Creepy Crawlies

Learner Outcomes

1. Gain a basic understanding of what an insect is.
2. Ability to identify a variety of insects.
3. Recognize that insects are beneficial.
4. Exposure to the concept of metamorphosis, and life cycles.
5. Provide a variety of activities to practice early learning skills.

Art:

Bug Catcher Supplies:
· Oatmeal Container
· Glue or Tape
· Screen or Netting Material
· Yarn
Use oatmeal container with lid. Cut large "window" in side and glue or tape screen on netting to inside over hole. Punch two holes in sides to add yarn handle.

Bug Puppets
Supplies:
· Paper Lunch Bags
· Glue
· Construction Paper
· Crayons or Markers
Use paper bags and have kids cut large circles for sections in bug and glue to paper bag, add face antennae, whatever. Also can make caterpillar puppet on tongue depressor with pompoms glued on, add wiggle eyes or buttons, and antennae.

Rock Bugs
Supplies:
· Small Rocks
· Glue
· Pipe Cleaners
· Paint
· Misc. Supplies
Paint small rocks to look like ladybugs or other bugs. Use pipe cleaners for legs on spiders, overhead transparencies or sheet protectors for wings, tiny beads for big bug-eyes. Put a small piece of magnetic strip on the back if desired.

Bug Eyes
Supplies:
· Egg Cartons
· Markers or Paint
· Pipe Cleaners
Cut the bottom of the egg carton so there are 2 cups to each section. You can get 6 on a 1 dozen egg carton. Cut the bottoms out of each section for eye holes. Let kids paint them or use markers on them. I've let them glue feathers and sequins on them. Use pipe cleaners for antennas. Punch holes on the sides and attach pipe cleaners, form pipe cleaners to fit around their ears.

Butterflies
Supplies:
· Construction Paper, Wrapping Paper, or Wallpaper Scraps
· Popsicle Sticks or Straws
· Crayons
· Scissors
· Stapler or Tape
Fold paper in half. Cut out butterfly wings, add about an extra in where the body would be (on the fold). Be sure you don't cut the fold! Color as desired and glue a popsicle stick where the body would be.

Clothespin Butterfly
Supplies:
· Tissue Paper (5 inch square)
· Clothespin
· Pipe Cleaners
· Markers
Make a butterfly by pinching opposite edges of tissue paper in the middle and inserting it in the clasp of the clothespin. Wind a piece of pipe cleaner around the top of the clothespin for antennas. Draw a face on the clothespin with a marker. You can add a magnet to the back too!

Bug Fingers
Supplies:
· Old Gloves
· Pipe Cleaners
· Scissors
· Hot Glue or Tacky Glue
· Misc. Craft Supplies
Cut the fingers off the gloves, they will be the bugs' body. Glue on pipe cleaners for legs, wiggly eyes, pompoms for noses, and feathers on back.(Or decorate as desired). Makes cute finger puppets.

Dot Butterfly
Supplies:
· Construction Paper Paper
· Paint
· Q-Tips
Cut out a large white butterfly. Glue a black strip of paper in the center on butterfly. Let children use a Q-tip to dip in paint and "dot" the butterfly wings with color.

Feet Butterflies
Supplies:
· Construction Paper
· Paint
· Glue
· Markers or Crayons
Have children take off shoes, dip feet into shallow pan of pastel paint. Step onto a piece of paper so feet are going outward from the heels together. When dry, add antenna with markers.

Dragon Fly
Supplies:
· Paper Towel Roll
· Construction Paper
· Tape
· Markers or Crayons
Use a paper towel tube and have them decorate a piece of paper (yellow) that fits around the tube..then tape it. Trace hands (2) and tape one to either side of the tube near the top. Add eyes- large (oval shapped- flat on bottom), so that they are sticking up above top of tube. It's really cute. Looks like it's clapping it's hands - it's actually flapping it's wings.

Caterpillars
Supplies:
· Construction Paper
· Glue
· Markers or Crayons
· Pipe Cleaners
caterpillars cut out circles of colored construction paper. Glue circles together side by side slightly overlapping. Add legs and feelers from pipe cleaners...draw on a face.

Pom-pom Caterpillars
Supplies: · Pom-poms
· Glue
· Markers or Crayons
· Pipe Cleaners
Glue three middle size pom poms together. Glue on eyes and feelers. For fun you can put magnetic tape on back for magnet.

Wax Paper Butterflies
Supplies: · Crayons
· Wax Paper
· Scissors
Shave crayons and place between a sheet of wax paper on news paper. Cover with another piece of wax paper. Press iron for a few seconds, cut into butterfly shape.

Crawling Spider Puppet
Instructions to make a cool spider puppet using an old glove.
Materials Needed:
· 1 Black Stretchy Glove
· 2 Large Black Pom-poms
· 2 Wiggle Eyes
· Glue
Instructions:
Easy! Put your hand in the glove, gluu on one pom-pom right behind the knuckles on the back of your hand, glue on the other pom-pom just behind the first so they are touching. Glue the wiggle eyes on the pom-pom nearest your knuckles. You now have a cute spider puppet that will crawl around when you wiggle your fingers!

Jumping Spider Puppet
Make a fun, jumping spider puppet.
Materials Needed:
· 1 Large Black Pom-Pom
· 4 Black Pipe Cleaners
· 2 Small Wiggle Eyes
· Black Yarn
· Straw
· Glue
· Wax Paper
Instructions:
Cut a piece of yarn about 24 inches long (this will vary depending on how long you want you puppet's string to be. Tie the piece of yarn around the middle of the pom-pom, as close to one end of the yarn as possible; trim any extra off the short end of the yarn so it blends into the pom-pom.
Lay the 4 pipe cleaners side by side, making the ends as even as possible (figure 1). Put a generous amount of glue on the pom-pom just below where the yarn is tied and lay it on the center of the pipe cleaners (figure 2). Glue on the 2 wiggle eyes (figure 3). Set it aside until the glue is dry.
Once the glue is dry, string the loose end of the yarn through the straw (it sometimes helps if you wrap a small piece of tape around the end of the yarn). Pull the end of the yarn through the straw far enough to tie it .
Now, you can use the straw as a handle to make your spider jump and dance!

Silly Spider
Get giggles—not gasps—with this cute critter. What you need:
· 8 purple chenille stems or pipe cleaners
· Tacky glue
· 1 large purple pom-pom
· Scissors
· White felt (1" x 1")
· Black felt (½" x ½")
1. Have your child make eight long curls from the chenille stems by twisting the straight stems around a pencil.
2. Let your child glue one end of each chenille stem to the purple pom-pom to form the spider's body and legs. Hold each stem for several seconds until the glue sets.
3. To make the eyes, cut two ½-inch circles from the white felt and smaller circles from the black felt.
4. Glue the white circles to the front of the pom-pom and attach the black dots to the white circles.

Creepy Crawly Spider Bracelets
This is a fun and easy Halloween project that I did with a small group of 2 to 5-year-olds. They love tracing their hands and fingers whenever they are playing with crayons or markers, so this is simply a "twist" on an old favorite. We also talked about the number 8 that day, so on the backside of the spiders' legs, I wrote the numbers 1-8 in white crayon while each child counted with me. What You Need
· Black construction paper
· Wiggle eyes
· White paper (for "fangs")
· Paper fastener
· Stapler and staples
· Scissors
· White crayon
· Glue
· Pencil
How To Make It 1. Fold black construction paper in half.
2. Along folded edge, lay child's hand palm down (midway through palm) and trace fingers with white crayon.
3. Cut out the outline of the fingers.
4. Unfold and you have a complete image of a spider with eight legs. Now turn the spider over and with the pencil, roll the legs around the pencil...this makes the legs curl under and gives a more creepy, crawly effect.
5. Cut a 1" strip of black paper from the remaining scraps, and form it into a circle for the bracelet part. At the appropriate length, staple the ends together.
6. Attach the bracelet to the underside center of the spider using the paper fastener.
7. Glue on the wiggle eyes and the "fangs" that you design and cut from the white paper to the spider's head.
8. The child puts his/her fingers or wrist through the bracelet...the kids can make their spiders creep and crawl with a back & forth rocking motion of their wrists. The paper fastener allows the spider to turn back and forth or 360 degrees, too!
Have fun!!

Black Spiders
Materials needed:
Black Construction paper
scissors
Glue sticks/stapler/tape...
Googly eyes
String/yarn
We pre draw circles ( itsy bitsy , medium and large) for children to cut out. We have long strips of black construction paper pre-cut for legs. Children bend strips back and forth for an accordian look for the legs. Attach legs, and eyes and string from middle. Gather in circle. We then sing 'Itsy Bitys Spider" in a teeny voice while using the small spiders as props. Then medium and then for large we sing in dep, loud voices, "THE GREAT BIG SPIDER WENT UP THE WATERSPOUT....."

ant hats.
Use two black 3"x 9" strips to make a headband to go around the child's head. This is the thorax.
Make a smaller strip (about 3"x 5") to staple to the front of the headband. This is the "head". They can draw many eyes, because most spiders have more than two eyes.
Attach a blown up black balloon to the back of the thorax for the abdomen.
Add 3 legs to each side.........and you have an ant hat. They love to wear these home.

LADY BUGS:
Take 2 small white paper plates. Paint one plate black and let dry. Cut the other 1 in 1/2, and use hole puncher and fastener to attach the 2 halves on top of the whole plate (2 halves will over lap, a bit) Have children paint the top plates red, and add black dots by using cut construction paper. Add 2 pieces of black pipe cleaners to the top, for antenaes!

Spiders
1) use 1 section of an egg carton and, paint black, add pipe cleaners for legs. 2)paint a styrofoam ball black (try adding glue to paint, if its not sticking!) Add pipe cleaners for legs ** Make a "web" on the wall by putting up black construction paper and stapling up white string in a web design.... add "spiders" to it!

