Preschool Insects Theme

Below you can find tons of fun and engaging Preschool insect activities!

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Planning your Insects Theme

Club Members can download our Insect activities and their
Insects theme planning guide for free! Not a member? Learn More Here

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Download our Free Insects Preschool Sample Lesson Plan

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Art Center Materials for your Insect Theme

Add a variety of insect stickers, stamps, egg cartons, pom poms and stencils to your art space this week.

Fly Swatter Painting

 Your preschoolers will love this art exploration!
Set up an invitation for Flyswatter Process Art!

Try this!

Create an Insect

​Set up an invitation to create an insect!
Some items you might include:
cupcake liners, Tissue Paper, Paper plates, craft sticks,
A variety of shapes cut out of card stock, construction paper, wax paper, chenille sticks, and googly eyes or eye stickers

Try this!

Insect Tracks

Invite preschoolers to paint by dipping plastic insects into paint and then stamping or dragging across paper

Me..As a Bug!

​Trace each preschooler on a large piece of paper, invite them to turn their outline into an insect by adding extra legs and antennae. You could also do this with sidewalk chalk. 

Bug Play Dough Habitats

Set up an invitation to play that includes green and brown play dough, plastic bugs, fake flowers, sticks, rocks, etc. Invite preschoolers to create a bug scene using the play dough to anchor their creations.

Insect Imprints

Offer play dough or clay along with small toy insects for preschoolers to make imprints in the dough with. 

Bug Antennae Craft

Materials:
Sentence strips or construction paper
Crayons, markers or paint –in browns, black, grey, white, bronze, or gold colors
Tape
Brown or Black pipe cleaners

Directions:
Lay out sentence strips and let children color the color of their choice. If using construction paper, pre-cut into strips that will fit around the students' head. Once they are finished coloring, turn the strip over and tape the pipe cleaners close to the middle. Then fit the paper to the students' head and tape in place. Let them curl the tips of the pipe cleaners in any shape they choose or even leave them straight.

Insect Paper Tube Crafts

Gather empty paper tubes and a variety of craft supplies for preschoolers to make their own insects.

Dragonfly Craft

Invite preschoolers to make a dragonfly, or other insect, using sticks, leaves and paint. ​

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Life-Size Bugs

​Create an indoor world for "Life Size" insects.
Add items for insect "Dress Up": Wings, Insect Glasses, and Masks.

Set Up an Entomologist Lab

Transform your dramatic play stand into an entomologist lab!
Add bug viewers, insects sealed in acrylic, magnifying glasses, tweezers, a microscope, photos of insects, books about insects, clip boards and writing instruments, pretend insects, lab coats, silk flowers and photos of scientists at work. 

Ant Colony

Add cardboard boxes or cardboard blocks to the dramatic play area along with antenna head bands for children to wear. Invite them to create tunnels/ant hills and pretend to live and work together in an ant colony.

Bug Stick Puppets

Create Bug Stick Puppets using images of insects and craft sticks. Invite your preschoolers to put on a bug themed puppet show for each other.

Going on A Bug Hunt

Hide plastic bugs around the dramatic play area along with materials that simulate the woods, grass, logs, etc. Give your preschoolers magnifying glasses, hiking gear, bug nets etc. and have them try to find the hidden bugs.

Bug Charades-Group Activity

Play What bug am I? Provide cards with pictures of insects (draw your own or use the 3-part cards in the Insect Pack). Preschoolers take turns drawing an insect card, without showing their peers they act like that insect and see if their peers can guess which insect they are.

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Materials to add for an Insect Small World Play

Add Pretend Insects, plants, Items from Nature, Green & Brown Felt pieces, and Rocks.
​ Add Insect Patterns for pattern blocks.

Building Insects

Invite your preschoolers to create bug designs using pattern blocks. You can print off pattern block templates as examples and have them build on the template or beside the template or you can have them create a bug design all their own using the pattern blocks.

Buy this activity!

