Minibeasts: Summer Project

So over summer we are going to be looking at and exploring Insects and Bugs and their habitats and looking after some snails! How exciting! I like most minibeasts, the ones I tend to draw the line at are spiders and daddy long legs /shudder. It’s the legs and the way they move, I get goosebumps and shivers just thinking about it. I don’t want to pass that revulsion and fear onto my little girl though. In this country we are lucky that we have no little beasts set on maiming or killing us. The most venomous land creature in the UK is the Adder, I believe, so it’s perfectly safe for her to get in about the undergrowth investigating all the tiny creatures she can.

Last night I printed out cards and various little tray works and worksheets she would enjoy and have started setting up tot school in accordance. Here are some of the works out just now, with a few more to laminate and set up.

Honey Bee Cards: The idea is to count the bees on each card and peg the correct number that corresponds.

Spiders and Bugs Lacing Activity: Using pipe cleaners to thread through the holes to make legs for the beasts. A fun little fine motor exercise.

Letter Formation: Sand, Sandpaper Letter with the focus on ‘C’ for Caterpillar and Chrysalis, two stages in the Butterfly and Moth life-cycle.

Pencil Control & More Workbook: A variety of minibeast themed worksheets with pencil contril work, colour by numbers and cutting and sticking activities inside.

We popped out today to pick up a few things to aid in the bug discovery and learning which included this game called Honey Bee Tree Game and we got it half price in the Early Learning Centre £7.50! Love a wee bargain – It can be found here. I set it up this afternoon, L is currently napping, but think she might want to play later.

We also have two fact books up – Bug Detective, which I bought a few days ago from Amazon and Bugs from the book collection “Everything You Need To Know For School“.

We also bough a bug catching and viewing set similar to this one, which we picked up in B&M for £2.99. The net is bigger and longer as are the tweezers.

We had some bugs all ready to look at as out bearded dragon eats mealworms and crickets and next week we’ll have wax worms and locusts! L was fascinated and spent time counting the legs and asking why they did certain things and what the names of various body parts are.

Investigating a Cricket with her magnifying glass.

Mealworm

Black Cricket

I’ve also purchased a few items from Amazon due to arrive from tomorrow right through to the next week or so.

This Orchard Maths game looks like a bit of fun and a charming Ladybird theme too.

These games are such good quality too, robust and well thought out. I’m sure we’ll have fun with this together.

I’ve also ordered Snail World Kit for looking and and keeping snails! We have plenty in the garden, so I’m sure we’ll have no bother picking a couple up next time it rains. The idea is for L to look after them through summer; feed and observe and possibly even see if they will breed. Snails are pretty cool and easy going, it was these or worms, I wasn’t so keen on Spiders or even Ants, just in case they got loose 😉

For a bit or art and craft fun I’ve picked up some stencils and we also have stamps, colouring pages and crafty shapes but we’ll also be doing some outdoor art as well with natural materials such as leaves, fallen petals, sticks, stones and whatever else we find lying around.

Lastly we also have some Usborne Nature Cards: Bugs coming, which look fab! Good reference pictures with lots of details and can be used for many things: drawing from reference, learning facts, great for taking outside and lots of other uses I’m sure!

Looking forward to a Bug filled Summer! Do you have plans?

Spoonie Mum!

xx