insect.
THE PRODUCT
Each student picks an insect in Lesson 1 and can switch as they learn more. By the showcase they have a model of it—drawn to scale or built in three dimensions—and a written argument for why this particular overlooked creature is worth anyone's attention.
Students who take more than one subject build one model, not four. Each subject adds a layer to the same object.
One insect, looked at four ways
BEFORE YOU TEACH IT
Watch the walkthrough
A run-through of the six lessons, the instructional design, and the build days, so you know what you're walking into before day one.
What it covers
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How the facilitation guide delivers your materials, and how to navigate it
How the shared launch works across all four subjects
What a typical lesson looks like start to finish
Running the model build days and the showcase
PACING
When to run it
Unseen is flexible. You can run it any time of year and shape the pacing to fit your school schedule: start earlier in the year, stretch the days out, or run it whenever it makes the most sense for your students.
If you're entering the national contest, the only date to plan around is September 30, when student work is due. If you're not entering, Unseen stands completely on its own.
CONTEST & SHOWCASE
Enter the contest
Every student who finishes gets a certificate. Facilities may submit their student work to the national contest.
Submitting
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Portal opens September 21, 2026
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Portal closes September 30, 2026
Enter individually or as a group
One product and written statement per entry
Each student can be part of only one entry
For your classroom
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Prizes for the winning students
Student participation certificate for every student who finishes
Written feedback for all student submissions
Judging rubric and contest guidelines, so students know what the judges look for (both included in the facilitation guide)
GET IT
Request the materials
Fill out the form and we'll email you the full facilitation guide, free.
Form not working? Follow this link.
Questions? Need the materials in a different format? Email initiatives@breakfree-ed.org.
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