BUGS! BUGS! BUGS! Yes, it's that time when I cringe just looking at those little toy insects we have {which by the way these TOOB ones look SO real!}. We did most of our activities inside, due to the weather, but I encourage you to take the learning outdoors an notice the many bugs and insects around your neighborhood.
Be sure to grab the FREE weekly calendar and materials list at the bottom of the post (please note that some of the links are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link).
On the calendar you will find a brief description of each activity, the links to where I found them, as well as books we read and additional resources.
Share any questions or comments you have below. I'd love to hear and see how you are incorporating these activities at home with your little ones! Please follow me and tag me on Instagram @toddler_fundamentals and hashtag your photos #todfunbugsandinsects
If you like to learn by watching videos, here's a quick video recap of our week. Click the photo below for some of the activity highlights (and PS don't forget to Subscribe to the channel).
Activity Source | Teach Me Mommy
I printed off the butterfly sheet from Teach Me Mommy and placed on to a tray. He used his gator tweezers to sort the pony beads to the correct colored wings. We reviewed the colors of each butterfly as he matched them. I like to offer 2-3 different fine motor tools with the activities. It just gives him a choice and variety.
I created these cards to go with our TOOB insects. Next, I added the insects to a bin with brown beans and placed the cards into the beans. He used his fine motor tool to find the bugs and match to the correct card.
Activity Source | Royal, Baloo, and Logi-Bear Too!
He enjoyed painting these dot marker insects throughout the week.
Activity Source | Toddler Approved
I got the materials prepped and then he had to help assemble the ant. I cut out three circles from black construction paper and used black pipe cleaners and googly eyes for the rest of the parts. I used tape to stick the pipe cleaners on the back, the glue wasn't holding very well. You can also hot glue it for them. We added a paint stick to the back to make it into a puppet!
GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES
Found these adorable colored ladybugs and leaves online {link on weekly plans below} and decided to use them for a gross motor activity. We love to do Hide N Hunts so the night before I hid the ladybugs around the house. The next morning he walked downstairs to a little hidden surprise. He ran around and collected all the bugs and then sorted on to the colored leaves.
Activity Source | Toddler Approved
I cut out circles from colored construction paper and used painters tape {love this tape because it doesn't ruin the walls} to tape them to the wall. I cut squares of clear contact paper and taped them on top of each square {sticky side out}. We did another Hide N Hunt but this time I hid colored shapes around the house. He had to run and find the shapes and then sort on to the caterpillar. Having the sticky side out on each circle made it really easy for him to stick the shapes on. Such a fun little activity!
FINE MOTOR & ART ACTIVITIES
I printed off the butterfly template {you can find it on the weekly plans below} and cut it out. I lightly folded it in half to make a crease down the middle. Next, he used a q-tip to paint one side of the butterfly {I put a piece of paper on the other side so he didn't paint there} .Then, he folded the non-painted side over and lightly pressed. After a few seconds he opened it up and was so surprised!
I printed off the butterfly sheet from Teach Me Mommy and placed on to a tray. He used his gator tweezers to sort the pony beads to the correct colored wings. We reviewed the colors of each butterfly as he matched them. I like to offer 2-3 different fine motor tools with the activities. It just gives him a choice and variety.
He enjoyed painting these dot marker insects throughout the week.
SENSORY PLAY & ART ACTIVITIES
Activity Source | Simple Fun For Kids
I placed colored pom poms into a bin with some dry white beans (make sure you have the same colors as the bees and hives first). He used his gator tweezers to find the pom poms and match to the bees and hives. We did this a few times and he used his fingers (while squishing them between the beans) and a different fine motor tool each time.
I got the materials prepped and then he had to help assemble the ant. I cut out three circles from black construction paper and used black pipe cleaners and googly eyes for the rest of the parts. I used tape to stick the pipe cleaners on the back, the glue wasn't holding very well. You can also hot glue it for them. We added a paint stick to the back to make it into a puppet!
Activity Source | Crayon Box Chronicles
Just a heads up - This was a messy sensory activity! I prepped the bugs by adding watered down tempera paint to an ice cub tray, placed a bug in each one and froze overnight. I had planned to do this outside but by the time we got around to it, it was dark outside. So I taped down a long piece of white butcher paper to his area. I took the bugs out of the ice cube tray and placed them on a plate for him. He started painting using the colored bug ice cubes. It wasn't so bad at first but after a while the ice started to melt and things got real watery and messy. But we just went with it. After a bit, he wanted to clean his bugs so I placed a bowl with clean water next to him and he washed them off.
Activity Source | No Time For Flashcards
This activity was a big hit!! My son loves to play in the dirt and mud so when I actually let him do it, inside, he was thrilled! This was a super easy recipe to make the "mud," too! This was basically the same thing we used to make oobleck (corn starch and water) but add in unsweetened cocoa to make it brown. He helped pour and mix the ingredients and then we added in our TOOB insects and he played! For an easy cleanup, I place a bowl of clean water next to him so he can stick his hands in when he's done, rather than dripping them across our kitchen.
THEMED SNACKS
Make a quesadilla of your choice, I made a chicken and cheese one. Next, I used a pizza slicer to cut it into the wing shape. Used a celery stalk for the body and a small piece of red pepper (you can use a cherry tomato) and two thin slices for the head and antennae.
We added green grapes to a wooden skewer and mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Hint: I didn't want to buy a whole bag of mini chocolate chips, so I opened one of his granola bars that has them and took two out.
I spread peanut butter on to a celery stalk and he added the raisins, "ants."
Another childhood favorite! We made chocolate pudding together. After it settled and was ready to eat, I added to a mixing bowl with some cool whip {about 3/4 container} and crushed Oreos {he liked crushing them in the baggie for us}. I scooped it into a glass and he added in some gummy worms.
Click the images below to grab the FREE Calendar and Materials List!
Thanks for stopping by and remember to always make learning FUN!
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