A number of months ago the kids and I did a ladybug unit. In fact, we did these ladybug activities before I had started this blog. Since I have recently posted lots of insect-related activities and ideas, I thought it would be appropriate to share some of the activities we did to learn about ladybugs. Hopefully some of these ideas will be useful for others who would like to do a ladybug unit with their kids.
Note: For more insect resources, activities, and printables, please see my Insects Unit Study page.
Raising ladybugs
The unit started with purchasing this Insect Lore Ladybug Land
The kids helped provide water for the ladybugs using the provided pipette.
And we spent over a week watching our larvae wander around the habitat getting bigger and bigger.
I didn’t get any good pictures of them going into their pupa stage, but we did get to witness them hanging upside down as they turned into pupas.
And of course, we got to witness them emerging from their pupas as full fledged adult ladybugs.
After several days, we released the ladybugs into our backyard.
In case you missed the post, this year we have raised butterflies and silkworms, which you can read about here.
Looking for aphids
As part of our studies, we learned that ladybugs like to eat aphids. Of course, our rose bushes get plenty of aphids at some times of the year, so the kids used the magnifying glasses from their Learning Resources Early Science Explorer’s Set
Ladybug sensory bin
I love creating sensory bins, so of course I put together one to go along with our ladybug theme.
Inside the bin I used split peas to create a lovely green base, to which I added some silk flower petals and some ladybug buttons.
I provided the kids with some cups, tubes, measuring spoons, and some magnifying glasses and tweezers from our Learning Resources Early Science Explorer’s Set
Reading about ladybugs
Of course, we also read books about ladybugs. I particularly enjoyed two non-fiction books with real photos that we read dealing with the ladybug life cycle:
and
And we also enjoyed these two books as well:
and
Ladybug themed art projects
As part of our ladybug studies, we did two ladybug-themed art projects – one more successful than the other.
Our successful project was this ladybug thumbprint activity. I had the kids color their thumbs with red ink and then stamp them on a piece of paper. We then drew heads and spots on their thumbs to make ladybugs.
Our not-so-successful 🙂 project was one in which we painted rocks to look like ladybugs.
The activity started out promising.
But the rocks ended up looking more like big blobs, since the colors ran together when we failed to let the red paint dry all the way before adding the black paint. Lesson learned!
And that is what we did to learn about ladybugs!
More resources for learning about Ladybugs
More ladybug posts from Gift of Curiosity:
Other insect printables from Gift of Curiosity:
- Insects Printables Pack
- Insects Do-a-Dot Printables
- Insects Anatomy Game
- Insects Grid Games
- Ant Printables Pack
- Ant 3-Part Cards
- Ant Do-a-Dot Printables
- Bee Do-a-Dot Printables
- Bee Sudoku
- Butterfly Do-a-Dot Printables
For more insect resources, activities, and printables, please see my Insects Unit Study page and my Insects & Bugs Unit Study Pinterest board.
Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Unit Ideas: Insects & Bugs on Pinterest.
Products mentioned in this post:
Tara from The Magnolia Barn says
June 4, 2013 at 7:03 pmWe are learning about ladybugs this week and I should have planned and purchased one of these Ladybug Lands. We’ve been reading so many books though and I had no idea ladybugs went through similar stages to butterflies. I love learning with my girls. We’ve been enjoying your insect printable pack by the way..so cute!
Stacie says
June 4, 2013 at 7:30 pmWow I didn’t know you could watch the lady bugs grow like that. Definately going to have to do this with my daughter who LOVES ladybugs.
Katie says
June 5, 2013 at 1:11 pmIt was sooo cool! It was a great project that our WHOLE family got invested in to for a couple of weeks!
Shaunna @ Fantastic Fun and Learning says
June 5, 2013 at 2:28 pmGreat activities! I really like your sensory bin.
Katie says
June 5, 2013 at 2:44 pmThanks! The sensory bin was simple, but my kids always play with them for a long time.
Julie says
June 7, 2013 at 1:50 pmWe love the Grouchy Ladybug and watching ladybugs has to be the best way to learn about them. My friend did this and some ladybugs escaped and soon her house was full of them. I’m glad you were able to release them. They are so good for gardens.
JDaniel4's Mom says
June 8, 2013 at 4:35 amWhat fun! I love all the different types of learning in this post! Your sensory bin is wonderful. I have shared this post.
Katie says
June 8, 2013 at 6:41 amThanks for sharing our ladybug activities.
Gena says
June 9, 2013 at 1:31 pmWhat a great unit study! I love all the activities!
–Gena
Katie says
June 9, 2013 at 1:59 pmThanks Gina! I always have fun coming up with the ideas for the activities.
pinkoddy says
June 10, 2013 at 9:16 amWow that is amazing, and what an experience, I didn’t even think about rasing ladybirds – thank you for linking up with Motivational Monday
Crystal says
June 11, 2013 at 7:27 amI love all the extension activities you have done for this unit, something for everyone! Thank you for linking up to Mom’s Library.
Carla says
June 11, 2013 at 8:08 amThis is a fabulous unit study!! My kids love ladybugs–I think we’ll be doing at least one ladybug unit every year for quite a while! I’m so glad you linked this up at Teach Me Tuesday at Preschool Powol Packets!!
Hannah says
June 11, 2013 at 4:27 pmYour ladybug activities are great!
Valerie says
June 13, 2013 at 4:44 amVery nicely done! Love the fingerprint ladybugs. Thought of doing something similar but had no washable ink pads! 🙁 Ended up using some pages from your Insect package by the way! 🙂 Thanks!
Sugar Aunts says
June 13, 2013 at 6:56 pmWe will be featuring your post on a HUGE list of Rainy Day Summer Play activities on Share It Saturday this weekend! We will be sharing with all of our followers on our social media sites (including group boards and communities!!) Thanks for sharing with us at Share It Saturday!
Colleen at http://www.sugaraunts.com
Carrie says
June 14, 2013 at 11:40 amHow fun!! I think we may try this next year! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Ticia says
June 15, 2013 at 6:30 amYou know, I think I used those same ladybug buttons on a dress I made.
Katie says
June 15, 2013 at 6:47 amI bet the dress was really cute!
Jennifer says
June 15, 2013 at 3:06 pmThanks for linking up Monday Kid Corner Weekly Linky Party. The next party goes live tomorrow and this week’s theme is SIDEWALK CHALK.
Holly B. says
September 20, 2013 at 4:33 pmWe just finished our ladybug prints. They are adorable!
Katie says
September 20, 2013 at 4:35 pmThat’s great! Thanks so much for sharing how you are using some of the ideas you’ve found here!