Caterpillars
There are several ways to do caterpillars. One is to use 3 or 4 sections of an egg carton, let the children paint it and add 'googlie' eyes (or make eyes, or paint on eyes, depending on the age and ability of your class) You can add pipe cleaner pieces for antanaes. OR- cut out circles and let children glue the circles together on paper, and draw faces on one end.

Butterfly
Have children dip a coffee filter into different color tempera paints (or food colorong - but food coloring will ruin clothes!) This will give almost a tye-dye effect. when they are dry, children push the coffee filter into a clthes pin. You can add eyes, and pipe cleaner antenae. I always put a piece of magnet strip on the back. The parents love these refridgerator magnet butterflies!!

Bumble Bees
Let children glue back and yellow strips of tissue paper to a bumble bee picture. If able, let them cut out the bee, after it is dry. Use wax paper for the wings.

Ink blot Butterflies
Cut paper into buttterfly shapes. Talk to the children about symmetry and how butterfly wings are symmetrical. Let children paint on one side of the butterfly (one half) - use tempura paint. Then they fold the butterfly paper in 1/2 and see that the paint is on both sides! It is best for the children to paint little splots rather than a picture.

Creepy Crawly Spider Bracelets
This project is VERY EASY to do.
Supplies -
Black Construction Paper .
Wiggly Eyes .
White paper (for "fangs") .
Paper Fastener .
Stapler/staples .

Scissors .
White Crayon .
Glue .
Pencil
Project how to -
1. Fold black construction paper in half.
2. Along folded edge, lay child's hand palm down (midway through palm) and trace fingers with white crayon.
3. Cut out the outline of the fingers.
4. Unfold and you have a complete image of a spider with eight legs. Now turn the spider over and with the pencil, roll the legs around the pencil...this makes the legs curl under and gives a more creepy, crawly effect.
5. Cut a 1" strip of black paper from the remaining scraps, and form it into a circle for the bracelet part. At the appropriate length, staple the ends together.
6. Attach the bracelet to the underside centre of the spider using the paper fastener.
7. Glue on the wiggly eyes and the "fangs" that you design and cut from the white paper to the topside of the spider's head.
8. The child puts his/her fingers or wrist through the bracelet...the kids can make their spiders creep and crawl with a back & forth rocking motion of their wrists. The paper fastener allows the spider to turn back and forth or 360 degrees, too!

Spiders
What You Need:
Empty toilet or papertowel rolls
Black tempra paint
Craft googly eyes
What You Do:
Take the empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll and cut eight parts to it going up just high enough that you can bend them a little. Dip in black paint and you will have a spider. Use googlie eyes to finish.

Bug Glasses
Cut an egg carton into sections of two, Cut a hole in the bottom of each egg cup for the eye holes. Poke a small hole in each side of the attached cups. Push a pipe cleaner through the hole in each side and twist to hold. Curve the pipe cleaners so they will fit behind ears. Decorate Bug Glasses as desired...How bout WILD And CRAZY!!

We did a science project, well sorta LOL LOL we placed a couple pieces of fruit outside on the sidewalk and left them there. After about an hour or so we returned to the fruit to look at the ants and talk about what they were doing, why, and were they were taking this fruit. After we were done with that we made ants.
supplies:
egg carton (cut each egg carton into 4--3 segments each, to form the ant body) pipe cleaners
wiggle eyes
black paint or black markers (we used markers)
Have the children paint the 3 section egg carton; add eyes with hot glue gun; make 3 small holes on both sides of the egg carton and add pipe cleaners for legs and add pipe cleaners for antennas.
The kids had fun with this project. We talked about how many legs ants had, how many body segments they had, etc...

Bug Guest House
Materials:
1 qt milk carton
old pantyhose and rubber band
Heavy scissors or craft knife
Old Magazines and glue
A bug guest house is a perfect way to observe insects without harming them. Keep them only long enough to observe, and then return them to their home where they were found. Be sure to put whatever plant material your bug needs as food. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the leaves too. To make the house, cut 2 window openings on the sides of the carton. Look thru magazines for colorful pictures. Trim and glue them to cover the milk carton, making a nature picture collage. When the glue is dry, cut a leg off the pantyhose, and pull it up over the box, having the toe at the base of the carton. Add your bug, plants and water, then pull the hose up tightly, and trim, leaving about 3" to tie in a knot, or fasten w/ the rubber band. Watch your bug for a few hours or overnight, then set it free. Save bug house for another guest.

Ant
Materials needed:
cardboard egg carton, paint, pipe cleaners, markers Instructions:
Use 3 sections of a cardboard egg carton to form the body of an ant - have the children paint it and add - using pipe cleaners - on the first section antennas and on the back two sections eight legs (4 each section) and draw eyes on the front section.

Spaghetti Cobwebs
Materials:
Cooked Spaghetti (cold)
White glue
Wax paper
Have the children dip the spaghetti into the glue and arrange the pieces onto the wax paper. When the spaghetti dries, carefully peel the "cobweb" off of the wax paper. What a neat sensory activity for the kids! Add a small plastic or paper spider, if desired. Hang from the ceiling or against a window!

Spider Hats
Make a black band out of construction paper to fit the child's head. The children cut 8 strips of black paper for legs. These are glued so they go up out of the top of the band. Each leg is bent down to make a knee and at the end up to make a foot. Make eyes (buttons, small yarn pom poms, construction paper, markers, crayons, etc.) and a mouth on the front to the band. These don't have to be made these black, after all spiders come in many colors. Wear your spider hats while doing this group activity: Spider Web--Sit in a large circle. One child is selected as the spider and given a large ball of string. S/he goes across the circle and handed the end to a child who had to hold on tightly to it-then the spider criss-crossed the circle until each child was holding onto the string. Then stand up and you're all holding a giagantic spider web.

Spider & Web: Puffy Paint Cobwebs
Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water in a large bowl. Pour the mixture into squeeze bottles. Give each child a black paper plate or a piece of black construction paper. Let the children squeeze the white puffy paint onto the black paper. When the puffy paint dries, it will look like glittery spider webs. Then add a cut-out or plastic spider to the web.

Spider
Draw around the child's hands on black construction paper. Cut out the hands, cutting off the thumbs. Place the hands one palm on top of the other with fingers going out to both sides. Palms are the body, fingers the legs. Glue together. Add two gummed paper reinforcements for eyes. These are cute either hanging from a string from the ceiling or glued on a sheet of paper with a spider web (glue drizzled and dried for a shinny finish). Hope this all makes sense.

Spider Web
Supplies:
~Black Construction Paper
~White Paint
~Scissors
~Round, Metal Cake Pan or Pie Pan
~Marble
Cut a piece of construction paper to fit into the bottom of the cake pan. Place about a half teaspoon of white paint in the middle of the paper. Drop the marble into the cake pan and tilt the pan back and forth. As the marble passes through the paint it leaves trails of white on the paper. (You can also have the kids glue plastic spiders on their pictures when they are dry!)

Handipillar
This was a group activity. Each center group made one Handipillar.

Bee Puppet
Using pre cut shapes the children assembled their puppets following adult directions. Children used black thumbprints to paint on stripes. This is good for developing direction following skills which can be used in an artful language lesson.

Shape Caterpillars
This is a close-up of the caterpillars seen on the Bulletin Board page. This art activity can be used to learn shape names as well as provide a fun art activity.

Grass Hats
These hats were made after we read the book In The Tall, Tall Grass (see Literature page) This art activity was designed to work on cutting skills. The children cut their grass along teacher drawn lines. Some of our children were only able to cut one or two lines, we tried to stop them at their frustration point and finished up for them. For children unable to cut, we used Zizzors from AbleNet. The children applied their own stickers (even on their noses!)

Caterpillars
Cut egg cartons in half the long way. Have children use pipe cleaners for antennae, and add wiggly eyes. Use paints, markers, or crayons to decorate.

Butterflies
Have the kids crumple up only the middle of the tissue paper and twist a pipe cleaner around the middle. Attach some yarn or fishing wire and hang from the ceiling or lights.

Ladybugs
Paint the bottom of a paper bowl red. Stick black paper circles on it (for the spots). Add paper legs and head. Pipe cleaners can also be used for the legs.

Valenpillars
Set out various sizes of hearts cut from red, pink, black, and white construction paper, including some with the centers cut out. Let the children glue a number of hearts together in a row, with only the edges touching to make valenpillar bodies. Then let them glue on eyes and feelers from black construction paper.

Bug Catcher
Materials:
Oatmeal Container
Glue or tape
Screen or netting material
Yarn
Directions:
Use oatmeal container with lid. Cut large "window" in side and glue or tape screen or netting to inside over hole. Punch two holes in sides to add yarn handle.

Bug Puppets
Materials:
Paper lunch bags
Glue
Construction paper
Crayons or markers
Directions:
Use paper bags and have kids cut large circles for sections in bug and glue to paper bag, add face antennae, whatever. Also can make caterpillar puppet on tongue depressor with pom poms glued on, add wiggle eyes or buttons, and antennae.

Rock Bugs
Materials:
Small rocks
Glue
Pipe cleaners
Paint
Misc. supplies
Directions:
Paint small rocks to look like ladybugs or other bugs. Use pipe cleaners for legs on spiders, overhead transparencies or sheet protectors for wings, tiny beads for big bug eyes.Put a small piece of magnetic strip on the back if desired.

Bug Eyes
Materials:
Egg cartons
Markers or paint
Pipe cleaners
Directions:
Cut the bottom of the egg carton so there are two cups to each section. You can get 6 on a 1 dozen-egg carton. Cut the bottoms out of each section for eye holes. Let kids paint them or use markers on them. They can also glue feathers and sequins on them. Use pipe cleaners for antennae. Punch holes on the sides and attach pipe cleaners, form pipe cleaners to fit around their ears.

