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Fun Bug Learning Activities

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I recently shared a roundup of activities related to butterflies, and while butterflies are great, they aren’t the only bugs we should be paying attention to or learning about. So now I bring you bug learning activities having to do with bees, ladybugs, praying mantises and more!

Learning about Bugs

You might be able to find some bugs to observe in the dirt in your own backyard or playground. This super simple “experiment” from Go Science Kids gives you permission to get a little dirty while you’re learning.

I had no idea that you could buy ladybug larvae, but apparently that’s a thing, so you can buy them and raise them to learn about their life cycle as well. Learn more at Crafty Moms Share.

Or you can purchase mealworms and keep them in the classroom or at home. There’s a great lesson outline and printable worksheets for tracking the bugs at Teaching Ideas.

Why not create a cricket habitat and learn about nocturnal animals? Check out this idea at Capri Plus 3.

Bug Learning Activities

Match colors on the backs of bugs with this printable pom pom matching activity from Artsy Craftsy Mom.

Grab some cute bug coloring pages from Red Ted Art.

Learn about the life cycle of a praying mantis with this printable lapbook from Darcy and Brian.

The Wise Owl Factory has a little printable book all about bugs that kids can color and fill in the blanks as they learn.

Homeschool Preschool has printables related to the life cycle of a bee and other bee activities you can purchase.

Bring a little more STEM into your bug adventures by making light up bugs with playdough. Learn how at Mama Smiles.

Bug-Themed Games

Why not play games with bugs? Here’s a bug bingo from Nature Inspired Learning, which has eight different cards to use.

Or try a bug I-spy with this printable from And Next Comes L.

This Catch a Bug printable game from Picklebums is super cute and you can play it in different ways to learn different things.

Get on your feet and move like a bug with insect movement dice from Taming Little Monsters.

Have you read?

Beach Crafts Kids Can Make — No Vacation Required

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already. 

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts. 

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy. 

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did. 

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios. 

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures. 

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things). 

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime. 

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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