Live insects can provide a great tool for stimulating creative writing in the classroom. I set the stage by giving a short slide show that covers how to know an insect and a few facts about insect behavior. This is followed by a display of insect "homes" -- honeycomb, an ant farm, various galls, leaves with leaf-miner damage, etc. to generate discussion and observation. Then come the live insect stations -- walking sticks, hissing cockroaches, and pans of aquatic insects ( caddisflies, dragonfly nymphs, stoneflies, water beetles, etc.) After handling the insects, the children then write about the experience, not just what they’ve learned, but how they feel about insects. Not all elementary children are budding entomologists, but many of them are potential poets or essayists.