Butterflies
Materials:
Construction paper, wrapping paper, or wallpaper scraps
Popsicle sticks or straws
Crayons
Scissors
Stapler or tape
Directions:
Fold paper in half. Cut out butterfly wings; add about an extra inch where the body would be (on the fold). Be sure you don't cut the fold. Color as desired and glue a Popsicle stick where the body would be.

Clothespin Butterfly
Materials:
Tissue paper (5 inch square)
Clothespin
Pipe cleaners
Markers
Directions:
Make a butterfly by pinching opposite edges of tissue paper in the middle and inserting it in the clasp of the clothespin. Wind a piece of pipe cleaner around the top of the clothespin for antennae. Draw a face on the clothespin with a marker. You can add a magnet to the back too.

Bug Fingers
Materials:
Old gloves
Pipe cleaners
Scissors
Hot glue
Misc. craft supplies
Directions:
Cut the fingers off the gloves, they will be the bug's body. Glue on pipe cleaners for legs, wiggly eyes, pom poms for noses, and feathers on back. Or decorate as desired. Makes cute finger puppets.

Dot Butterfly
Materials:
Construction paper
Paint
Q-tips
Directions:
Cut out a large white butterfly. Glue a black strip of paper in the center on butterfly. Let children use a Q-tip to dip in paint and "dot" the butterfly wings with color.

Feet Butterflies
Materials:
Construction paper
Paint
Glue
Markers or crayons
Directions:
Have children take off shoes, dip feet into shallow pan of pastel paint. Step onto a piece of paper so feet are going outward from the heels together. When dry, add antennae with markers.

Dragon Fly
Materials:
Paper towel roll
Construction paper
Tape
Markers or crayons
Directions:
Use a paper towel tube and have children decorate a piece of paper (yellow) that fits around the tube. Then tape it. Trace hands (2) and tape one to either side of the tube near the top. Add eyes - large (oval shaped - flat on bottom), so that they are sticking up above the top of the tube. It's really cute. Looks like it's clapping its hands - it's actually flapping its wings.

Caterpillars
Materials:
Construction paper
Glue
Markers or crayons
Pipe cleaners
Directions: Cut out circles of colored construction paper. Glue circles together side by side slightly overlapping. Add legs and feelers from pipe cleaners. Draw on face.

Pom Pom Caterpillars
Materials:
Pom poms
Glue
Markers or crayons
Pipe cleaners
Directions:
Glue three middle size pom poms together. Glue on eyes and feelers. For fun you can put magnetic tape on back for magnet.

Wax Paper Butterflies
Materials:
Crayons
Wax paper
Scissors
Directions:
Shave crayons and place between a sheet of wax paper on newspaper. Cover with another piece of wax paper. Press iron for a few seconds, cut into butterfly shape.

Paper Plate Lady Bugs
Paint a paper plate red. Cut out back wings (a circle then cut it in half). Punch holes in connecting corners of wings. Now paint or color some black spots on the ladybugs and then use brads to fasten the wings onto the ladybug. Don't forget to give her a face.

Egg Carton Butterflies
Take egg cartons and cut them apart so that there are three bump sections. Cut a slit in each side of the middle section. On the front section draw a face; add a pipe cleaner for antennae. Cut heart shapes for wings. Let the children decorate the wings as they wish. Stick the point of the hearts into the slits to attach the wings. Add a string through the carton above the wings and hang.

Spider Webs
Materials:
Cardboard
Black Yarn
Tape

Preparation:
Cut an 8 inch square piece of cardboard for each child. Cut slits 1 inch deep around the sides, about 1-2 inches apart. ;Cut yarn into 6-foot lengths.Tape the end of a piece of yarn on the back of each card and pull it through one of the slits.
Activity
Let the children cross the yarn back and forth over the fronts of their cardboard squares, attaching it through the slits. Slits can be used more than once. Have them continue until the yarn resembles a spider web.

Spider Hats
Use dark tag board strips to form a crown like hat. Kids attach 8 wiggle folded paper strips for legs, and wiggle eyes.

Clay Spiders:
Make a spider body out of air dry clay. Insert a small paper clip into the clay so that only a small part remains exposed, creating a loop. Add pipe cleaner legs. After the clay is dry, paint it black, and add facial features. Finally, attach a piece of yarn or elastic to the paper clip so that the spider can hang.

Egg Carton Spider:
Using a cardboard egg carton, cut out a "2-section" piece. Paint with black paint. When dry, glue black pipe cleaners on for legs. Add wiggle eyes to make your spider complete.

Spider Headbands:
Prepare handout with pictures of spider facts or "S" words. Students color, cut and paste them on a 3" wide black strip of construction paper. Add eight legs (accordion folded.) Staple to fit child's head.

Spaghetti Spider Webs:
Cook about 2 lbs. of spaghetti. When it is cool, put it all in a large bowl with Elmer's Glue. Let the kids mix it with their hands (they love this part). Then they pull individual strands of spaghetti out and design their web on a piece of wax paper. (You might want to have a spider web pattern under the wax paper for children who have difficulty). When the web is dry, VERY CAREFULLY peel the wax paper away from the web. Add a spider ring in the center and hang the completed project from a string!

Marble paint Spider Webs:
Cut out a black circle the size of the bottom of an aluminum pie pan. Dip marbles in white paint and roll them around on the paper inside the pan. When dry, add a spider. I use a large jumbo foam spider stamp I found at a craft store.

Feeley Bug Art
We made paper plate bugs with materials of many different textures. Pipe cleaners were used for antenna and buttons for the eyes.

Bug Stamping Activity
Using bug sponges, we filled white construction paper with bug art.

Itsy Bitsy Spider Art
The children rolled a marble dipped in white paint on black paper to make spider webs. The circles were cut out before using a sponge to paint on their sun and spider.

Spider Headbands
Headbands with eight accordion folded legs and smiley spider faces with Wiggly eyes.

Rolling Pin Butterflies
The butterfly was made on a large sheet of white construction paper. We fold the paper in half and place three light pencil marks in a sidewise ">" pattern on one half of the paper. The children pick their colors and place a spoonful of thick paint along the pencil marks. Fold the paper along it's crease and have the children roll the paper with a rolling pin. When you open up your butterfly you'll hear lots of "oooohs" from the children. Let dry for a day and cut out your butterfly shape.

Paper Bowl Ladybugs
To make the ladybugs below, the children first had to paint an upside down paper bowl red. While the bowls were drying the children cut long black strips of construction paper for the legs and circles for the dots on the ladybugs back. The next day the children assembled their ladybugs with glue adding pipe cleaner antennas and Wiggly eyes. Lines were drawn using a marker,

Spiders
What You Need:
Empty toilet or papertowel rolls
Black tempra paint
Craft googly eyes
What You Do:
Take the empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll and cut eight parts to it going up just high enough that you can bend them a little. Dip in black paint and you will have a spider. Use googlie eyes to finish.

*Tissue paper butterflies -
paint a clothespin and let dry. Add stickers to a square of tissue paper, place in the clothespin and add pipecleaner antennae.

*Feathery Moths
( cut the stem from feathers and glue on moth shape)

*Blotto Butterflies -
pour paint onto a butterfly shape. Fold in half and 'smoosh' the paint between the paper. When opened, a symmetrical pattern will be on the wings.

*Pasta Butterflies -
glue bowtie pasta onto construction paper. Use pieces of pipecleaner for the body and antenna. Decorate patterns onto the pasta wings with confetti.

*Footprint Butterflies -
Dip feet in paint and stand with heels together, toes pointing out to make footprint. These will make the wings of the butterfly. When dry, cut a body and antennae from construction paper and glue on or draw on with marker.

*Plastic Bag Butterflies -
fill plastic sandwich bags with tissue paper. Fold a pipecleaner in half and place the baggie into the bend. Twist closed and form the ends into an antennae shape.

*Stained Glass Butterflies -
cut a butterfly shape from black paper. Cut out sections of the wings leaving a stencil pattern intact. Glue coloured celophane paper to the back side covering the open spaces. Hang in a window when dry.

*Felt Butterflies
- cut a butterfly shape from funfoam and decorate with foam shapes.

*Egg Carton Caterpillars -
cut an egg carton in half lengthwise. Decorate with paper or paint. Add eyes.

*Egg Carton Caterpillar Pull Toy
- cut the cup sections from an egg carton. Poke a hole in the center of each one. Paint. When dry, string the cups together. Tie a large knot at the end to hold them in place. Loop the front for a handle and pull your caterpillar along.

*Pom Pom Caterpillars -
glue several pompoms together and add googly eyes.

*Caterpillar Paperclip -
Paint a clothespin desired colour. Glue medium sized pompoms to the clothespin. Add googly eyes or small pompoms for eyes. Use a gluegun to attach a magnet to the back of the clothespin. Attach a small notepad and pencil to the clip and use for a small message center.

*Paper Caterpillars -
cut several circles from construction paper. Glue the circles together to create a caterpillar.

*Rock Ladybugs -
find a large round rock and paint red (fabric paint works well and is waterproof if you want to place in your garden. When dry, paint on black spots.

*Ladybug Puppets -
staple paper plates together (upsides touching) just over 1/2 way around the plate. Paint red and add black spots. When dry, children can place their hands in the opening and use as a puppet.

*Pompom Ladybug -
glue small black pompoms to a large red one. Add pipecleaner legs - 3 to each side.

*Ladybug Magnet -
add a bit of vaseline to a tablespoon. Mix plaster of paris according to package directions. Pour onto the spoon and let harden. Remove from the spoon and paint red with black spots. When dry, gluegun a magnet to the back.

*Stuffed Ladybugs -
cut two circle shapes from red felt. Add 6 legs from black felt to the bottom piece - 3 on each side of the bottom circle Use a gluegun to glue together around the edge (legs sticking out). Leave an opening for stuffing. Stuff with cotton. Glue closed. Add black spots and googly eyes.

