Bug and Insect Preschool Lesson Plans

Arts and crafts, games, math, science, group time activities, songs, and snack ideas.

Art

Bee Stripes

Cut out bee shapes. Have the children cut out black and yellow stripes to add to their bee. Then have them glue the stripes on their bee.

Pom Pom Caterpillar

Pom Pom Caterpillar

Supply the children with many pom poms to glue together to make a caterpillar. Add pipe cleaner legs and wiggly eyes.

 

Pom Pom Butterfly

Pom Pom Butterfly

This activity is very teacher directed. Please use the image as a guide.
Butterfly Stamps

Butterfly Stamps

Have the children use various sizes of butterfly and bug stamps. These can be colored with Crayola markers, then pressed on construction paper, to give a variety of different colors on each butterfly or bug.
Contact Paper Butterfly

Contact Paper Butterfly

Supply the children with a picture of a butterfly and a piece of contact paper. Place the contact paper over the picture, sticky side up. Supply the children with bits of tissue paper to decorate the butterfly.

Busy Bugs Headbands

Have the children cut out two strips of paper that when connected will fit around their head. Connect the strips with glue or tape, (staples will catch the child’s hair). Supply the children with two pipe cleaners… and have them shape them however they want to and tape them on the inside of the headband. On mine I wrote “Busy Bee Suzy” and “Beautiful Butterfly Max” or whatever they wanted to be.

Ladybug Rocks

Obtain many round rocks. Show the children what ladybugs look like. Have the children paint the rocks with red paint. Then carefully add a line down the middle, and spots with black paint. If the rocks are smaller… you can glue a magnet on the bottom, and use it on a refrigerator.

Pipe Cleaner Spiders

Provide the children with pipe cleaners to make spiders. Have the children twist the pipe cleaners together to form a body and legs. Discuss how many legs a spider has.

Spider Paper Plates

Use a smaller and larger paper plate to make these spiders. Staple the smaller plate onto the larger plate, as if the smaller plate will be the spider’s head. Have the child paint both sides black. Then add black streamers for legs and white construction paper for eyes. Hang them from the ceiling.

Clothespin Butterflies

Obtain the old fashion style one-piece clothespin (wooden) Allow the children to paint the clothespin with bright colors. When dry, ask the child to pick a piece of tissue paper for the wings. Fold the paper in half, and then scrunch the tissue into the opening in the clothespin. Then have the child pick out a pipe cleaner, and tie the pipe cleaner around the knob of the clothespin for antennae.
Clothespin Butterfly

Clothespin Butterflies 2

Obtain clothespins (wooden). Allow the children to paint the clothespin with bright colors. (Optional) Have the child paint a piece of tissue paper for the wings with either water colors or tempera paint. Fold the paper in half, and then scrunch the tissue into the opening in the clothespin. Then have the child pick out a pipe cleaner, and tie the pipe cleaner around the knob of the clothespin for antennae. (Optional)

Popsicle Stick Butterfly

Popsicle Stick Butterflies

Use a Popsicle stick for the body. Allow the children to paint the Popsicle stick. (Optional) Have the child paint a piece of tissue paper for the wings with either water colors or tempera paint. The children can then tape or glue the wings onto the Popsicle stick.

Butterfly Ink Blot

Cut out a butterfly shape on white paper, the shape should be symmetrical. Fold the paper in half, and ask the child to paint half of the butterfly. When the child is finished, ask him/her to press the paper halves together, so that both sides will look the same. Have the child rub the folded paper. Open the paper, and you have a butterfly with matching wings.
Paper Ladybug

Ladybugs

Provide each child with a red circle. Have them draw as many black dots as they would like on one side. Have the child count the dots on the paper and write the number on the other side.
Fingerprint Bugs

Fingerprint Bugs

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and different colored non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add legs and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the legs and antennae.
Finger Paint Caterpillar
Fingerprint Caterpillar

Fingerprint Caterpillars

Supply each child with a piece of white paper. Paint each of the child’s fingers a different color. Have the children place their fingers on the paper next to one another. When finished, add legs and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the legs and antennae.
Fingerprint Ant

Fingerprint Ants

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and different colored non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add six legs and a face with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the legs and face.
Fingerprint Bee

Fingerprint Bees

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and a yellow non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add wings, stripes, antennae and eyes with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the features.
Fingerprint Butterfly

Fingerprint Butterfly

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and different colored non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add wings, antennae and eyes with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the features.
Fingerprint Butterfly 2

