Kids are Fascinated with Bugs!

Did you know that kids can learn just as much from watching bugs at home or in the classroom as they would from a trip to the local nature museum or a book? Encourage this fascination by teaching them about bugs in the back garden or play yard.

Most kids love to touch or pick up bugs, like caterpillars and ladybugs. Arm them with a jar or other suitable container and a magnifying glass. Then send them out in the garden on a bug hunt. Have them look under rocks, on the leaves of plants, and in the dirt. Allow the kids to carefully collect a few bugs and place them in the jar for identification.

Allow the kids to observe their new-found treasures, taking notes about them. A magnifying glass will give the kids a chance to see the bugs up close, examining their eyes, their legs, etc. Ask questions about their bugs. Talk about what bugs eat, (i.e. leaves, trash, other bugs, human food, etc.). Count how many legs certain bugs have. Are there many or a few? Make a chart. Talk about the role that bug has on the planet. Does it help us in some way? Perhaps they could draw their bugs and label the parts. Use art supplies to create the bugs you see or make up one. Be sure, however, to have the kids release their live bugs back into the garden after they have collected their information.


Talk about how we need bugs around us and we shouldn't step on bugs when we see them. Take the children on a trip to the library and let the kids use resource books to learn more about bugs or tell them what you know. Simple explanations will go further than trying to jam all the details into their minds. For example, you could say something like "When a bee lands on a flower, it collects the pollen up and carries it to the beehive. When the bee gets to the beehive it puts it in the honeycomb and turns it into honey." You could have a jar of honey with you and have the children taste it.

You’ll find yourself thinking of many more questions as you watch bugs with the children. Talk about the children’s ideas, and then try to watch the bug for answers. Remember that it’s okay to say, “I don’t know” and, even better, “I don’t know. Let’s try to find out!”




Related training:
Never Squash a Bug
Science in the Classroom - 10 Hours Traditional STARS
Science in the Early Learning Classroom - 3 hours