*Egg Carton Bees -
cut an egg carton into cup pairs. Paint the pair of egg cups alternating black and yellow. Let dry. Add a face, antenna and a stinger.

*Pom Pom Bees -
Glue a black pom pom in between two yellow ones. Add googly eyes and felt wings. These are TOO CUTE! If the children want to add a stinger (mine did) use a small triangle of felt to glue onto the back.

*Honey Comb Stamping -
Take a hexagon shape from a shape sorter and stamp into yellow paint to design a honeycomb on paper. Children can draw in bees when dry if they wish.

*Bee Hats -
Cut a large strip of yellow construction paper. Let children draw on black stripes. Staple for a hat. Glue black pompoms to pipecleaners and then attach to hat.

*Tube Bee Fingerpuppet -
Paint a t.p. tube black. When dry, add yellow strips of paper and antenna. The kids can slip their fingers in these to make their bees buzz around the room.

*Ant Marrionettes -
stuff a square of black material (or felt) with cotton. Tie into 3 sections with string. Attach two long pieces of string to the two seperating the body sections. Tie these longer strings to an X made by glueing 2 popsicle sticks together. Make many and act out the ants go marching one by one.

*Bug Eyes -
cut out an egg carton into cup pairs. Cut out the center of the cups. Decorate with feathers, funfoam, glitter, pompoms, etc. Add pipecleaner 'arms' to put around your ears so the glasses can be worn.

*Spider Webs -
Add a bit of black paint to white glue. Dip cooked spaghettini noodles into the glue and arrange into a spider web on wax paper. When dry, peel the webs off the wax paper carefully.

*Spiders on a Web -
Web Rubbings Glue uncooked spaghetti into a web shape. Place a white piece of paper over the web when dry and rub with a crayon. Draw in spiders with crayons.

*Spider Hats -
Cut a strip from black construction paper. Fit to child's head and staple. Add 4 strips of black construction paper on either side of the hat and bend for legs. At the front, add a white circle with a black circle in the center for eyes.

*Styrofoam Spiders -
Cut a styrofoam ball in half and paint black. When dry, add pipecleaner legs and pompom eyes.

*Handprint Spiders -
Have children dip their palms and 4 fingers in paint (not thumb) Place one hand down to make a print. Turn paper around and have child stamp other hand down overlapping the palm. The palm becomes the body and the spider will have 4 legs on each side.

*Spool Spiders -
Paint a wooden thread spool black. Let dry. Insert 4 6" pipecleaners into the hole of the spool and bend for legs. Add googly eyes. These are too cute!

*Felt Spiders -
Draw a large number 8 and cut from felt. Provide 8 legs and eyes so the children can turn the number 8 into a spider.

Spider Web
Add a bit of black paint to white glue. Dip cooked spaghettini noodles into the glue and arrange into a spider web on wax paper. When dry, peel the webs off the wax paper carefully.

Web Rubbings
Glue uncooked spaghetti into a web shape. Place a white piece of paper over the web when dry and rub with a crayon. Draw in spiders with crayons.

Spider Hats
Cut a strip from black construction paper. Fit to child's head and staple. Add 4 strips of black construction paper on either side of the hat and bend for legs. At the front, add a white circle with a black circle in the center for eyes.

Styrofoam Spiders
Cut a styrofoam ball in half and paint black. When dry, add pipecleaner legs and pompom eyes.

Handprint Spiders
Have children dip their palms and 4 fingers in paint (not thumb) Place one hand down to make a print. Turn paper around and have child stamp other hand down overlapping the palm. The palm becomes the body and the spider will have 4 legs on each side.

Spool Spiders
Paint a wooden thread spool black. Let dry. Insert 4 6" pipecleaners into the hole of the spool and bend for legs. Add googly eyes. These are too cute!

Walnut Spiders
Use half a walnut shell. Then take the colored pipe cleaners bend like a spider leg and glue inside the shell. Use the little wiggly eyes on the front of the shell to complete your spider.

FIREFLY ART PROJECT
Use the little wooden spoons that come with ice cream cups for the body of your firefly. You may be able to get these from your local school cafeteria. Paint the spoon with the glow in the dark neon paint. One 2 oz. bottle should be plenty for your whole class. Let dry and place 2 black sticky dots on one end of the spoon for eyes. Cut rice paper or tissue paper into ovals and let kids glue an oval on each side for wings. Turn out the lights and see them glow while you sing your favorite firefly song or perform a finger play.

BALLOON BEES
Yellow ballons decorated with black strips of construction paper and heart shaped wings would make a good bumble bee.

Science: INSECT HABITATS
Invite the children to make bug holders by filling a clear plastic jar with leaves and twigs and covering the top with a piece of netting or nylon stocking.

WORM WATCH
Encourage the children to observe the earthworms in the jar through magnifying glasses.

WEIGHT LIFTERS Provide several buckets of blocks and ricks for the children to try and lift. Vary the weights from light to heavy.

LADYBUG WATCH
Place several ladybugs in a center for the children to observe. Be sure to let them go in a garden later. (Note: Ladybugs can be purchased from a nursery.)

CATERPILLAR WATCH
Place caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies in a center for the children to observe.

SPIDER WATCH
Invite the children to observe a spider in a jar through a magnifying glass. Provide a web for observation, if possible.

Buggy Science:
Ahead of time, locate a few earthworms (bait store). Punch holes in the lids of 2 plastic jars. Conduct an experiment to help the children understand that earthworms help keep the soil healthy. Let the children fill 2 clear jars with alternating layers of potting soil and sand. Scatter equal amounts of grated carrots on top of the soil in each jar; then sprinkle water in each jar. Use enough to just moisten. Place a few worms in one jar. (No worms in the 2nd jar.) Ask the children to predict what changes they might see in the jars tomorrow. Place the lids on the jars and cover them with a dark cloth until the children observe them tomorrow to see if their predictions are correct.

Make Your Own Ant Farm
Take a large peanut butter jar (empty and cleaned) and place a baby food jar upside down inside it. Fill the peanut butter jar with sand. Make some holes in the top of the jar with a nail or screw. Add a little honey or jelly every few days, along with a little water. Now gather up some ants from outdoors. After you've closed the lid, be sure to stop up the holes with cotton so the ants don't get out. Now, remember to keep a cloth over the jar whenever you're not observing it. This way the ants will make really cool tunnels right near the sides, instead of hidden deep to avoid the light.

*Collect bugs for bug keeper magnifiers, don't forget to let them go when you are done.

*Types of Bees -
Set up pictures of the different types of bees for children to view and observe. They are amazingly different. Add fast facts like did you know that only the female bumble bees have stingers, but both the male and female honey bees have stingers!

*Honey Tasting -
Check out the different forms that honey can be purchased in. Taste the honey in each form and see if there is any difference. Block Area
*Add plastic bugs to the block area.

Dramatic Play
*Add antennae so children can dress up like bugs, colourful shirts for butterflies, red and black polk-a-dot shirts for ladybugs, etc (antannae can be made easily by attaching pompoms with pipecleaners onto children's headbands.

Books:

We Like Bugs! by Jolene Griffith The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Quiet as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Creepy Crawlies A to Z by Louisa Ainsworth
Katrina-The Butterfly by Nancy Hatzenbihler (we also listened to the tape)
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Insect Soup: Bug Poems by Barry Louis Polisar
Audio:
Insects and Bugs a compact disc
We Like Bugs! a tape to go along with the book.
Katrina the Butterfly a tape to go along with the book.
Along Came a Spider (2 Cassettes) - James Patterson
Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti - Gerald McDermott
Be Nice To Spiders - Margaret Bloy Graham
I Love Spiders - John Parker
Stellaluna - Janell Cannon
The Eentsy Weentsy Spider : Fingerplays & Action Rhymes - Beverly Collins
The Itsy Bitsy Spider - Iza Trapani
The Itsy Bitsy Spider: Classic Verse and Rhymes - Jenny Press (Illustrator)
The Roly Poly Spider - Jill Sardegna
The Very Busy Spider - Eric Carle Bugs! by David T. Greenberg (This one is gross and the kids LOVE IT!)
I'm a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs by Bob Barner
Amazing Bugs; Sticker Activity Book Author: Time Life Books
Bugs, Beetles, and Butterflies Author: Harriet Ziefert,Harriet Zeifert
Let's Look at Bugs Author: Nicola Tuxworth (Board Book)
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Theme Ideas

We bought an inexpensive red checkered table cloth(the one with the larger checks) and cut it into approximately 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pieces to make kind of a bingo card....we made some dice, and bought some of those small plastic ants. The child rolls the dice, and he gets to put the number of ants the dice says on that many checks...the one who gets all the checks covered first wins. Or if you want to shorten it you can do it by rows. We made a game for each child and put it in a small drawstring bag (fabric was ant print)! It was a big hit.

Spiders
A spider spins a silk thread, called a dragline, behind itself wherever it goes. It relies on the dragline to help it escape from danger by dropping quickly out of reach of the threat. The spider can climb back along its dragline after the threat has passed. To prepare a dragline for your little arachnid actors to use, tape one end of a 30-yard length of yarn to a toilet-paper tube. Wrap the yarn around the tube. Slide the tube onto a narrow belt. Then arrange an obstacle course using chairs, tables, stools, plastic cones, and other small furnishings. Loosely fasten the belt around the waist of a volunteer with the tube of yarn (the dragline) positioned near the middle of the child's back. Explain that the child will crawl on the floor pretending to be a spider as he negotiates the obstacle course. Have another child hold the loose end of the dragline at the beginning of the course. As the spider moves, his dragline will unroll, leaving a trail along the obstacle course. At the end of the course, remove the belt from the child's waist. Have him wind the yarn back onto the tube as he retraces his path.

