Category: OBSERVATION

So many of us are cooped up and restless. Who isn’t looking for ways to engage children in activities that will compliment their education? And what better time to do a little study in the life sciences than Spring when everything is coming to life?

I absolutely LOVE spring! Foliage is coming on and the landscape changes every single day! Watching the gradual changes is a wonder to behold! I’m always amazed at this wonderful world God created for His and our enjoyment. And the variety of critters, too!

Today I’m focusing on the littlest critters we meet as we begin cleaning out our gardens and enjoying warmer days after a long, cold winter.

OPENING STANZA: At the bottom of your backyard,
You might just hear a sound ~
A chirrup from the treetops
Or a scuttle on the ground.

Mr. Andreae engages the reader by exploring the intricacies of a garden. Children learn that there are many tiny creatures that live on plants, in the ground, and under bushes.

WHAT I LIKE:

I enjoyed the rhythmic rhyming over-view of insects in the yard/garden. I felt like the rhythms tended to reflect the motion of the insect being studied. The author uses a lot of active verbs and alliteration along with nice rhymes.

The rhyming text pulls the reader through while teaching concepts about various bugs. This book can help children become more aware of their environment and spark curiosity so they pay closer attention to the wonders of God’s creation.

I would recommend this book for homeschooling families, schools, churches and children’s clubs that are studying insects, their habitats and creation. A nice life science enhancer.

ACTIVITIES:

 Some of these activities are quiet, indoor keep the kids busy work. Others will serve you well if you live in the suburbs or country and can get outside to help the littles burn off some of that inexhaustible energy.   

Download and print out some coloring pages. Can your child tell you where the various bugs live? What they eat? https://www.bestcoloringpagesforkids.com/

Make a bingo board using stickers. Go on a bug hunt in your backyard or garden to see who can finds enough for BINGO. Or make your own spinner board and chips, too. https://myfreebingocards.com/templates

Build a bug box with your child. Catch some bugs and study them with a magnifying glass. https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Bug-Box/

Catch a caterpillar then take care of it until it turns into a butterfly or moth, and let it go. https://animals.mom.me/how-to-care-for-a-caterpillar-in-a-jar-until-it-becomes-a-butterfly-12182114.html

After all that bug hunting you might need to sit near a pond or lake and watch and listen. Maybe lay down on a blanket and see if you can identify the different insect sounds.

Here is a website with all kinds of insect activities! https://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/index.htm

Once you have the kiddos busy with some of the above activities, grab a cuppa and head on over to Susanna Hill’s website where you can find a treasure trove of Perfect Picture Book Friday reviews from the kid lit community.