Bugs Insects Theme Unit Lesson Plans

Using a predictable chart for shared reading is a good introduction to the Bugs theme unit. The repetitive text could introduce insect names. The text could read: A bee is an insect. A butterfly is an insect, An ant is an insect, A dragonfly is an insect, A ladybug is an insect, A grasshopper is an insect. A mosquito is an insect. The accompanying pictures and reader is found in the Bug theme or in the member's area.

Sample Page of the Emergent Reader

Literature Connection

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" Emergent Reader Retelling

The 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle is an all time favorite book to be used in conjunction with the Bug theme. Not only does it introduce the days of the week, numbers but also the life cycle of a butterfly. Children love this book! In the members' area you will find an emergent reader retelling of the story. This can be made into a big book, placed on chart paper or in a pocket chart and used for a shared reading experience.

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader

Bonus Emergent Readers

Butterfly Cycle Emergent Reader Shape Book

In the members' area you will find a butterfly shape book called The Butterfly Story. It can be used as a book for the children to read on their own after they have been introduced to the life cycle of the butterfly. It introduces the children to the stages of the butterfly, as well as, to the use of ordinal numbers. The children are required to cut and paste the correct picture with each line of the story.

First, I am an egg. Second, I am a caterpillar.

Third, I am a pupa. At last, I am a butterfly.

More Printable Emergent Readers

Ants Rhyme Printable Emergent Reader

A Sample Page from the Ants Rhyme Printable Book

Bugs on the Move Emergent Reader Sample Page

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader

Bugs, Bugs Printable Emergent Reader Sample Page

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader

Bug Senses Emergent Reader Sample Page

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader
Counting Bugs Fun - is the last emergent reader

Color Photographs

There are both small and larger photographs of the insects discussed in the predictable chart. These are great to use for discussion purposes, center activities and word dictionaries.

The Characteristics of Insects

In the first week of the lesson plans the focus is on the characteristics of insects. A follow-up activity would be picture sorting the animals that belong to that category and those that do not. This is an activity that could be continued in the Science Center. Pictures can be found in the theme unit or in the member's area.

Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Crafts

Bee Crafts

Paint or color the body template found in the theme book or member's area. Cut strips of black construction paper and add them to the body for the legs and antennae. Trace the wings template on wax paper or bubble wrap and glue them to the body. Add facial features.

Ladybug Crafts

Materials for the Craft

paper plate, black paint and brush, fasteners, wing template (found in the member's area) and black marker.

Instructions for the Craft

1. Paint a paper plate black.

2. Paint or color the wings red (members' area or theme book). Red construction paper can also be used.

3. Use fasteners to attach the wings. The children can now move them back and forth.

5. Add black spots to the wings and wiggly eyes to the body to complete the craft.

Butterflies Craft

Instructions for the Craft

1. Photocopy butterfly wings on card stock paper (found in the theme book or member's area)

2. Children color or paint the wings

3. Paint and glue on egg carton cups

4. Complete by adding facial features

Another Butterflies Craft - Feet for Wings

Instructions for the Craft

1. Trace the feet of the children for wings

2. Cut out the feet and sponge-paint them with bright colors

3. Trace the body (in the theme book or member's area) on black construction or paint it and cut it out.

4. Assemble the body as shown in the photograph. Add the antennae and eyes.

Caterpillar Craft and Math Activity

This is a great craft and math activity!

Instructions

1. Copy the circles (found in the theme book or member's area) on colored paper (about 12 per child). They could also traced on construction paper.

2. Hole-punch the circles in the middle. Have the children push the circles along a pipe cleaner in a color pattern

3. Secure the ends so they do not fall off

Preschool and Kindergarten Math Activity - Caterpillar Math

Use the craft above to introduce patterning, how much a dozen is and for measuring objects.

Preschool and Kindergarten Activities

Dragonfly Craft

Instructions for the Craft

1. Trace the dragonfly body on card stock.

2. Color or paint the body and cut it out (could add glitter glue).

3. Trace the wings on wax paper or bubble wrap.

4. Cut out the wings and glue them to the dragonfly body. Add eyes and facial features.

Templates found in the members' area or theme book.

Firefly Craft

Instructions for the Craft

1. Paint a large popsicle stick with glow in the dark paint. After it dries, add facial features.

2. Trace the wings on wax paper or bubble wrap (use dragonfly wing template) and glue them to the firefly body. Turn off the lights and watch these insects glow!

Grasshopper Craft

1. Sponge-paint the grasshopper two different shades of green.

2. After it dries, cut it out and add facial features, legs and antennae (strips of black construction paper).

Ant Craft

Paint or trace the body template on construction paper. Add strips of black construction paper for legs and antennae.

Writing Shape Books

In the theme book or member's area you will find a ladybug template or butterfly template that can be used for a making a shape book. Younger children can cut and paste the insect pictures along with the matching word (visual discrimination). Older children can print their own sentence about an insect using what was written during shared writing time as a model. The children could also be provided with a template to complete their own sentence where they would be required to fill in a word (could be a sight word). Example: Insects have three body parts. The children would only be required to print the sight word have.

Literacy Center Activities

"UG" and "UT" Word Family Wheels

The word family wheel would be cut and placed on card stock with a fastener used to turn the wheel. After the wheel is assembled the word family "ug" is placed by the letter "b". The wheel is turned to make a new word. The children would be required to say the new word. Both the "ug" and "ut" word family wheels can be found in the theme book or member's area.

Connect the Alphabet Dots Bug Picture

Connect the Alphabet Dots Bug

Visual Discrimination Activity Integrated With Connect the Dots

The children cut and paste the words in the link below to match the sentences on the connect the dots pictures.

Sort the Words to Match the Sentence

Preschool and Kindergarten Activities

Math Games

Game

Place a top in the middle of the number board. The number where the top lands is colored on the accompanying chart. The child that has the chart colored first,is the winner. Older children would be required to say the number.

Other Games

This game could be used for sight word or alphabet recognition.

More Kindergarten and Preschool Number Activities

In the members' area you will find ladybug cards. These can be used for math activities at the centers.

Preschool Number Sheets

Match the ladybugs with the same amount of spots.

Kindergarten Number Activities

1. Select a number and children draw that many spots on the ladybug.

2. Teacher draws the spots on the ladybug and the children print or select the number that represents it.

3. Print an addition sentence representing the ladybug shown. Example: 2 + 3 = 5

Connect the Dots Numbers Bug Picture

Connect the Number Dots Butterfly

Information on How to Gain Access to This Theme Plus