Insect Seriation
Construction flannel board pieces representing a ladybug, an ant, a caterpillar, a butterfly, etc. The children can arrange them on the flannel board from smallest to largest.

Insect Movement
Ask the children to move like the following insects; worms, grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, butterflies, bumblebees, etc.

Fascinating Bugs
Show your two year old pictures cut from magazines of bugs. Flies, bees and spiders will be familiar to them. Go out into the yard and section off a small area by drawing in the dirt with a stick. Look closely to see if anything is moving within that area. Find a magnifying glass and let your child look for bugs with it. You will be amazed at what you see. Take the magnifying glass to another part of the yard and repeat the game.

Songs, Poems, Stories, & Fingerplays

LITTLE WIGGLE WORM I'm a little wiggle worm, (Put hands together overhead.)
Watch me go!
I can wiggle fast, (Wiggle quickly.)
Or very, very slow. (Wiggle slowly.)
I wiggle all around, (Wiggle and turn in a circle.)
Then back I go.
Down into the ground, (Bend over to enter ground.)
To the home I know.

The Surprise
"Let's go to sleep," the caterpillars said,
(bend all ten fingers into your palm)
And they tucked themselves into their beds.
They will awaken by and by.
(slowly unfold each finger one at a time)
And each one will be a butterfly.
(fly with your arms)

The Spider Poem
Spiders are not insects
Spiders have eight legs.
Spiders have four pairs of eyes
Spiders hatch from eggs!
Spider webs are sticky
Spiders weave them tight
Spiders spin that silky string
Spiders weave webs right!

The Spider Spins A Web - sung to "The Farmer In The Dell"
The spider spins a web.
The spider spins a web.
Round, round, up and down,
The spider spins a web.
Additional verses:
She spins it in and out.
She spins it back and forth.
She spins it good and strong.

Pretty Ladybug
(Tune: The Muffin Man)
Ladybug has 1 black spot,
1 black spot, 1 black spot;
Ladybug has 1 black spot,
Pretty ladybug!

"The Itsy Bitsy Spider"
The itsy bitsy spider
Went up the water spout
Down came the rainAnd washed the spider out.
Out came the sun andDried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spiderWent up the spout again!

Additional verses:The BIG GIANT spider (clap hands, loud voice)
The little baby spider (rock arms, baby voice)
The very sleepy spider (yawn, sleepy voice)T
he very sad spider (rub eyes, sad voice)
The very angry spider (stomp feet, mad voice)
The very happy spider (touch dimples, giggle voice)

"The Silly Willy Spider"
The silly willy spider
Crawled up on _____'s head!
It crawled all around
Then made a nice soft bed.
It wiggled down his/her shoulder
And jumped down to the floor
Then the silly willy spider
Crawled to someone else for more!

"Little Miss Muffet"
Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spiderAnd sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away!

"The Spider Spins a Web"
(sung to the tune of"The Farmer In the Dell")

From The Mailbox
The spider spins a web,
The spider spins a web,
Round, round, up and down,
The spider spins a web.
Additional verses:
She spins it in and out.She spins it back and forth.She spins it good and strong.

"Crawl Like a Spider
sung to the tune of"Ten Little Indians
From The Mailbox
Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl around your web.
Replace the action word with:jump, run, creep, sneak, pounce

Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar
Fuzzy Wuzzy caterpillar into a corner crept
Spun himself a chrysalis and there he slept
Fuzzy Wuzzy caterpillar wakes up by and by
To find he has beautiful wings For he's a butterfly!

A Caterpillar (chant)
A caterpillar looks so small
It is hardly there at all
It munches on green leafy treats
And it gets bigger as it eats.
It eats and eats, 'til pretty soon
It wraps up tight in a cocoon
When it wakes up it blinks its eyes
And says, "I'm now a butterfly!"

A Butterfly (chant)
A burst of blue
A shock of green
A flap of wings is all that's seen
A flutter in the flower beds A burst of blue

A bit of red
A whisper as it flutters by
You're oh so pretty, butterfly.

The Fuzzy Caterpillar
(sung to: The Eensy Weensy Spider)
The fuzzy caterpillar
Curled upon a leaf
Spun her little chrysalis
And then fell asleep.
While she was sleeping
She dreamed that she could fly
And later when she woke up
She was a butterfly!

Poor Little Bug on the Wall
Poor little bug on the wall
Nobody loves him at all
No-one to wash his clothes
No-one to tickle his toes
Poor little bug on the wall.

Shoo Fly
Shoo fly don't bother me
Shoo fly don't bother me
Shoo fly don't bother me
I belong to somebody!
I do, I do, yes indeed I do
I belong to somebody
Yes indeed I do!

The Eency Weency Spider
The eency weency spider
Went up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out!
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain.
And the eency weency spider
Went up the spout again.

La Arana Pequenita
La arana pequeñita
Subió por el drenaje.
Vino la lluvia
Y se la llevó!
Salió el sol
Y todo lo seco
Y la arana pequeñita
Subió y subió y subió.

Song - There's a Spider on the Floor
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor
Who could ask for any more, than a spider on the floor,
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor

Who could ask for any more, than a spider on the floor,
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor
There's a spider's on my leg, on my leg
There's a spider's on my leg, on my leg
Oh he's really, really big, this spider on my leg There's a spider's on my leg, on my leg

There's a spider on my tummy, on my tummy
There's a spider on my tummy, on my tummy
I think I want my Mommy, cause a spider's on my tummy
There's a spider on my tummy, on my tummy
There's a spider's on my neck, on my neck
There's a spider's on my neck, on my neck
Oh I'm going to be a wreck with this spider on my neck
There's a spider's on my neck, on my neck
There's a spider's on my head, on my head
There's a spider's on my head, on my head
I'm really seeing red with a spider on my head
There's a spider's on my head, on my head
But he jumps of..... whooooooshhhhhhhhhhh, plop (said)
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor
Who could ask for any more, than a spider on the floor,
There's a spider on the floor, on the floor

Lightning Bug
(You are my Sunshine)
I'm like a "lite brite"
I have a night light.
I fly in circles, up in the sky.
Some call me "lightning".
When my light's blinking.
But to my friends, I'm just "firefly."
While others sleep tight,
flash my night light,
fill the dark sky with light so bright.
Look out your window,
You'll see me flashing,
And then I'll turn off and tell you
"good night

Buggy Biology Lesson
(London Bridge is Falling Down)
Head and thorax, abdomen, abdomen, abdomen.
Head and thorax, abdomen, That's an insect.
Every insect has six legs, has six legs, has six legs.
Every insect has six legs, that's an insect.
Antennae to feel their way, feel their way, fell their way.
Antennae to feel their way, that's an insect.

Shiny Green Bug
(Little White Duck)
Chorus:
There's a shiny green bug
sittin by the water.
A shiny green bug
Doin' what she oughter.
Verse one
Her special name is dragonfly
and she stares at you with her great. big eye.
Repeat chorus
Verse two

She lays her eggs near a clear, wet pool.
And she sits on a stem looking like a jewel.
Repeat chorus
Verse three
She flies in the air searching for her lunch.
And she grabs and insect for a tasty munch!
Repeat chorus.

It's an Insect
( My Darling Clementine)
It's an insect
not a spider
it has six legs
instead of eight.
3 on this side
3 on the side
and it's crawling on my plate.

Crawly Bug
See the little crawly bug
Walk across the floor.
See the little crawly bug
Walk right up the door.
See the little crawly bug-
I hope he doesn't fall!-
Walk across the ceiling,
Then down the other wall.
See the little crawly bug
Creep out in the sun.
Come again, crawly bug,
Watching you is fun!

Grasshopper Green
Grasshopper green
too quick to be seen
jump like a Mexican jumpity bean!
Grasshopper high
Grasshopper low
over my basket of berries you go.
Grasshopper low
Grasshopper high
Watch it or you will end up a pie!

Dragonfly
A dragonfly is very thin
Straight and shining like a pin.
With narrow wings of stiffened gauze,
In the air he likes to pause.
And look at you with popping eyes,
He shimmers like a small surprise.

BUG IN THE RUG
Bug in the rug (child covers face with towel)
Bug in the rug
Who is that
Bug in the rug? (Everyone calls out child's name- child uncovers face)
Repeat for all children

Little Black Bug
(Encourage preschoolers to add the appropriate sound effects to this poem by Margaret Wise Brown)
Little black bug,
Little black bug
Where have you been
I've been under the rug,
Said little black bug.
Bug-ug-ug-ug.
Little green fly,
Little green fly,
Where have you been?
I've been way up high,
Said little green fly.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Little old mouse,
Little old mouse,
Where have you been?
I've been all through the house
Said little old mouse.
Squeak-eak-eak-eak-eak.

WATCH OUT FOR THE BUGS!
Tune: Jingle Bells
Clap ;your hands, stomp ;your feet,
Wiggle all around
Throw your hands up in the air,
Now lets touch the grou-ound
Hold your head
Hold your hips
Give yourself a hug
Lay yourself down on the floor,
Buuttttt....... WATCH OUT FOR THE BUGS!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Work, Work, Work
(Sung to: She'll Be comin' Round the Mountain)
They'll be flying 'round the flowers in the yard. Buzz buzz. (flap hands)
They'll be flying 'round the flowers in the yard. Buzz buzz.
They'll be flying 'round the flowers; they'll be flying 'round the flowers;
They'll be flying 'round they flowers in the yard.


More verses:
They'll be slurping up the nectar when they come. Gulp! Gulp! (pretend to swallow)
They'll be scooping up the pollen with their legs. Fun! Fun! (Stomp twice)
They'll be feeding all the babies in the hive. Eat! Eat! (pretend to rock baby)
They'll be cooling down the hive with their wings. Flap! Flap! (flap arms)
They'll be making lots of honey that we'll eat. Yum! Yum! (rub tummy)
Insects move many different ways. Some crawl, fly, jump, walk and swim.
Depending on your class size have children have a relay race, with each child
moving the way an ant crawls, or a dragonfly flies, a water beetle swims, a
praying mantis walks and a grasshopper jumps.

