Looking for insects

 

One day we went looking for insects with lots of large magnifying glasses. We found lots of ants, a giant dead cockroach, a dragonfly, an empty spiderweb and some buzzing flys. One boy said he was allergic to mosquitoes. We left the insects where we found them.

This activity is so simple as all you need to take with you outdoors is a magnifying glass and you can have an interesting half hour or more for all kinds of kids: artists, scientists, nature lovers, explorers...
I have found that the best magnifying glass for young children, has a safe large plastic lense, makes a wonderful gift and can be purchased here.

Later we sang about the bees in the beehive and shoo fly and incy wincy spider and we read the Eric Carle book about the spider where you can feel the web on the page.

Read more dragonfly ideas can be found at 52 days to explore.



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Shadow Play

On a sunny day watch your shadow and see what it can do.

HOW TO: 

• Find a sunny open area to stand in with no trees or big structures around. 

• Find the sun and turn your back to it.

• Your shadow should be in front of you.

• A lot depends on what time of day it is:  

       - if the sun is low in the sky your shadow will be long.
       - if the sun is high in the sky your shadow will be short.


MORE ACTIVITIES:

If you are feeling patient, stand very still and see if someone can draw around your shadow.

Shadow Shapes for older children

Shadow puppets at night

Me and my shadow,
Strolling down the avenue,
Me and my shadow,
Not a soul to tell our troubles to . . .

And when it’s twelve o’clock,
We climb the stair,
We never knock,
For nobody’s there . . .

Perry Como