Look! A Lot of Ladybugs Lesson Plan

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What We Are Learning

 

Science Focus:

ladybugs

 

Theme Vocabulary Words:

ladybug, insect, teeny-tiny, aphids, wing, shell, observe

 

Skills We’re Practicing:

group discussion, critical thinking, vocabulary, fine-motor skills, counting, number recognition

  • Follow a ladybug’s journey from egg to flight with Are You a Ladybug? by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries. As you read, guide children in noticing each stage of the ladybug’s growth. They’ll love learning more facts about these teensy creatures!

Ladybug Headbands

Materials: red and black construction paper, black markers or paint, paintbrush, tape

 

  • This cute craft lets children “become” ladybugs!
  • In advance, cut long, 4-inch-wide strips of red construction paper. Then cut 1-inch-wide strips of black construction paper. There should be one strip of red paper and two strips of black paper for each child.
  • Give each child a strip of red construction paper to make a headband. Have them color or paint black spots on it. They can even use fingerprints!
  • Then have children make antennae. Model accordionfolding the strips, and guide children as they fold their own.
  • Attach the ends of the band together to fit each child’s head, and fasten the antennae to the insides of the band.
  • Have children wear the headbands and share with each other facts they learned about ladybugs. For added fun, have children dance like ladybugs while watching the issue’s dance break! fine-motor skills/gross-motor skills

Materials: white construction paper, potatoes (halved crosswise), red paint black paint, paper plates, fine-tipped paintbrush, black crayons or markers

  • Create cute ladybugs, and practice counting skills!
  • Set out paintbrushes and two paper plates, one with red paint and one with black paint. Give each child a sheet of paper and a halved potato. Children will use the materials to make ladybug stamps!
  • Have children dip their potato into the red paint and stamp circles onto their paper. Then have them use the paintbrush to paint a black line down the middle of the red circles and paint spots onto the shells of their ladybugs. (Black hole-punched circles would work as dots too!) Finally, have children make a black thumbprint for the ladybug’s head.
  • When the paint dries, children can use markers or crayons to add two antennae to each ladybug. Then have them count how many ladybugs they made! counting/fine-motor skills