Critter Crawl
Pre-program
Insect Headbands
Ask adult/child teams to make insect head bands. Use strips of card stock to go around the head. Attach pipe cleaner antennae. Invite participants to wear them to story time.
Story
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip & Hannah Hoose
Are You a Ladybug? by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries
The Very Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Discuss story
Activity: Ants Are Busy
Play a march as the children pretend to be ants. When music stops, the children scamper like ants and hide under a table (an ant nest).
Show & Tell: To Be An Insect
Showing an insect collection, discuss what features all insects have: 6 legs, 3 body parts, 2 antennae.
Have the participants stand (adults too!) and repeat your words and motions.
“To be an insect,”
“you must have.” hands on hips
“3 body parts” show 3 fingers
“…a head” put hands on head
“…a thorax” hands on chest
“…an abdomen” hands on stomach
“that means tummy”
“2 antennae” wiggle 2 fingers on top of head
“and 6 legs.” show 6 fingers
“Now count with me!”
“1,2,3,4,5,6.” stomp while counting
Parent/Child Activity: Bug Crawl
Have each team hunt for bugs along a foot long length of string. Count how many insects you find. Count their legs. Did you find anything that had more than 6 legs? Anything with no legs?
Snack
Serve ants on a log. (Celery with peanut butter or cream cheese and raisins)
-or-
Create an edible insect with crackers, cream cheese or jam, licorice whips or pretzels, raisins, etc. Use 3 crackers for body, raisins for eyes or spots, licorice whips or pretzels for 2 antennae and 6 legs
Song/Poem: Crawly Ant
See the little
Crawly ant
Walk across
The floor.
See the little
Crawly ant
Walk right to
the door
See the little
Crawly ant
Creep out
In the sun.
Come again
Crawly ant.
Watching you
Is Fun!
Other books
Gotta Go, Gotta Go This is a story about a monarch caterpillar that has “gotta go gotta go” to Mexico even though he has no idea where that is.
References
Bugs to Bunnies – Hands-on Animal Science Activities for Young Children
Activities provided by:
Polk County Conservation Board
Ginny Malcomson
Nature Tots is funded by Polk County Conservation Board, West Des Moines Park and Recreation, and the Des Moines Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.
_ 0-1
_ 1-2
_ 2-3
✓ 3-4
_ 4-5
_ 5-6
Category: Adult-Child
Iowa Early Learning Standards:
8.2, 9.1, 9.3, 10.3, 11.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.4, 13.1, 13.2, 14.3
Related Kindernature Resources:
- Ants
- Ant Tricks
- Buggy Antennas
- Buggy Buddies
- I’m a Ladybug
- Insect Safari
- Ladybug Finger Prints
- Ladybug Paper Bag Puppets
- Ladybug Sticker Fun
- Make an Ant Finger Puppet
- The Ants Go Softly Round and Round
- The Queen of all of the Ants
- What’s Underground