Insect Small World Play

Add insects along with props such as flowers to the building area for small world play.

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*3-Part Insect Cards

Add 3-part cards (included in my Insects Activity Pack) to the activity shelf for learning insect nomenclature. Set out some pretend bugs for children to match-up to the cards. 

Buy this activity!

Label the Parts of an Insect*

Hang posters that include pictures of insects and vocabulary describing the different parts of insects.
Complete and then hang the Praying Mantis Life Cycle and Labeling Parts of a Praying Mantis included in my Insects Activity Pack for reference. 

Buy this activity!

Make -ug Words*

Set out the Rhyming Words Match-up Mat  with the -ug words (which includes the word bug)​

Buy this resource!

Bug Name Writing Tray

Set up a letter writing tray with dirt. Provide plastic bugs or bug erasers. Students choose a bug, and use them to trace the letters in their names. Buy the editable name practice worksheets featured in this activity.

Buy these name worksheets!

Fly Swatter Sounds

Place pictures on the floor. Have students pick a picture,  identify the beginning sound (or you can do the ending sound for a challenge!), and then have them use a fly swatter to swat the picture and say the sound.

​Be sure to provide and read lots of books about insects this week. Include books that can be used as reference when children have questions about books (this is a great time for children to learn that information can be found in books), fun story books about bugs, books with photographs of real insects, and easy to read books about insects for early readers. ​Here are some of my favorite books about insects!

Bugs Galore  by Peter Stein
In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Ultimate Bugopedia (National Geographic Kids) by Darlyne Murawski
Are You a Grasshopper? by Judy Allen
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs by Bob Barner
Bugs A-Z by Carolyn Lawton

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Catch a Bug Shape Matching Game*

Sort buggy shapes into their same shaped jar to practice shape recognition and sorting skills. This activity is included in the Insects Preschool Activity Pack.

Buy this activity!

Insect Count and Clip Cards*

Count up the number of ladybugs on the leaf, then find and identify the correct number and clip with a clothespin. Count and clip cards are not only great for math skills, but fine motor too! 
​This activity can be found inside our Insects Preschool Activity Pack.

Buy this activity!

Insect Number Puzzle*

Practice ordering skills, number recognition, and problem-solving with an Insect Number puzzle. 
This one is included in the Insects Preschool Activity Pack!

Buy this activity!

Bug Counting & Observation

Take a camera outside and search for bugs. Take pictures of all the creatures you find. Then, count them up! After you count them up, see if you can figure out how many legs each had and how many legs total for all the creatures you found. 

Sorting Insects

Gather 3 different types of plastic bugs and place in a bin. Place 3 empty containers next it to. Challenge preschoolers to use tweezers or scoops to sort the bugs (one type of bug per container). Give them an extra challenge by having them time how fast they can sort out all of the bugs only using the tools.

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Outdoor Bug Exploration

Create a place for exploring insects outside. This fabulous outdoor bug exploration area belongs to reader Teresa Becker. Find more ideas on our Backyard Bug Investigation Blog post. 

Take a Closer Look

When the time is taken to really look close and quietly observe, you can discover all kinds of creatures. The kids at Building Blocks Family Childcare found this ladybug in the pupal stage. During this stage the ladybug remains attached to the leaf which allowed observation over several days. 

Indoor Bug Habitat

Set up a bug enclosure in your learning environment for studying insects. This can be something as simple as a large plastic container with a lid (be sure to provide ventilation for extended viewing) or a large aquarium for students to add insects to for observation. ​​

Investigate Bugs

Add skins from bugs that have molted to a tray with a magnifying glass for students to explore

Flying and Non-Flying Insects

Sort bugs by flying and non-flying (printable included in my Insects Activity Pack) using photographs or insects or insect counters. Find other ways to sort insects!

