Bugs and Insects

It's that time of year again... the time to find it in us to embrace bugs and love them as much as the kids do!

Come on! We can do it!  My Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching is all about my new Bug Packet because we loved it this week.  Thank you, Kacey for hosting!



Dr. Jean and I made this new unit about Bugs and Insects. We wanted it to be 100% useful, practical, fun learning.  My kids now know so much about bugs- and they loved learning about them.  And now it is FREE for you from us at my TpT store!

The packet includes a Prezi about Bugs and Insects (of course, cause I love using Prezis, you know!); QR Codes about insects, insect life cycles, and various children's books about insects; writing prompts to go with books (which also include a QR code, so the kids can listen to the stories again at home!); and hands-on activities and games that are tried-and-true.  It also includes a download for Dr. Jean's song The Insect's Body. These are all activities I love to use in my classroom, so we put them all together in one place for a great, easy to use unit.

This packet was fun to put together because what's not to love about bugs?  OK- well- there may have been a wasp in our classroom on Wednesday,  that MAY have caused quite a commotion.  I think he just knew we'd been learning all about him this week and came as a guest appearance.  Thanks, Wasp. Luckily he was "bug related," because all learning stopped as every little head followed his every move around the room. I'm just surprised it wasn't time for my pop in observation, because that would have been about right.

Here are some of the highlights of the packet:

Dr. Jean's Song!

Insect's Body is such a great way to learn the parts of an insect and move at the same time.  The kids love it and sing it all the time!

The Prezi

This Prezi has songs, scientific videos, stories, games, and a few anchor charts about bugs.  This is great to use to introduce or reinforce all sorts of insect information.  We watch the videos  or sing the songs anytime we have a few extra minutes. So much learning happens in those minutes!

The QR Codes

Many of the same videos from the Prezi are in the QR Code packet.  This way, you can show them and talk about them whole group, and then the kids can watch them over and over until their hearts are content during a Listening Center.  I made these books this week, and the kids have been using them during Free Choice time, too.  They love them.

Writing Prompts

Many of the QR Codes have writing prompt to go along with them.  This way,  if you want a recording sheet for the listening center, you can use these writing prompts.  We did some together after we read the stories aloud.  They had fun writing their opinion pieces about what bug they would like to be and why.  We combined the stories, listening center, and nature walk and then did The Very Quiet Cricket and In the Tall, Tall Grass.

One of his favorites is Sesame Chicken.  YUM.

I like to put the QR Code for the story right on the Writing Prompts.  That way, the children can listen to the story again at home.  I send a little note home to parents about how they can download a free QR Code reader on their devices at home.  The kids feel so grown-up being able to listen to the story again with the QR Code.  It's just another fun reinforcement.

ACTIVITIES

Dr. Jean and I put together some of our tried-and-true favorite activities about bugs.  We both love hands-on learning and believe it's the way children take on information and really learn and remember best.  My kids had a ball with the activities this week! 

The "compound eyes" are circles cut from cupcake liners that had dots on them! Perfect!

Insect Journals!

I hope you found some things you like.  It's fun to have something different to do as these weeks sort of seem longer and longer when the weather is nice. 

If you like this unit,  it is one of nine units we put together in our STEM All Year Bundle!

 This bundle includes everything you need for a year of STEM and then some! We’ve put together 9 packets (440 pages) full of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math activities, challenges, anchor charts, book ideas, writing prompts, and printables. The bundle includes 10 Prezis, each with songs, anchor charts, videos, activities, and games to help teach and reinforce the packet topics. Also included are downloads for 13 of Dr. Jean’s songs that go with the packets! The topics included in this bundle are: I am a Scientist; Colors; Living and Nonliving; The Five Senses; Healthy Body! Healthy Me!; Birds and Bird Nests; The Water Cycle, Water, and Clouds; Going Green; and Bugs and Insects.

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend!