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Preschool Insects Lesson Planning Ideas
It's Insects Theme Week! This week we are taking a closer look at bugs!
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This week we are! This theme is all about celebrating:
Pre-K Printables Club Members
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*Fly Swatter Painting
Your preschoolers will love this art exploration!
Set up an invitation for Flyswatter Process Art!
See photos from our process on the blog.
Set up an invitation for Flyswatter Process Art!
See photos from our process on the blog.
Art Center Materials
Add a variety of insect stickers, stamps, egg cartons, pom poms and stencils to your art space this week.
Create an Insect
Set up an invitation to create an insect!
Some items you might include: Paper plates,
A variety of shapes cut out of card stock, construction paper, brads for connecting the pieces,chenille sticks, and
googly eyes or eye stickers
Some items you might include: Paper plates,
A variety of shapes cut out of card stock, construction paper, brads for connecting the pieces,chenille sticks, and
googly eyes or eye stickers
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.
Buggy Snacks
Here are some creative ideas for Insect Themed Snacks this week:
- 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)
More Art & Creative Ideas:
- Grasshopper Craft from Learn to Create Love
- Ladybug Crafts from Housing a Forest
*Life-Size Bugs
Create an indoor world for "Life Size" insects.
Add items for insect "Dress Up": Wings, Insect Glasses, and Masks.
Get a closer look at this life sized garden over at Miss Hope's Blog
Add items for insect "Dress Up": Wings, Insect Glasses, and Masks.
Get a closer look at this life sized garden over at Miss Hope's Blog
ENTOMOLOGIST Lab
Transform your Dramatic Play Stand into an Entomologist lab!
Add bug viewers, insects sealed in acrylic, magnifying glasses, tweezers, microscope, photos of insects, books about insects, clip boards and writing instruments, pretend insects, lab coats, silk flowers and photos of scientists at work.
Add bug viewers, insects sealed in acrylic, magnifying glasses, tweezers, microscope, photos of insects, books about insects, clip boards and writing instruments, pretend insects, lab coats, silk flowers and photos of scientists at work.
More Dramatic Play Ideas:
- Check out this clever entomology lab created by Mrs. Alexander's Ants
*Add New Materials
Add Pretend Insects, plants, Items from Nature, Green & Brown Felt pieces, and Rocks.
Add Insect Patterns for pattern blocks.
Add Insect Patterns for pattern blocks.
Construct A Bug Habitat
Create blueprints for a bug den and then build in the block area. Add pretend bugs to complete the play.
More building & small world play Ideas
Buggy World from Stimulating Learning
*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 from PKPF
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 set is included in the Insects Preschool Activity Pack from PKPF
This set is included in the Insects Preschool Activity Pack from PKPF
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 from PKPF
This one is included in the Insects Preschool Activity Pack from PKPF
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.
More math Ideas:
*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.
Posters of Insects
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.
Complete and then hang the Praying Mantis Life Cycle and Labeling Parts of a Praying Mantis included in my Insects Activity Pack for reference.
Make -ug Words
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 A to Z by Scholastic Paperbacks
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 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
Outdoor Bug Exploration
Create a place for exploring insects outside. This fabulous outdoor bug exploration area belongs to Pre-K Fun Community Member Teresa Becker
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!
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).
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
It would be fun to collect the drawings or photos and create a Bug Hunt Class Book
More science & Discovery Ideas:
- Make a Roly Poly Habitat from Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Insects in Jello from Simple Fun for Kids
- Insect Sensory Bin from Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes
- Create an Insect Hotel from Teach Beside Me
- Bug and Slime Sensory Experience from Craftulate
Set up a sensory invitation! This Insect Sensory Bin was created by Pre-K Fun community member Erica P. of Erica's Educare Learning Center. Give a big workout to small hands by adding small tweezers for preschoolers to pick the bugs out.
Move Like a Bug
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!
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.
Insect Play Dough Invitation
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,
More physical
development Ideas:
- Bug Play Dough Invitation from Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Bug Fossils in Play Dough From Plain Vanilla Mom
- Insect Movement and Yoga Ideas from Pink Oatmeal
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.
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.
bug Charades
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.
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.
Class Bug Hunt
Set up a bug hunt in the classroom.
Hide plastic bugs or photographs in the classroom for students to search for. Give students each a collection jar or container to collect their insects. Once they have found all the insects invite everyone to share and compare their finds!
**Get creative! Bring in large rocks (or simply cut some out of paper), or sticks, pretend grass etc. to hide bugs in or around. 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.
Hide plastic bugs or photographs in the classroom for students to search for. Give students each a collection jar or container to collect their insects. Once they have found all the insects invite everyone to share and compare their finds!
**Get creative! Bring in large rocks (or simply cut some out of paper), or sticks, pretend grass etc. to hide bugs in or around. 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.
More Group & Circle Time Ideas
- Play Cootie or Ants in Pants
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.
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.