Little Grasshopper
(sung to: Cucaracha)
Little grasshopper, Little grasshopper
Hop across the grassy land.
Little grasshopper, Little grasshopper
Hop into my open hand.
Little grasshopper, Little grasshopper
Sweet and green as you can be.
Little grasshopper, Little grasshopper
Hop away so safe and free.

BUGS Big bugs, little bugs, thin bugs, fat.
Creepy, crawling, creepy, crawling. Just like that!
Black bugs, brown bugs, green bugs, too.
Leaping, jumping, leaping, jumping right past you!
Move like insects: butterflies, grasshoppers, bumblebees; also spiders and worms
Five Little Flies
Five little flies buzzing through a hive,
One snuck some honey, and took a deep dive.
Four little flies buzzing through a door,
One slipped and fell, Crash! on the floor.
Three little flies buzzing through the trees,
One bumped the bark and bloodied his knees.
Two little flies buzzing through a shoe,
One held his nose and said, PEE YOO!
One little fly buzzing through a bun,
The swatter goes SPLAT! Now there are none.

TWO BIG BEEHIVES
Two big beehives (hold out 2 fists)
Closed up tight,
Protecting sleeping bees (rest head on hands)
All through the night.
When the morning sun (make circle with arms overhead)
Shows its light,
Ten little bees (hold up 2 fists)
Take to flight. (open hands and wiggle fingers)

HEY BEE
Looked up in the sky, and what did I see
but 5 little bees buzzin' by me
I said "Hey bees, Hey bees
what are you doing?",
"We don't know but we gotta keep movin'"
Looked up in the sky, and what did I see
but 4 little bees buzzin' by me
I said "Hey bees, Hey bees
what are you doing?",
"We don't know but we gotta keep movin'"
Looked up in the sky, and what did I see
but 3 little bees buzzin' by me
I said "Hey bees, Hey bees
what are you doing?",
"We don't know but we gotta keep movin'"
Looked up in the sky, and what did I see
but 2 little bees buzzin' by me
I said "Hey bees, Hey bees
what are you doing?",
"We don't know but we gotta keep movin'"
Looked up in the sky, and what did I see
but 1 little bee buzzin' by me
I said "Hey bee, Hey bee
what are you doing?",
"We don't know but I gotta keep movin'"

Do you like to Buzz?
(Do your ears hang low)
Do you like to buzz.
Are you covered all in fuzz?
Do you call a hive a home
In the garden where you roam?
Do you know how to make honey,
Are your stripes a little funny?
Do you like to buzz?

A BEE IS ON ME
A bee is on my bonnet
A bee is on my nose,
A bee is on my shoulder
A bee is even on my toes.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
This bee is bugging me.
Help me! Help me!
How can I be free?
A bee is in my hair
A bee is in my pants,
A bee is in my ears
A bee is making me dance.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
This bee is bugging me.
Help me! Help me!
How can I be free?
The bee is near my socks
The bee is near my shoes,
SPLAT!
Bee, I know how to take care of you!

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee
(jingle bells)
Bumblebee, bumblebee,
landing on my toes.
Bumblebee, bumblebee now he's on my nose.
On my arms, on my legs, on my elbows.
Bumblebee, oh bumblebee he lands and then he goes.

Baby Bumblebee I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me, (Cup hands together as if holding bee)
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Ouch! It stung me! (Shake hands as if just stung)
I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me, ('Squish' bee between palms of hands)
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It's yucky! (Open up hands to look at 'mess')
I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me, (Wipe hands off on shirt)
I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Now my mommy won't be mad at me! (Hold hands up to show they are clean)

Five Busy Bees Five little busy bees on a day so sunny (Hold up all fingers in one hand)
Number one said, "I'd like to make some honey". (Bend down first finger)
Number two said, "Tell me, where shall it be?". (Bend down second finger)
Number three said, "In the old honey tree". (Bend down third finger)
Number four said, "Let's gather pollen sweet". (Bend down fourth finger)
Number five said, "Let's take it on our feet".
Humming their busy little honey bee song.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz Bumblebees buzz. Buzz over here, Buzz over there.
They buzz up high and they buzz down low.
Around and around and around they go.
They buzz-buzz fast and they buzz-buzz slow
Oh bumblebees buzz!

*** grasshoppers hop, butterflies flutter, little ants run, ladybugs fly, crickets jump.

The Ants Go Marching The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three,
The little one stops to climb a tree
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four,
The little one stops to shut the door
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching five by five,
The little one stops to take a dive
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six,
The little one stops to pick up sticks
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching seven by seven,
The little one stops to pray to heaven
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching eight by eight,
The little one stops to shut the gate
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching nine by nine,
The little one stops to check the time
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching ten by ten,
The little one stops to say "THE END"
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Ant Song
(She'll be comin round the Mountain) Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.
Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.
See them dig and dig and dig, lots of tunnels oh, so big.
Oh, the ants are busy, busy as can be.

Fly, fly away!
(sung to the tune of "Three Blind Mice") Fly, fly, fly.
Ladybugs fly.
Fly over here.
Fly over there.
They fly up high and they fly down low.
Around and around and around they go.
They fly-fly fast, and they fly-fly slow.
Oh, ladybugs fly!

Five Little Ladybugs... Five little ladybugs climbing up a door
One flew away then there were four
Four little ladybugs sitting on a tree
One flew away then there were three
Three Little ladybugs landed on a shoe
One flew away then there were two
Two little ladybugs looking for some fun
One flew away and then there was one
One little ladybug sitting in the sun
She flew away and then there were none

Five Little Lady Bugs
Five little lady bugs sitting in a tree, (hold up five fingers)
The first one said, "I 'm glad I'm me." (wiggle thumb)
The second one said, "I feel great too," (wiggle pointer finger)
The third one said, "How about you?" (wiggle middle finger)
The fourth one said, "It's time to fly away," (wiggle ring finger)
The fifth one said, "We'll talk another day." (wiggle little finger)

Little Red Bug
Little red bug, oh so cute
Here's a black spot for your suit.
Now you go and have some fun,
With your spot, your very first one.
Little red bug, oh so cute.
Here's a black spot for your suit.
It's so nice to own a few,
So enjoy these lovely two.
Little red bug, oh so cute.
Here's a black spot for your suit.
We are pleased to see,
How you look with all three.
Little red bug, oh so cute.
Here's a black spot for your suit.
You might feel that you need more,
So we proudly give you four.
Little red bug, oh so cute.
Here's a black spot for your suit.
Heaven, heaven sakes alive,
Look at you you're wearing FIVE!

I'm a Little Ladybug (I'm a little Teapot) I'm a little ladybug on the go,
Landing on an arm, now an elbow.
See me fly around and around your hand,
Now watch as on your thumb I land.
I'm a little ladybug searching for some toes,
But watch me quickly land on your nose.
Now I look around and head for your hair,
I muss it up a bit, then pat it down with care.
I'm a little ladybug looking for a knee,
I'm just so happy you're not bugged by me.
Now you see me heading for your chest,
This little ladybug needs some rest.

DO SPIDERS STICK TO THEIR OWN WEBS? The spider weaves a sticky web
To capture bugs to eat.
What keeps the spider's sticky web
From sticking to her feet?
Spider webs are very tricky
Because not all the strands are sticky.
Unlike the passing hapless fly,
The spider knows which strands are dry.
But if she accidentally stands
Upon one of the sticky strands
She still will not get stuck, you see-
Her oily body slides off free.

LITTLE SPIDER

See the little spider
Climbing up the wall,
See the little spider
Stumble and fall.
See the little spider
Tumble down the street,
See the little Spider
Stop down at my feet.

Speedy Spider Song (tune- Oh, Susanna)

I was sitting in my room one day
When it came right through the door.
A big spider sped right by me-
Went racing 'cross the floor.

(Chorus) Oh, that spider! Oh how it scared me so.
But spiders can be good friends. And so I let it go.
I watched it crawl up the wall,
To find a spot just right.
It spun a web so beautiful.
And then went out of sight.

(Repeat chorus)
Now bugs and flies do not scare me,
For I know that it's true-
That a spiderweb is good to have,
Bugs stick to it like glue.
(Repeat chorus)

"A New Itsy-Bitsy Spider"

The itsty-bitsy spider
Crawled up on (Name)'s head.
He crawled all around, then used it for a bed.
He crawled down (his/her) back
and jumped down to the floor.
Then the itsy-bitsy spider
Crawled underneath the door.

The Spider Poem

Spiders are not insects
Spiders have eight legs.
Spiders have four pairs of eyes
Spiders hatch from eggs!
Spider webs are sticky
Spiders weave them tight
Spiders spin that silky string
Spiders weave webs right!

The Spider Spins A Web - sung to "The Farmer In The Dell"

The spider spins a web.
The spider spins a web.
Round, round, up and down,
The spider spins a web.

Additional verses:
She spins it in and out.
She spins it back and forth.
She spins it good and strong

In The Kitchen

Build an edible Insect
2 celery sticks (body)
6 carrot sticks (legs)
2 licorice sticks ( antennae)
2 raisins (eyes)
You can use cheese spread or peanut butter to help stick the limbs to the body

Using Ritz Crackers, make two peanut butter sandwiches side by side. Put eight stick pretzels into the sides of the crackers. "Glue" on eight M&M's for eyes using peanut butter as glue.***If you have children who are, or might be, allergic to peanut butter, you can use Oreo cookies and icing.

Cooking for Creepy Crawlies:
*Take orange jello and put plastic spiders in it
*Using hostess cupcakes put black licorie in the sides for the legs and gumdrops for eyes.