Build a Bug Hotel

Use materials found outside such as pine cones, sticks, leaves as well as cardboard to fill a cut off plastic bottle to create a bug hotel. Help your preschoolers find a place to put their bug hotel outside to give bugs a nice home! You want to make sure that items are packed in tightly enough to not fall out, but you want some small spaces between materials as this is where the bugs can make their homes.

Measure Bug Biodiversity 

Investigate the bug biodiversity in your outdoor play area with a Backyard Bug Investigation. 

 Start with an empty flower pot, wooden box,  or other large container that can be laid on it's side. Make layers using a variety of materials such as dead wood, straw, hay, leaves, bark, twigs, and fresh cut flowers. Come back to the bug hotel often to see what kind of creatures have checked in! As students are observing point out the different layers, see if different types of insects have checked into different types of materials. **Provide magnifying glasses and clipboards with pencils for observing and recording data about the bug hotel!
Make a graph or other record of the different types of bugs that visit the hotel. Look around the rest of the play area for other types of bugs, record those and discuss why they didn't visit the bug hotel (think about what those bugs need to thrive that are not offered in the bug hotel). 

Bug Hunt

.Go on a bug hunt! Gather clipboards, crayons, and magnifying classes then go on a walk or explore your outdoor play space to see what kind of creatures can be found! Students can record their data by writing or drawing a picture. Consider creating a simple checklist to go along with this activity. 
It would be fun to collect the drawings or photos and create a Bug Hunt Class Book.

Praying Mantis Activities

Watch a Praying Mantis Egg hatch (you can purchase them on-line or at your local garden center). Compliment this activity with one our Praying Mantis resources (Life Cycle and Labeling Activity) found inside our Insects Activity Pack.

Buy this activity!

Insect Sensory Bin

​​Set up a sensory invitation! This Insect Sensory Bin was created by our reader Erica of Erica's Educare Learning Center. Give a big workout to small hands by adding small tweezers for preschoolers to pick the bugs out.

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Save the Bugs- Fine Motor Activity

Place plastic bugs in the bottom of a tray that has openings on the side. Lace yarn or string through the openings to create a spider's web across the top of the tray. Have your preschoolers save the bugs from the spider's web by using tweezers to reach in and pull the bugs through openings in the yarn.

Insect Play Dough Invitation-Fine Motor

Set up an invitation to make insects from play dough. Some materials to consider: small twigs, chenille sticks, googly eyes, parts from a Cootie game, ​etc. Let children build their own bugs and show off their creations.

In the Grass Cut and Paste Activity*

Try our free insect themed craft!  Children will practice using scissors in order to reveal who is hiding in the grass!

Try this activity for free!

Make your own Insect Lacing Cards-Fine Motor

Print off pictures of bugs on card stock, cut out, laminate and punch holes around the outside of the picture. Add string and let your preschoolers weave the string in and out of the holes to practice their fine motor skills. You can use our 3 part cards, or other real pictures of insects so that students can see them up close!

Buggy Snacks- Fine Motor

Here are some creative ideas for Insect Themed Snacks this week:

• Ladybug made from a tomato or an apple
  
• Ants on a Log
  
• Butterfly snack bag (fill a snack bag with small snack such as goldfish or raisins, put a clothespin in the center and decorate to look like a butterfly)
• Caterpillar crackers (round crackers with cream cheese, use raisins for eyes)

Ladybug Dots Craft-Fine Motor

Cut out ladybug templates out of red construction paper. Provide your students with black dot markers, and have them add dots to the ladybug template with their daubers.

Move Like a Bug- Gross Motor

Get preschoolers moving their body from head to toe! Invite your preschoolers to move their body like different insects. Use large colorful pictures if available, or simply announce an insect for them to move like. Give the preschoolers a chance to announce insects as well. Be sure to encourage movement that engages the whole body!

Follow that Bug! Gross Motor

Play a version of Follow the Leader, in this version the leader announces an insect and then mimics the behavior of that insect as the rest follow. 

