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Bugs may be small, but they are mighty and super important to our planet! Undoubtedly, your kids will already have a simple understanding of bugs by the time they start school, but the world of bugs is so much bigger than they could imagine. Here are some fun activities you can use to teach your children about bugs.
Have a Bug Scavenger Hunt
Bugs are everywhere we go. It’s easy to notice the ones that fly or crawl up to us, like butterflies or ants, but what about the ones that don’t? Hosting a bug scavenger hunt is a great way to teach your children how to look for bugs they don’t normally see. All you need is a free bug scavenger hunt printout and then head outdoors to start checking off all the insects you see. Don’t forget to look in the corners of buildings, turn over small rocks, or even look up a tree!
Since many bugs are drawn to plants, hosting the scavenger hunt in the yard or in the garden is also a perfect place to start. As your children observe the bugs they find, explain to them how the butterflies and bees eat the pollen inside the flowers, how the spiders eat the smaller insects, and how ladybugs keep the bad bugs at bay! Since bugs are literally everywhere we go, this should be an easy and fun game for your little ones.
Read Books About Bugs
There is a host of amazing books that will teach your children about the big buzzing world of bugs! Some of the most popular being:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Shoo Fly by Iza Trapani
- Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose
- Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
As you read these stories, read out loud together so that your children easily follow along and are free to ask questions wherever they arise. There’s almost nothing more entertaining than a good book and story circle!
Do Bug Art Activities
Coffee Filter Butterfly
What you’ll need:
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers
- Pipe cleaners (or clothesline clip)
- Water
- Eye dropper (if you don’t have a dropper, just use a teaspoon to slowly disperse water.)
To complete this art project, you’ll need to stack two coffee filters together. Once they are flush, open them up and flatten them out on a table or cookie sheet. (Don’t forget, this is a messy project, so make sure your tables are protected!) With your washable markers, make any designs you want to on the filters! Remember, there are two layers here, and it’s completey OK for the colors to bleed through onto the bottom layer.
Once you’ve colored the filters, take the dropper (or your teaspoon) and slowly drop water onto the filter. As the water is absorbed through the filter, you’ll be able to watch the colors bleed through the filter right before your eyes! You won’t need much water for this as you only need enough to make the filter lightly wet.
Once the filters are wet, let them dry fully. Afterwards, take your pipe cleaner and wrap it around the center of the filters, making the ends of the pipecleaner the butterfly’s antennae.
Egg Carton Caterpillar
What you’ll need:
- Cardboard egg carton
- Paints & paintbrushes
- Googly eyes
- Pipe Cleaners
Once you’ve removed the lid from the egg carton, separate one row from the bottom of the carton so that you have six sections (egg holders). Paint each section a different color. Once the cardboard is dry, stick the pipe cleaners through the cardboard to make antennae and legs. Lastly, either stick the googly eyes on or paint the facial expressions. Voila! You have a beautiful caterpillar!
KIDS ‘R’ KIDS LEGACY WEST PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
Are you interested in learning more about how Kids ‘R’ Kids Academy of Legacy West can teach your preschooler about bugs? Our Preschool Program is fully accredited and always ready to match your toddler’s energy and curiosity with wonderful teaching lessons.
We teach your preschooler to be prepared for elementary school and beyond!
Want to learn more about Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Legacy West located in Frisco, Texas? Our mission is to provide secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children ages 6 weeks – 12 years. We help children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. For more information, give us a call or stop by for a tour! We’d love to get to know you and your family.