Spiderweb Munch
Serves: Makes 12 to 16 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
1/3 cup powdered sugar
3 cups toasted rice, cereal
DIRECTIONS:
HEAT morsels and 3/4 cup peanut butter in small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth; remove from heat. Add sugar; stir vigorously until smooth.
PLACE cereal in large bowl. Add 1 cup melted chocolate mixture; stir until evenly coated. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Using small metal spatula, shape into 10-inch circle with slightly raised 1-inch-wide border. Pour remaining chocolate mixture in center of circle; spread to border. FOR SPIDERWEB:
PLACE remaining peanut butter in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles on top of chocolate. Using wooden pick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through peanut butter from center to border. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Cut into wedges.

Spider Cookies
Use a permanent marker to personalize a foil square for each child. Place a 1/4 inch thick slice of refrigerated cookie dough on each childs square. Direct each child to break four pretzel sticks in half and press eight halves into opposite sides of the slice. Have each child then press two M&M's into his slice to resemble eyes. Place child's foil squares and cookies on a tray and bake according to directions.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Filled Spiders
3 tbsps reduced fat peanut butter
3 tbsps strawberry jam
1 lb Frozen Bread Dough -- thawed
Prepare two baking sheets with cooking spray; set aside. In a small bowl, combine peanut butter and jam; set aside. Divide dough into sixteen equal pieces. It takes two pieces of dough to make one spider. To make spider, take one piece of dough, on a lightly floured surface, divide this piece into four equal pieces for spider's legs. Roll each of these pieces into thin ropes, each being eight inches long. Lay each of these ropes, parallel and equal in length to each other, half inch apart onto prepared baking sheet. For the spider's body, divide a second piece of dough, one twice as large as the other. On a floured surface, pat larger piece of dough with the palm of your hand to flatten. Place two teaspoons peanut butter and jam mixture onto center of circle. Bring ends of dough up together and seal seams. Gently roll this piece of dough into a ball; set aside. Roll smaller piece of dough in a round ball (this will be the spider's head). Place peanut butter filled body and head centered on top of the four ropes of dough. The spider should now have eight legs. Finish with remaining pieces of dough to make eight spiders. Let rise until doubled in size, one hour. Bake in a 375 degree oven for ten minutes, or until golden brown.
NOTES:
The Peanut Butter & Jelly Spiders are so cute and very good! They rise and turn a nice light brown while baking. They will make a hit with kids because of the shape and the filling.

Spider Cake
1 box cake - (I prefer a strawberry cake)
chocolate frosting
8 brown pipecleaners
2 googly eyes
plastic fangs (or white icing)
OPTIONAL: Red icing
Bake cake according to package directions.
Let cool, and then frost with chocolate frosting.
To make spider, take 8 brown chenille pipe cleaners (the fuzzy ones), and bend into leg shapes, poking them into the spider's body. (Four on each side).
Use the "googly" eyes to put on the face of the spider, and to make him really scary, I use fangs with just a bit of red icing on them to make it look as if the spider has bitten someone.
When you cut into the cake, the red (strawberry) insides look like you're actually cutting into a spider's body.
Really simple, fun, and great for kid's Halloween parties at school. Serves a lot of kids!

Worms In The Grass
Ingredients
cream cheese
graham crackers
alfalfa sprouts
gummi worms
Supplies
plastic knives for spreading
paper plates
Talk about things that hide in the grass. Spread cream cheese on crackers, put a small handful of alfalfa sprouts on top and cover with a yummy gummi worms.

Strawberry Crunch
Ingredients
1 teaspoon granola per child
2 tablespoons strawberry yogurt per child
2 whole strawberries per child
Supplies
spoon
plastic or paper cups
plastic knives
Have each child cut up the strawberries and place in their cup. Spoon yogurt on top, and cover with granola. We used this cooking activity as a companion to the story, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".

Ladybug Muffins
Ingredients
English muffins
cream cheese
red food coloring
raisins
lettuce leaves
Supplies
plastic knives
paper plates
Color the cream cheese with the food coloring prior to this activity. Have each child his English muffin with red cream cheese and dot with raisins. We paired this with the story, "The Grouchy Ladybug" by Eric Carle. We also shared live ladybugs on this day.

Honeycomb Snack
The children poured their own cereal and milk (using small measuring cups) and enjoyed the cereal while we talked about honey and bees. This was excellent for pouring and self feeding skills.

Spider Cookies
Ingredients
Chocolate Chip Cookie dough
red string licorice
raisins
gum drops

Edible spiders
Use a pear half for the body, licorice string for the legs, raisins or other small food for the eyes.

Tuna Spiders
tuna mixed with mayonaise (or however you like to make your tuna salad)
whole wheat bread
olives or pickles for eyes
Mix the tuna salad according to your tastes. Cut the whole wheat bread into strips about 1/2" wide. Place the tuna in the center of a plate using an ice cream scoop. Place four strips of Whole Wheat bread on either side of hte scoop for the spider's legs and use the pickles or olives for eyes.

Spider Cupcakes
1 box cake mix (any kind you like)
1 container of icing (or your favourite icing recipe)
thin licorice
jelly beans/smarties/or m&m's
Mix the cake according to package directions. Cool cupcakes and ice. Use the licorice for the legs of the spider and the candies for the eyes.

Hi-Ho Bugs
Give each child a Hi-ho or Ritz cracker, PNB, pretzel sticks, and chocolate chips or Mini M&Ms. Let them spread the PNB on the cracker and create a one of a kind bug with pretzels for legs and chocolate chips for eyes. Great for making spiders.

Hi-Ho Lady Bugs
On a Ritz or Hi-Ho cracker, spread with cream cheese colored red with food coloring, and add raisin spots.

Crunchy Caterpillars
Spread PNB on celery sticks or bread sticks, and then sprinkle coconut over it that has been colored with green food coloring.

Ants on a Log
Celery with PNB spread on it with raisins on the PNB. Kids love to make this!

Gross Motor Skills

INSECT MOVEMENTS
Challenge the children to move like insects (hop, crawl, fly, run, etc.)

Scooter Board Insects
The children used scooter boards and crawled like different kinds of bugs, slowly like a caterpillar, fast like a flea, etc.

Ants In The Tunnel
A play tunnel was combined with two floor mats allow the children to be "Ants In The Tunnel". This was a great favorite.

LARGE BEEHIVE
I am starting a unit on insects next week and will be focusing on bees and their various jobs within the hive. I was thinking of making a giant bee hive for the kids to play in. This is my thought, to take a large cardboard box(like from a tv or such) and hot glue gun in a ton of egg cartons with the open part facing up. When the children crawled in it would look like a hive???? They could use some of the bee art project props to play bees with. I think the kids will get a kick out of it.

Fine Motor Skills

ANT TRAILS
Provide a tray of sand or salt. Encourage the children to create ant trails using small sticks.

INSECT MODELS
Provide clay or playdough, pipe cleaners and beads (for eyes). Invite the children to create insects.

SCULPTING ANTHILLS
Invite the children to create anthills out of clay. Provide straws and toothpicks for digging tunnels.

LADYBUG LACE UP
Make construction paper ladybugs and punch holes along the outside edge. Invite the children to lace yarn through the holes.

MOSQUITOES
Encourage the children to use an eyedropper to move liquid from one bowl to another.

SPIDER PICK-UP
Encourage the children to use tweezers to move plastic spiders from one container to another.

Itsy Bitsy Spider
Find a toy spider and a large packing tube. Put the spider on a string and lower it inside the tube. Starting at the bottom the children can practice bringing the spider up & down the water spouts as you sing the song.

Math

FLY, SLITHER, CRAWL
Provide pictures of bugs for the children to classify according to how they move.

LIGHT SERIATION
Make several fireflies with tails that range in color from white to dark yellow. Encourage the children to arrange the fireflies in order from darkest to lightest tail.

LONG WORMS
Cut out several yarn "earthworms" of various lengths. Encourage the chidlren to order them from shortest to longest.

LADYBUG DOT MATCH
Cut red paper circles to make five ladybugs. Draw a line down the middle of each. Place one to five dots on each side of each bug. Cut in half. Invite the children to match dots to put the ladybugs back together.

CATERPILLAR SORT
Make egg carton caterpillars of various lengths. Invite the children to arrange them from shortest to longest.

MATCHING FLIES
Provide plastic flies and drawings of sugar cubes with dots on them. Encourage the children to match the flies to the dots.

ONE BEE, ONE FLOWER
Provide paper flowers and bee cutouts for the children to match one to one.

Insect Seriation
Construction flannel board pieces representing a ladybug, an ant, a caterpillar, a butterfly, etc. The children can arrange them on the flannel board from smallest to largest. Insect Movement
Ask the children to move like the following insects; worms, grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, butterflies, bumblebees, etc.

Fascinating Bugs
Show your two year old pictures cut from magazines of bugs. Flies, bees and spiders will be familiar to them. Go out into the yard and section off a small area by drawing in the dirt with a stick. Look closely to see if anything is moving within that area. Find a magnifying glass and let your child look for bugs with it. You will be amazed at what you see. Take the magnifying glass to another part of the yard and repeat the game.

Number Spiders
Ten number cards with a large web in the center were made to represent #1-10. Spiders (bought at our local party store in the Halloween season) were counted out on each card to represent the numeral.

Ants In Your Pants
A Milton Bradley game used for color sorting and naming.

Creepy Bug Counting
Number cards were made to represent #1 - 10. Children count out creepy looking bugs from the Lakeshore Insect & Spider Thematic Box or your local party store around Halloween.

Ladybug Book Counting
Using a Ladybug pattern with black circles to represent # 1 - 10 on one wing only, children use large black buttons to count out the same amount of dots for the matching wing. After practicing the counting activity of several days the children finish their Lady bug counting books by gluing buttons on one side to match pre glued buttons on the opposite side. Also, check out out Lady Bug Addition software that was designed to relate this activity to a student's first exposure to the addition concept.

