Build a Fruit Fly Trap

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In this construction activity, students use a 2-liter bottle to build a fly trap. There is not much supporting information besides the directions, but the trap can be used to examine fly behavior, and it might also be redesigned by students. In the construction part of the activity, younger learners will need help and supervision from an older learner or adult, but any age learner can do independent observation of fly behavior once insects are inside the trap.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Learning Time:
1 to 7 days
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • One 2-liter bottle
  • Three to five film cans
  • One plastic lid to fit inside base
  • Small amount of banana or other fruit
  • Box top or drawer to stabilize bottle while making cutting lines
  • Marker, wax pencil or crayon for drawing cutting lines
  • Cutting blade or utility knife to start cut
  • Scissors to cut bottle
  • "Poke," darning needle or diaper pin to make air holes
  • Awl to make holes in bottle caps and film cans
  • Clear waterproof postal or bookbinding tape to join columns

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Animals
    • Ecology
      • Energy Flow and Chemical Cycles

Informal Categories

  • Food and Cooking

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Source Collection

  • Science After School Consumer's Guide

Rights:

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation