Grandma’s Opening Question: “When I was your age, you couldn’t see the back fence at night in June. Now I can. Why do you think that changed?”
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever seen fireflies? Where? Do you see as many as you used to?
- Fireflies need dark nights, damp ground, and tall grass. Which of those three have we changed the most in North Louisiana backyards?
- If a streetlight shines into a yard all night, how might that confuse a firefly? Why does that matter?
- Firefly larvae live underground for up to two years before they flash. What happens to them when someone sprays the lawn?
- What could one family do — starting this weekend — that might help fireflies come back to their yard?
- Is it possible to care about fireflies and still want a nice yard? What would that look like?
Teacher Notes
This works best in late spring when firefly season is recent memory. The last question is the most important — it surfaces the tension between human comfort and wildlife habitat without guilt. Actionable follow-ups: turn off outdoor lights after 10pm in June, let a patch of grass grow longer, reduce pesticides near damp areas.