Spring and summer are a great time to include a preschool lesson plan on bugs. A fun insect to focus on is the ladybug with its bright red back and black spots. Whether for a day or longer, children enjoy themes when the entire curriculum revolves around one topic. More importantly, this focused attention on one topic within each area of a preschool curriculum provides learning opportunities for every child. The following article provides some ideas for preschool activities to include into a ladybug theme for any early childhood setting.
Fun Facts about Ladybugs
Circle time is a perfect place to provide some simple facts about the preschool program's theme with or without a book. Sometimes a teacher may ask the children what they know about the theme and record their answers down. The early childhood provider can then fill in the information that may have not been mentioned. This process of group learning honours the children for their input, ideas and knowledge. Some fun ladybug facts to share with the children are:
- ladybugs are beetles
- ladybugs can also be orange and yellow and some have no spots
- there are many different species
- they live all around the world
- the spots fade as they get older
- ladybugs can lay up to 1000 eggs in a lifetime
- the hard cover protects the delicate wings
- the bright color of the ladybug warns birds to not eat them
- ladybugs are popular with gardeners for they eats aphids, pests in the garden.
Ladybug Preschool Craft Ideas
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Special Note:
The great thing about a ladybug theme for an arts and crafts project, is that the children can be left to create through their own process. With the colors red, and black and dots, all versions of ladybugs will be formed. I love this one I found online...
Math Activity for a Ladybug Theme
The following song can be sung with ladybug and numbers correlating to the amount of dots on the ladybug:
To the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man?"
This ladybug has three black spots, three black spots, three black spots.
This ladybug has three black spots, what a lovely sight!
Sensory Table Activity
There are many ways to include ladybugs into a preschool curriculum. For instance, turn a sensory table into an area for plastic ladybugs to roam. The children will enjoy dramatically playing with the ladybugs while having a sensory experience. The table can be filled with sand, plastic leaves, real wood and sticks and small rocks. Then, plastic ladybugs can be placed inside this setting. If plastic ladybugs are difficult to find at local stores, try using permanent felt pens or paint and decorating small rocks as ladybugs.
Some Final Ideas for a Ladybug Theme
- Play pin the dots on the ladybug and other ladybug games
- Hunt for real ladybugs
- Face paint ladybugs onto cheeks
- Read the Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
- Decorate cookies with red icing and chocolate chips
- Felt Story: Five Little Ladybugs
Further Reading Suggestions:
Spring Felt Board Activities
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