Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards
Purpose: For the child to develop a greater understanding of insects and their characteristics, through spending time in their outdoor environment
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, the child may go on the insect search independently after the adult shows the child the insect 3 part cards
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
- Insect 3-part cards (see PDF)
- Magnifying glass
- Clip board
- Pencil
- Paper
Preparation
- Print the insect 3-part cards and laminate
Steps
- Invite the child letting them know that you have some new 3-part cards to show them
- Lay out each of the picture cards (no label) naming each insect
- Show the child the labels (if the child is able to read, the may match the labels with the pictures) OR the child may use the control card
- Once the child has worked with the 3-part cards have a conversation with the child about some of the characteristics of insects and invite the child to name some
- Let the child know that they will be going outside to search for some insects
- The child may get ready according to the weather (hat, sunscreen, jacket, shoes, socks etc)
- Let the child know that they will be using a magnifying glass and taking a clip board with paper and a pencil to record their findings
- Go with the child outdoors and search for an ant (this is something which is easy to find)
- Invite the child to observe the ant with their magnifying glass for as long as they please
- Once the child has finished observing the ant invite the child to either draw or write about the ant on the paper
- The child may then look for other insects and record their findings
- Leave the child to work independently
- Once the child has finished, discuss what other insects they found
- Let the child know they may do this exercise again on another day
Variations
- None