The Ants Go Marching Gross Motor

Outside draw different lines that students can follow with chalk all heading back to the "ant hill" (or you can set up inside using painter's tape on the floor!). Challenge your preschoolers to march along the different lines to get back to the ant hill. You can even play The Ants Go Marching as inspiration as you play!

Bug Scavenger Hunt Gross Motor

Hide plastic bugs all through the outside area or classroom. Give students a checklist for them to follow and have them find all of the bugs on their lists. Students will need to engage in gross motor movements as they look under items, look for bugs up high, navigate the territory, etc. Consider having children work in pairs to find the insects. Provide fun hats and explorer vests if you have them along with magnifying glasses and nets/tweezers for collecting specimens.
Pair with the 3-part Nomenclature Cards from our Insect activity pack to support language development. 

Insect Preschool Activities Pack

Find the Insect Gross Motor

Draw different insects in chalk on the pavement (ants, beetles, ladybugs, etc.) or use Big Bug Stencils to easily create insects. . Call out a type of bug and a movement. For example, "Hop to a ladybug." The preschoolers do the action over to that type of bug. You could play it like a musical chairs game, each time erasing a bug and the preschooler who doesn't get to a bug is out.

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Respecting Space

A study of insects is a good time to talk about the importance of giving one another space and respecting boundaries. 
There are many insects that do fine being handled. However, there are also many that are either too delicate to handle or that can harm a child. 
Teaching children about the signs that an insect wants to be left alone is beneficial to bugs, and to their peers. 
Invite your preschoolers to discuss: What can you do if someone is too close to you? How can you tell someone respectfully that you need space?
The Book Harrison P. Spader, Personal Space Invader is a great tool to use while teaching children about respecting space. 

Insect Yoga

Help your preschoolers practice mindfulness through insect themed yoga posts.
You can use this YouTube video as inspiration!

Dragonfly Pose

Bug Journal

Have your preschoolers keep a bug journal where they explore for bugs and record the ones they find in their journal by drawing pictures of each bug and the location they were found. These would be great to share at circle time each day!

Bug Journal included in our Maria Sibylla Merian Biography Set

Bug Map

Have your students follow a map to get a bug home! Create a map and key that your students can follow to a location outside or inside the classroom to find the bug's home and deliver it safely.

What Bugs Me

It can be hard to share our emotions when we are upset. Try saying a bug and a wish when we are feeling upset. For example: "It bugs me when _____. I wish _____."

Learn about Entomology with Maria Sibylla Merian 

Maria Sibylla was an entomologist, naturalist and artist that made meaningful contributions to the fields of entomology and botany. 
Learn more about her contributions with your preschoolers using our Maria Sibylla Merian Biography & Insect Field Journal and Guide. 

Learn more about Maria Sibylla Merian with this set

More Group Game  Ideas

• Play Cootie or  Ants in Pants

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Theme Communication

In your Theme Communication for your study of Insects plan to let parents know about a few key activities you will be doing over the course of the theme. 

Community Insect Biodiversity

Encourage parents to quietly observe their backyard with their preschooler, see what insects can be found. Preschoolers can be invited to share about their findings during the daily social meeting. 
Encourage families to share photographs of the creatures they found. 
As a group you can take this information and compare which creatures each child found. All children are likely to find ants, children that have lots of flowers in their yard may find butterflies. 
Print the pictures shared by parents. 
Children can make comparisons about the insects in the photos. Swap photos, challenge children to find the insect on the photo they are given in their own backyard. 

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Insects Activity Pack

$7.00

Exploring insects with young children is exciting. This preschool activity pack includes a variety of Math, Literacy, Fine Motor, and Science activities perfect for creating centers, file folder activities, or morning work for the preschool aged children in your care.

