Insect or Not?

Happy Monday!  Today we began to learn about insects.  We learned how to tell if a bug was an insect or not.  All insects have 6 legs, antennae, and 3 body parts.  Then we practiced beginning sounds while singing a song about different types of insects.  While singing the song, we had to substitute that insect's beginning sound to make silly words.

Then we read a story about an ugly bug.  The bug ran into many insects that had special qualities to help them stay safe from birds that would eat them, such as being able to be camouflaged or to fly fast to escape the birds.  The ugly bug had none of those characteristics and decided to make a costume to be like the other insects.  Unfortunately the ugly bug's costume ended up attracting a bird.  Just in the time, the ugly bug puffed up and scared the bird away.  He discovered that he had his own natural form of protection that was just different from the other insects and learned to love himself just as he is!

Next it was time for centers.  At Mrs. DeKeyser's center, the children played Cootie to work on identifying the parts of an insect.  They rolled a die which told them which part to add.  They needed to make sure to have a head, body, 6 legs, 2 eyes, 2 antennae, and a tongue.

At Miss McCabe's center, the children completed some caterpillar activities.  First they made a clothespin caterpillar and put it in a chrysalis.  We are eagerly waiting to see if they will turn into butterflies!

Then the children patterned circles and made last name caterpillars.

At the final center, the children colored some coffee filters and sprayed them with water to watch the colors run together.  These coffee filters will be used for a project later this week!

Then we played in the classroom.  Several children chose to make bees at the art center.

There was a birthday celebration in the morning session.  We enjoyed eating zebra cupcakes!

After snack, we read a book about different animals one may find in the garden.  We looked at each animal to determine whether or not it was an insect.  See if your child can complete the insect or not sort that came home in your child's folder tonight.  We also enjoyed finding the hidden numbers on each page.

Then we sang a bumble bee song.  The children pretended to be flowers while one child held a bumble bee puppet and walked around collecting pollen.  During the song more bumble bees kept being added so more bumble bees walked around collecting pollen.  This song was a simple introduction to addition with adding one more.

Have a great evening!