June 2008: Bugs and Bees

[Elizabeth Morgan]

My little bugs and I were in Bible School last week, so I'm a little behind as to our lapbooks. (My girls couldn't quite get into the flower theme, and because I was planning and preparing crafts for VBS, we put them aside.)
Anyway, we're done with "schoolwork" for the year. We're only going to do lapbooks on the monthly topics and read books the girls choose from the public library. And the books we read before naptime. And playing in the swimming pool (P.E.)...
Back to bugs and bees...
I found some great insect trading cards from abcteach and some trace and color pages on makinglearningfun.
I found directions for making a "bug inn" and text for the song "The Ants Go Marching". On first-school, there are some worksheets for learning numbers that have an outline of an empty jar. Your child can make thumbprint bugs or just draw them in the jar to match the number on the page. Here are all the links:
http://www.abcteach.com/Insects/tradingcards.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/VeryQuietCricketTraceandColor.htm
http://www.abcteach.com/free/c/craft_buginn_elem.pdf
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/printables/number-worksheet-jar.htm
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/songs/ants.htm

And because I didn't find it anywhere online (and it's too cute not to share), here are directions for ladybugs for a snack.
1 batch peanut butter play-dough (recipe follows) for 2-3 kids
7 pretzel sticks per child
9 raisins per child
Each child uses a portion of the play dough to make a ball on a plate. They break one pretzel stick in half and put them on for antennae. Then they use the last 6 sticks and attach for legs. They use 2 raisins for eyes and the rest for spots. Finally, they eat their ladybugs!

Peanut Butter Play-dough
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/8 cup honey
1/2 cup dry milk
Combine peanut butter and honey. Stir in the dry milk. Knead to form a dough. Keep in zipper bag until ready to use or eat.

[Ashley]

Thank you for such a cute idea, plus where you got them from! I am new to this and you are one of the many who are such a great help!!
Many blessings to you,
Ashley

[Elizabeth Morgan]

Well, whaddya' know! I just keep getting better at finding stuff. I'm glad this will provide more fun stuff to learn from for all of us.
Thanks,
Elizabeth

[Valerie]

Okay, those trading cards are really cute! And I think we'll be printing those Trace and Color activities, what a great idea!

Peanut Butter Play-dough sounds kinda yummy, Bubba would definitely enjoy this!

Blessings,

Valerie