This 54 page .pdf contains the following 20 preschool insect themed activities:

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• Bug Color Clip
• Catch a Bug Game
• Bug Shape Sort mats
• I spy bug matching
• Bug Puzzles
• Bug Cutting Practice
• Ladybug Letter Match
• Ladybug Count and Clip Cards
• Puzzles 1-10
• Firefly Counting Mats (1-10)
• Firefly Counting Mats (1-10) with Frames
• Lady Bug Spots Counting Mat
• Color Bug Sorting
• Bug Size Sorting
• Colored Ladybugs Pom Pom Match
• Praying Mantis Lifecycle Match Up
• Parts of a Praying Mantis
• 3-Part Cards
• Does it fly science sorting mat

Also included: TOS, Graphics Credit

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Spring Preschool Calendar Display and Games

$3.50

Get ready for spring with this adorable preschool calendar display! Hang it up in your classroom and watch as the little ones explore the changing seasons. This printable activity includes calendar games that will engage and educate your preschoolers. They will love learning about the days of the week, months of the year, and more while playing these fun and interactive games. Bring a touch of spring to your classroom with this delightful calendar display!

This 79-page PDF includes:

• Month Cards (Northern and Southern Hemisphere)
• Season Cards
• Year Cards
• Days of the Week
• Holidays and Special Days
• At Home/At School Heading Cards

Plus the following themed calendar number cards:

• Tulip Design
• Rainbow Design
• Umbrella Design
• Bunny Design
• Clover Design
• Bird/Nest Design
• Earth Design
• Butterfly Design
• Kite Design
• B&W Number Cards
• Blank Cart Covers

Plus printables for Spring Calendar Games

• Color Umbrella Cards
• 2D Shape Cards
• Sorting by Size Cards
• Flower Number Frame Cards
• Spring Object from Calendar Number Words
• Spring Word Problem Cards
• Estimation Scene
• Sequencing Activity
• Visual Discrimination Activity
• Uppercase Letter Cards
• Lowercase Letter Cards
• First Sounds Cards
• Rhyming Cards

Also Included: Directions, TOS, Graphics Credit

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Spring Pattern Block Mats

$2.00

Keep little fingers busy this spring with these fun Spring Pattern Block Mats. This 38-page PDF includes the following mats each with different mats to choose from depending on developmental level.

These mats include 3 different levels of play for each design

• Bee Mats
• Bird Mats
• Blossom
• Bug Mats
• Flower
• Tulip
• Watering Can
• Raindrop
• Umbrella

The symmetry butterflies includes 3 different butterfly designs with two levels of play for each.

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Free In the Tall Tall Grass Preschool Book Companion Set

$0.00

Encourage a love of reading and some fine motor fun with this activity, perfect to pair with your Insect Theme. Your preschooler will build strong fingers and hands as they practice cutting the blades of grass for this easy to assemble craft. They will also enjoy peaking inside the grass to see all of the creatures living inside a backyard habitat.

Inside this PDF you will find:

• Vocabulary Words List
• Questions to ask before, during and after reading the featured read aloud
• Book Review Activity
• Grass Cutting Craft

Also included: TOS, Graphics Credit, Contact Information

Pre-K Printables Club Members:

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(Members Only) Spring Printable Crafts

$0.00

Please note: This is a Pre-K Printables Club Members-Only Product

Elevate your preschool classroom with these engaging Spring Printable Crafts! This resource includes a variety of colorful and ink-saving craft templates featuring adorable spring creatures like bunnies, bees, tulips, and more. Let your little ones explore their creativity while developing essential fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, and coloring. Create a vibrant spring mural to display in your classroom and celebrate the children's unique creations. This resource is exclusive for members and is perfect for preschool teachers looking to add some seasonal fun to their curriculum.

What's Included?