Fingerprint Butterfly 2

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and different colored non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. Have the child place two fingerprints next to each other, slightly overlapping. When finished, add body, head and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the features.
Fingerprint Ladybug<

Fingerprint Ladybug

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and a red non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished add wing outlines, dots, heat and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the features.
Fingerprint Spider

Fingerprint Spider

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and a black or gray non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished add eight legs and two eyes with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the features.
Suncatcher Butterfly

Sun Catcher Butterflies

Cut out a butterfly shape from black paper. This shape should be symmetrical. Fold the shape in half then open it again. Then help the child use a hole puncher to make holes in one wing. They make as many as they wish. Then help the child fold the shape in half and punch the holes in the other half by using the first half as a guide. To complete this project have the child glue scrapes of tissue paper to the back of the butterfly. When dry, hang in a window.
Circle Caterpillar

Circle Caterpillars

Supply the children with many different circles to glue onto a piece of paper to make a caterpillar. Have the children draw on the legs and facial features or use yarn for the legs.

Tissue Paper Butterflies

Supply the children with small pre-cut squares of bleeding (the color comes out when it is wet) tissue paper, a copy of a butterfly on white paper (copy of coloring book page works well) a paint brush and a small amount of water. Have the child dab a small amount of water onto the butterfly shape, then place the tissue paper on the butterfly shape wait until dry, then remove the tissue paper.
Ladybugs

Ladybugs

(image submitted by Julia)
Supply each child with a 4 inch black circle, a 4 inch red circle and a 2 inch black circle. Have the child cut the 4 inch red circle in half. Then, glue the two black circles together, one is the body and one is the head of the ladybug. Then glue the red wings onto the body. Finally, allow the child to add fingerprint spots on both sides, using either black paint or a black non-toxic ink pad. Count the spots on each side. Are they equal? How many spots are there total.
Feet Butterflies

Feet Butterflies

Have children take off shoes and socks, paint the bottom of their feet with non-toxic tempera paint. Have the child step onto a piece of paper with their feet and heels together. When dry, add antennae with markers or crayons or yarn.
Paper Plate Ladybug

Paper Plate Ladybugs

Have each child paint a paper plate red. After the paint dries have the child add black spots of paint or paper on the back of the lady bug.
Butterfly Punch Collage

Butterfly Punch Collage

We used a butterfly punch to make many different colored butterflies for the children to glue to different colors of construction paper. We punched wall paper and construction paper.

Make a Bug

Have the children make a bug with marshmallows, toothpicks and pipe cleaners. Use the toothpicks for legs and to connect the body parts, use the pipe cleaners for antennae or a tail.

Spider Web Art

Place a piece of black paper in a box, supply the children with a few marbles covered in white paint. Place the marbles in the box and have the child shake the box to make a spider web. Please be careful when using marbles with small children, as they are a choking hazard.
Caterpillar Sock

Caterpillar Sock

Provide each child with a sock to paint. Have the child paint a toilet paper tube a different color. Cut the toilet paper tube into four sections. Stuff the sock into the toilet paper tube sections. Add googly eyes and pipe cleaners.
Caterpillar/Butterfly Sock

Caterpillar/Butterfly Sock

Caterpillar/Butterfly Sock 2

You can create a caterpillar on one side of the sock and a butterfly of the other side of the same sock. (Inside and outside). See images for details.
Egg Carton Caterpillar

Egg Carton Caterpillar

Provide the children with cardboard egg cartons and tissue paper or construction paper scraps. You could also have the children paint or add stickers to the cartons. Add pipe cleaners for legs and googly eyes.

Dippin Bugs

Obtain cookie cutters that are shaped like bugs. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make prints.

Science, Math, and Games

Feelie Caterpillar

Feelie Caterpillar

To create this caterpillar, use cardboard circles. Attach different textured items to the circles, like lace, foil, contact paper, felt etc.
Caterpillar Jar

Caterpillar Jar

For older children. Fill a small jar with Gummy Worms. Ask each child to guess how many Gummy Worms are in the jar. For younger children, limit the number of Gummy Worms to less than ten. Record each child’s guess. Count the Gummy Worms.

Alternatively, provide three identical jars with pre-counted Gummy Worms of 20, 30, and 40. Label these jars 20, 30 and 40. Place 20 to 40 Gummy Worms in a fourth identical jar. Allow the children to examine all four jars before they guess. Record the children’s approximations. Count the Gummy Worms.

