When doing spring planting activities, what does a teacher do while waiting for the plants to grow? This waiting time is a golden opportunity to explore another side of gardening--the creatures that make it all possible. Insects are an integral part of everyday world, having existed for over 300 million years; they are the most common animal on the planet, and there are more types of them than every other animal combined. Insects and other critters are crucial to gardening--aerating the soil, depositing nutrients, eating other animals that harm plants--but because of their often creepy reputation, they tend to be overlooked in the classroom in favor of gardening activities that focus on shiny green leaves and pretty flowers. Because insects often go through distinct stages, bringing them and other small creatures into the classroom provides an excellent opportunity for observing the stages of development in their life cycle. There is nothing more amazing than watching a caterpillar spinning a cocoon and emerging later as a butterfly! Such experiences allow children to take on the role of biologist at their level of cognitive development. (Contains 10 resources and 7 online resources.)