Insects Theme

Potato Ladybugs - I saw this idea in a magazine years ago. Draw some black spots on a piece of construction paper with a black crayon. Cut a potato in half and dip half in red paint. Stamp potato over the black spots and let dry. The crayon resists the paint and makes a cute ladybug.

Spider Webs - Cut several pieces of yarn in various lengths. Use white glue (like Elmer's Glue) and make a spider web pattern on a piece of construction paper. Let child glue yarn onto the paper to form a spider web.

Thumprint Ants - Draw an ant hill with a marker on a plain sheet of construction paper. Use a black washable stamp pad or black paint and have your child put a thumbprint on the paper (or several thumbprints). Draw on the legs(6), eyes, etc. and then turn them loose to draw in the rest of the ant's home.

You can also adapt this craft to creat "Ant Books" to go along with "The Ants Go Marching" song. Create counting books using one page for each verse of the song. On the first page, make one thumbprint ant. If they are able, have your child write a number one. If not, write a one for them. Continue the pages for as many verses as you want to do, and use the "Ant Book" when you sing the song. This is a great way to get in a little counting practice with your child.

Paper Plate Ladybug - Paint a paper plate black and paint another paper plate red. Let dry. Cut the red paper plate in half. Put the red halves over the black plate as if the red plate were still together. You should see a little bit of the black plate where the head would be. Attach the red halves to the black plate with brads. This will make ladybug wings that will open and shut. Cut several black circles out of construction paper and glue on the ladybug's wings. Glue wiggle eyes onto the head.

Thumprint Spiders - In one corner of a plain sheet of construction paper, draw a spider web with a marker. Use a black washable stamp pad or black paint and have your child put a thumbprint on the paper. Draw on the legs(8), eyes, etc. and connect the spider to the rest of the web.

Sandy Ant Hills - Spread glue out all over a piece of construction paper, then sprinkle sand into the glue. Let that dry completely. Then glue raisins onto the paper to make the ants. You can use the opportunity to talk to your kids about how ants make tunnels and live in the ground if you want.

Styrofoam Ball Spiders - Paint a styrofoam ball (any size you want) black. Let dry. Use black pipe cleaners to make the legs by poking them about half an inch into the ball. There should be 8 legs. Use wiggle eyes to give your spider a little character. Attach a string to the top of your spider (so that you can hang it) by opening a paper clip up to form a "U", tying a string to a paperclip and then pushing it into the top of your spider as far as the paper clip will go. (Younger children shouldn't do the paper clip part on their own.)

Fingerprint Ladybugs - Cut out a large leaf from green construction paper. Dip fingertip into red paint and stamp the leaf. Let dry. Draw in spots with marker. You can also do this idea by gluing strips of green construction paper onto another piece of white construction paper to resemble blades of grass. Then stamp fingerprints.

Ice Cream Spiders - Put a scoop of chocolate ice cream in the center of a bowl. Poke 8 pieces of black licorice along the side of the scoop to make the legs.

Ants on a Log/Ants on a Stump - I remember having Ants on a Log when I was a kid. All you basically have to do is put some peanut butter on a celery stick and then put some raisins on it to make ants. Unfortunately, my kids HATE celery, so I changed the recipe. Instead of celery, I use an apple. Core your apple whole and then cut it across so that it makes round shapes. Spread your peanut butter, add your raisins, and you have ants on a stump!

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