Ladybugs Graph

Using the ladybugs from the above project, count the spots on each ladybug and graph how many spots each ladybug has on a bar graph. Ask questions about the graph. what is the greatest number of spots? The least? Display the ladybugs and count up all the dots.

Caterpillar Sort

Provide the children with Gummy Worms. Have them sort the Gummy Worms by color.
Bee Prop

Butterfly or Bee Prop

This can be made with two wooden circles painted yellow, ribbons, and mesh wire wings. A craft store will be the best place to pick up these items.
Where's the Bug?

Where’s The Bug

For this activity you will need index cards, a piece of construction paper and two sets of matching stickers. Place one set of stickers on the construction paper. Place each sticker of the second set on its own index card. To play: the children pick an index card and try to find the matching bug on the construction paper. Kinda like “Where’s Waldo?”
Counting Bugs

Counting Bugs

For this activity you will need index cards and bugs stickers. Place the stickers on index cards. Place one on one card, two on another and so on. Then on the back of the card write the number “1”, “2” and so on. The children count the bugs and say the number and then flip the card over and see if they are correct.

Bug Hunt

Go for a bug hunt outside. Provide a box to collect them, and magnifying glasses to allow the children a better view.

Butterfly Wing Match

Draw five butterflies and color them. Clip art works well. Have them laminated, then cut them in half, and have the children put them back together like a puzzle.

Bee Stripes

Make a number of bees with different number of stripes. Have the children count the number of black or yellow stripes on the bee.

Be a Bee

Have the children pretend to be a bee or bug and buzz around the room.

Ladybug Chart

Chart the number of dots each ladybug had that the children made. Who had the most, least….?

Bug Farm

Collect bugs in a jar, and let the children examine them with a magnifying glass. Return the bugs to their homes so they do not die.

Sand table Fun

Add plastic bugs to your sand or water table.

Fruit Snack Fun

Find somewhere that sells fruit snack bugs. The children love to eat them.
Sorting Butterflies

Bug Sorting and Matching

Provide the children with bugs to sort and match. For additional fun, provide the children with a various colors of cups for the bugs to go in.

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee Rhyme

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee
by the barn,
Bumble bee get Johnny,
Under the Arm

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee
by the boulder,
Bumble bee get Johnny,
On the Shoulder

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee
by the tree,
Bumble bee get Johnny,
Under the Knee

Baby Bumble Bee Song

I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
(Cup hands together as if holding bee)

I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,

Ouch! It stung me!
(Shake hands as if just stung)

I’m squishing up the baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
(‘Squish’ bee between palms of hands)

I’m squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It’s yucky!

(Open up hands to look at ‘mess’)

I’m wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
(Wipe hands off on shirt)

I’m wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Now my mommy won’t be mad at me!
(Hold hands up to show they are clean)

Spider Webbing

Provide children with a chair and some yarn or string. Ask them to create a spiders web by wrapping the string around the legs of the chair.

Spider Legs

Draw eight different spiders on index cards. The spiders should be drawn with 1 to 8 legs. Ask your child to arrange the spiders according to how many legs the spiders have.

Spider Walk

Have the children do a spider walk, by placing their hands and feet on the floor and lifting their bottom off the floor.

Spider Walk Race

Have the children race each other while walking like a spider. Or try a relay race.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the waterspout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again

Spider Song

by chicky-ma-ma
Sung to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Spider, Spider
In the sky
Weaving your webs way up high
Catching bugs, and insects too

What a chore it is for you
Spider, Spider
In the sky
Weaving your webs way up high

Bug Lacing

Cut out bug shapes from tag board and use a hole punch around the edges. Have your children lace the bugs.

Butterfly Tag

Have the children pretend to be butterflies while playing tag.

Snack Ideas

Butterfly Sugar Cookies

Butterfly Cookies

Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe to create the dough for these cookies. Roll out the dough and let the children use various butterfly and bug cookie cutters to cut out the dough. Bake as directed. After baked and cool let the children use frosting and confections to decorate their butterflies.
Bug Buddies Metal Cutter Set – 6pc
Caterpillar Cupcakes

Caterpillar Cupcakes

Bake cupcakes, following the directions of your favorite recipe. Allow to cool. Add frosting and jelly beans to represent the caterpillar sections.

Caterpillar Cookies

Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Have the children create a snake with the dough, then flatten it on the cookie sheet. Bake according to the directions. After cool, allow the children to decorate as desired.