• Bunny Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Bee Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Tulip Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Mushroom Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Snail Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Butterfly Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Ladybug Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Sun Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates
• Hedgehog Color & Ink saver Craft Templates
• Caterpillar Color & Ink Saver Craft Templates

Materials Needed:

• Paper or cardstock
• Scissors
• Glue or glue sticks
• Crayons or colored pencils
• Optional: Googly eyes, pom-poms, or other embellishments for added fun

Directions:

1. Download and Print: Download the Preschool Spring Cut and Paste Crafts Set and print the desired pages.
2. Prepare the Materials: Gather the materials listed above.
3. Cut Out the Templates: Carefully cut out each craft template.
4. Color the Templates: Let the children color the templates using crayons or colored pencils.
5. Assemble the Crafts: Use the provided finished image on each template to guide the children in assembling the crafts with glue.
6. Add Embellishments (Optional): Enhance the crafts with optional embellishments.
7. Create a Spring Mural: Encourage children to arrange and glue their crafts onto a larger sheet of paper to create a spring mural.
8. Display: Display the finished crafts in the classroom to celebrate the children's creativity.

Learning Standards:

• Enhance fine motor skills through cutting and gluing.
• Promote creative expression and individuality through coloring and decorating.
• Foster imagination and creativity in preschoolers.

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Maria Sibylla Merian Biography, & Preschool Insect Field Journal and Guide

$3.00

Discover the captivating world of insects with our Maria Sibylla Merian Biography Set! Perfect for preschool social studies, this resource introduces young learners to the remarkable life of Maria Sibylla Merian, an esteemed entomologist and artist.

Inside this 12-page PDF you will find:

• Engaging yet age-appropriate information about Maria Sibylla Merian and her significant contributions to science and art.
• Insect field journal pages designed for students to document their observations and artistic renderings.
• Color and Black and White insect field guides featuring images of common insect species.
• A comprehensive Teacher/Parent Guide offering tips for utilizing this resource effectively and extending learning opportunities.

Key Features:

• Immerse preschoolers in an enthralling exploration of the natural world through interactive learning.
• Cultivate curiosity, creativity, and scientific inquiry through hands-on activities and opportunities for observation and discovery.
• Foster a deep appreciation for nature and the groundbreaking work of Maria Sibylla Merian.

TOS, and Graphics Credit

Pre-K Printables Club Members:

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Entomology Lab Preschool Dramatic Play

$5.00

Transform your preschool classroom into an engaging Entomology Lab with this Dramatic Play Pack! Packed with printable educational resources and props, this preschool pack encourages hands-on learning and imaginative play. Watch your students explore the world of insects and discover the wonder of science!

Included in this 42-page PDF:

Educator Set-Up Guide

               Suggested Props & Standards 

               Suggested Station Props Tasks & Sample Photos

               Directions & Assembly

Signs

Welcome to the Entomology Lab Sign

Entomology Lab Open/Closed Sign

Research Station Signs

               Insect Observation Station

               Measuring Station

               Classifying Station

               Specimen Station

Writing Elements

Insect Observation Forms

Insect Care Checklists pgs.

Labels

Printable Props

Sorting Tray

Insect & Non-Insect Specimens (Real Photos)

Insect fact cards and Specimen Inserts for bug jars (Real Photos)

Printable Digital Scale

Posters

Common Types of Insects Poster

Parts of an Insect poster

Stages of Metamorphosis poster

When I work at the Entomology Lab I can poster

Entomology Lab Fun Poster

Other

Entomology Sign Bunting

Editable Signs

Editable Labels

Editable Bunting

TOU, Graphics Credit, Contact Info 

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Bugs A to Z Pre-K Book Companion, A-Z Bug Matching Game and Lotto Activity

$3.00

Enhance your preschoolers early learning skills with our Bugs A to Z Book Companion! This 21-page digital download includes Vocabulary and Discussion, Book Review, Bugs A-Z Match Up Game, and Insect Lotto Game. Perfect for interactive and educational fun at home. Note: This is a digital download - no physical product will be shipped. Purchase the book separately or borrow from your local library.

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What's Included:

• Vocabulary and Discussion & Book Review
• Bugs A-Z Match Up Game
• Insect Lotto Game

TOU, Graphics Credit, and Contact information

Pre-K Printables Club Members:

Log In and click here to download this product for free!

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