Language/Group Activities

Create a class web using yarn. As each child tosses the ball of white yarn to another student, he/she must state either a spider fact, or an s word before they can toss the ball of yarn to another child.If you are brave enough, capture a live spider to observe in the room. Just let him go after a day or two (unless you want to go into a mini-unit on death!)Label the body parts of a large cutout spider.Write spider facts on a large web. Create a Class Big Book about spiders. We think of as many spider facts as we can, and I write each fact on a piece of chart paper. I divide the kids into small groups (2-3 kids per page) and they illustrate. Finally, we bind the pages together and share the completed book!Focus on the letters Ss (spiders) and Ww (web). Make word charts for each of these letters.Focus on rhyming words using "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Little Miss Muffet"Write "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Little Miss Muffet" as rebus story charts to reinforce tracking print.Enlarge several other poems, songs, and chants on chart paper. Have spider pointers available for tracking print.

For Language and letter recognition.
Cut a blue piece of construction paper in half. Cut two inch piece the length of the blue piece and make that grass. Cut letter "c" shapes out and make a caterpillar ( CCCCCCC ) Make a face and some antenna's. Let the cut the gras only one inch and let them curl it with a pencil.

Spider Learning Centers

Art Center:

Paper Plate Spider Webs:
Cut slits around a paper plate. Give the children long pieces of yarn and encourage them to weave the yarn back and forth to make a spider web. Hang a hand print spider to complete the project.

Hand Print Spider:
Fold a piece of construction paper in half. Place half of palm on the fold with the fingers pointing out. Trace and cut out the hand (don't cut the fold!) When you open it up, you will have a spider with eight legs. Add features and you are complete!

Story Tellers:
Retell favorite spider stories, songs, and poems using spider puppets, story telling glove, and flannel board.

Reading:
A variety of spider books, including those we have read together and others, are available

Playdough:
Create spiders using playdough. This is a great time to do the clay spider activity.

Puppets:
Have the children draw and cut out a sun, rain, and a spider. Glue each to the end of a craft stick. Insert the stick through holes in the bottom of a styrofoam cup so that the shapes are hidden inside the cup. As you sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," slide the sticks up and down to reveal the corresponding pictures.

Math Center:
Count with spider rings

Writing Center:
Create individual spider stories. Have stamp pads available for creating thumbprint spiders.

Sensory table:
Fill water table with water, spiders, watering cans, and a spout (I used a plastic gutter drain) Enjoy watching the children retell "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (don't worry when the floor gets wet!)
Add plastic bugs to water and sand tables.
Cut mac tac in the shape of spider webs and tape to table sticky side UP. Let the children feel and experience the stickiness of the mac tac just like a spider web is sticky to catch the spider's prey.

Science Center:
Record observations of a live spiders.Sequence cards showing life cycle of a spiderHave a variety of spider pictures available for viewing. Capture a real spider web for observing with magnifying glasses. To capture a web, find one that is abandoned. Spray paint it black. Lift it onto a piece of white poster board. I put acrylic varnish on top of it to preserve it. You might even try laminating the board.

Circle: 1. Use Die Cut Bugs for Calendar Numbers, or hang some bug pictures.
2. Discuss with the children the characteristics of bugs.
3. Question the children whether bugs are bad or good, how might they be good? Give examples of good, such as ladybugs eating Aphids and helping the farmer's crops, bee's making honey for us to eat as well as other examples. Discuss some things bugs may do that are not so good.
4. Show the children the life cycle of the butterfly and talk about Metamorphosis - teach them that it means, "to change". Discuss the common bug that we know of that will "change" - a caterpillar to a butterfly. Give them other examples too.

Creative Art:
1. Bug hand prints- have kind make an upside down paint hand print on a sheet of paper, add details such as wiggly eyes, wings, and antenna. Make a caterpillar by making a row of upside down hand prints.
2. Butterfly blob painting- cut a butterfly shape out of construction paper. Have kids paint one half of it. Then fold it in half to make a copy onto the other side.
3. Tissue paper Butterflies- let the kids use pipettes to squeeze different colors of paint or colored water onto coffee filters, slide them into an old fashion clothes pin for an instant butterfly. You could also use chenille sticks for the body.
4. Create one of a kind bugs using any medium such as, egg carton containers, Styrofoam balls, package peanuts and chenille sticks, Crayola Model Magic Clay, or what ever you can think of. Give kids paints, wiggly eyes, sequins, tissue paper, and what ever else they might need to create a one of a kind bug!
5. Plaster of Paris Bugs. You will need Plaster of Paris mix, plastic spoons, paint, wiggly eyes, glue, and optional, wicky stixs, chenille sticks, pin back or baby safety pin. To make them pour mixed Plaster of Paris into a plastic spoon, set baby safety pin in to use as a pin if you want. Stick wicky sticks in or chenille sticks for legs if desired, let dry, remove and paint. Glue on eyes to finish it off! A cute little bug!
6. Butterfly Puppets- Using a butterfly pattern, let the kids color, paint with water colors, paint with tempera paint, marker, cover with tissue paper, marble paint, sponge paint, crayon rub, or anything on and then glue to a Popsicle stick to create a butterfly puppet.

Science & Discovery:
1. Display a picture of an insect that names the parts of an insect's body; teach the children that an insect has a head, thorax, and abdomen. And that most insects have 6 legs.
2. Hang up as many pictures of insects as you can find with their name printed out next to them. Have the children practice naming the insects. 3. Make butterfly Life Cycle Cards, let the kids take turns ordering them.
4. Add plastic bugs to the sand table for fun discovery, be sure to have out some magnifying glasses, tweezers, and bug jars.
5. Set up an ant farm! There are some great ones you can purchase.
6. Visit www.insectlore.com and order REAL BUGS! They even have caterpillars you can order to hatch into butterflies! They have a free catalog request on their web site.

Math & Manipulative:
1. Bug lacing cards.
2. Bug Matching
3. Make Bug Counting Books
- One way is to put together a book shaped like a ladybug and let the kids place the correct number of dot stickers on each page. So the first page would have the number one on it and the kids would stick one sticker dot on it (found in office supplies). The second page has a two and the kids stick two sticker dots on it. etc.
- Another idea is to make up a simple book with numbered pages and use some sort of bug stickers or let the kids make their own bugs with their fingerprints. Here again on page one stick on or print one bug. If you do the fingerprint bugs show the kids how they can easily draw little legs or wings on their bugs.
4. Circle Ladybugs - Cut out a large circle from red construction paper, small black circles for spots, and a black circle half for a head. Discuss the shape circle; point out how to halves of a circle make a whole circle, etc. Then have the kids glue together the construction paper to make a ladybug. Let them add black chenille legs if they want and antennae.
5. Circle Caterpillars- Cut out a many circles from different colored construction paper for the children to glue together to make long circle caterpillars. Have them count how many circles their caterpillar is made from. Let them add a face and even some antennae or legs if they choose.
5. Carson-Dellosa makes a great Bug Counting Bulletin Board Set, with bugs in jars, check your local teacher supply store or the internet. www.carsondellosa.com

Dramatic Play:
1. Set up a Bug Science Lab. Use the Discovery Table. Have available, white shirts that look like scientist coats, goggles (swim goggles work), clip boards with bug identification charts, tweezers, specimen containers (bug jars), and a microscope if you have one!
2. Make or purchase some bug puppets to use in the puppet area. A spider is a great one for retelling familiar stories and poems like "Little Miss Muffet", or "Miss Spider's Tea Party".
3. Find some fun "Bugs Life Toys" for the kids to play with.

Field Trips / Special Days

*Visit a conservation area that has a beehive set up for viewing.

*Watch the Disney movie "A Bugs Life" or "Antz".

*Have a number 8 day when doing spiders. Play games using the number 8. Have lunch and snacks with number 8... cut sandwiches in 8 pieces or make tuna spiders for snack (use an icecream scoop to put tuna salad in center of plate for body use whole wheat toast sticks for the 8 legs). Have the children create a web from veggie sticks. Make spider cupcakes for snack.

*Bee Day -
Have the children come in bee costumes or yellow and black. Dine on honey dishes like sweet and sour chicken wings, honey graham crackers, and honey cakes. And who loves honey more than anyone else ever did? Why Pooh Bear of course... enjoy the movie 'Pooh Bear and the Honey Tree'.

Music & Movement

A BUGGY BAND
idea taken from Mailbox Magazine
Have your little ones pretend to be noisy bugs with this outdoor idea. In advance, collect a classroom supply of baby food jars lids. (These lids have raised centers that make a clicking sound when pressed.) Provide each child with a lid. Demonstrate how to hold the lid and press the center with your thumb. Ask the children to imagine that the clicking is the sound of bugs hopping about in the summer. Encourage youngsters to click as you recite your favorite rhyme or sing favorite summer songs. It's a buggy band!

Games & Activities

Flannel board Activity
Large felt cutout of a ladybug - circle shape with a head shape added, all one piece. Thin black magic marker line down the middle and wiggly eyes. Also 10 black felt spots.

Ladybug facts
Ladybugs can be red or yellow with black, red, white, or yellow spots. There are about 150 species of ladybugs in the U.S. In winter, 50 to 100 ladybugs hibernate together.

*Little Miss Muffet -
Set up a tuffet and choose one child to be Little Miss Muffet. Repeat the poem and have a spider on a rod and string that comes along to scare little Miss Muffet. I do this one with my guys and they just LOVE it!

*Bumble Bee Dance -
Show the children how the bee communicates with other members of the hive. Then, put on the music and watch the little ones do a communication dance of their own!

Here are some patterns associated with this theme.

Spider 1	Spider 2
Spider 3	Spider 4