Bugs

After a long winter (in the North) we always enjoy doing an insect unit and talking about all the different kinds of bugs that return to our back yards.

Language & Literacy

Books

Caterpillars, Bugs & Butterflies (Take Along Guide)  

A Bug's World (Magic Windows Touch and Feel)  

I Love Bugs!

The Best Bug Parade (MathStart 1)

Pattern Bugs

The Very Hungry Caterpillar: board book & CD 

The Very Quiet Cricket  

The Grouchy Ladybug  

Check Out Eric Carle's Web Site at www.ericcarle.com

Activities

Bug Guess Who: Collect a variety of pictures of different types of bugs. Set them out for the children to see. Give the children a verbal description of the different bugs and see of they can figure out which bug you are describing. This helps children with visual discrimination skills, and recognizing details.

Where Do Bugs Live:  Use the nature sticker story book or any other book you can find about bugs, and discuss where bugs live with the children.  Use some plastic bugs for props.

Create Your Own Bug: Provide children with a copy of a print out of an empty jar.  Instruct them to draw any kind of bug they want inside it, it can be a real or imaginary bug.  Have them describe their bug to you, what does it do, what is it called, and any other special characteristics it might have.

 Put the pictures together to create a class or group bug story.

Songs, Poems, & Fingerplays

Buggy Bodies 

(Sung to Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes)

Head and thorax, abdomen, abdomen

Head and thorax, abdomen, abdomen

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 legs  (count out three fingers on each side of you as if they are the legs sticking out of the bugs body)

Head and thorax, abdomen, abdomen!

Math & Number Concepts

Bug Sort:  Provide the children with a bunch of bug counters.  Learning Resources Backyard Bugs Counters, Set Of 72 They can be used for sorting, patterning, and counting.

Bug Jar Collection
Supplies:  Copies of an empty jar picture. Many bug stickers! DAZZLE STICKERS BUGS 90-PK
Directions:  Have the kids put bug stickers in the jar for their own bug collection...we will talk about each kind of bug and special facts we know about it.  You may also wish to turn this into a counting book activity: Make many copies of the jar and number the pages 1-10 or 20 and have kids put that many bugs in the jar on each page.

Bug Matching, Patterning, and Sorting...

Using stickers, a bulletin board set (Carson-Dellosa) or clip art, create some bug matching cards.  Laminate them for protection.
Directions:  Play concentration and then make patterns like ladybug, fly, grasshopper,- ladybug, fly, _____? Have kids pick what comes next.  Sort the bugs next.  Sort them by kind, color, and features like flying bugs and crawling bugs, let kids think of other ways to sort them.  

Bug Numbers SWAT!:

Program bug shapes with numbers and hang them on a wall, provide children with fly swatters that have a whole cut in the middle of them.  Have them take turns swatting the bugs and telling you what number is on the bug.  I demonstrate to the children how they can swat the bug and then see the number through the swatter.  Sometimes we draw number cards I have made to see which bug the child should swat.

Bug Print Pictures
Supplies: Sheet of paper number 1-10 or 1-5 for younger kids.  Stamp pads, and markers.
Directions: Have the kids put the correct number of finger prints next to each number.  Then show them how to draw legs and wings to make them look like bugs.

Art

Fly-Swatter Pictures:  Have the children make a few "fingerprint bugs" (see small motor activities) on a piece of paper.   Let them dip a clean fly-swatter in paint and slap the bugs on their picture. 

Creative Art Bugs: Provide children with various craft supplies to create one of a kind bug sculptures. Egg cartons, pipe cleaners, buttons, craft foam, etc.

Craft Activities:

Plaster of Paris Lady Bugs:
Supplies: Plaster of Paris mix, plastic spoons, red paint, black paint, small safety pins, wiggly eyes, glue, and opt. wikki sticks or black pipe cleaners.
Directions:  Mix plaster of Paris and pour onto spoons. Place a safety pin back on the plaster so that it will be able to open.  Allow to dry.  Remove from spoon and let kids paint red.  Then add black dots. Glue on eyes, and other bug paraphernalia.  This project could be more open ended if desired and give kids different colored paint to invent their own bug.  We made Lady Bugs to go along with the story.

Dramatic Play

Entomology Lab- Set up a bug lab!  Have some white lab coats (men's oxford shirts work well), a microscope, plastic bugs, bug jars, a clip board with note paper, and bug identification posters.

Music & Movement

Bug Waltz- Dance like bugs to classical music. Talk with the students about how bugs look when they fly around and land on things.

Dragon Fly Musical Chairs- Play some upbeat music and stop it periodically, encourage all the children to "land" on a chair. Make this a cooperative game be encouraging the children to work together to get everyone on a chair as the chairs disappear. (Also could use hula hoops)

Science & Discovery

Frozen Bugs:  Freeze plastic bugs in ice cubes and place them in the discovery table.  Fill the discovery table with water for some water fun.

Look at Bugs under the Microscope: You can purchase inexpensive ones from school supply stores like Discount School Supplies 

Talk about the parts of a bug.  Head, thorax, abdomen, wings, legs (most bugs have 6 legs spiders have 8) etc.

Outdoor Bug Hunt! if the weather is no good hide plastic bugs around the room.  Provide children with butterfly nets, bug containers, and a bug identification chart.

Bug Podz Habitat

Blocks & Building

Stick Bug Stickers on blocks for the children to use in the block and building area.

Puzzles, Games & Manipulatives

Carson Dellosa FLOOR PUZZLE COUNTING BUGS - 24 pieces

Computers

Let's Explore the Jungle with Buzzy

http://www.insectlore.com/ I fabulous resource for all you want to know about BUGS!! Lots of teacher resources, online games, and products. PLUS YOU CAN BUY LIVE BUGS FROM THEM!

Cooking

Create an Edible Bug!- Hi Ho crackers, PNB, trail mix, and pretzels. Let the kids spread peanut butter on the crackers and then they can add pieces of the trail mix and pretzels to make an edible bug!

Ants on a Log - celery with peanut butter and raisins on top.

Ticks on a Toilet Seat- Peel and core apples.  Cut horizontally so you have donut shaped apple slices.  Smear with PNB and sprinkle chocolate chips on top.  (Opt. -fill the center with whip cream died yellow with food coloring) 

Bulletin Boards

Carson Dellosa BUGS & SPOTS POP APART BORDER - 3' x 3" - 12 pieces/set

Other Resources

 Butterfly House (Bug Cage)