Age
⚙ 3 years and up
Time and Place
⚙ Any time of day
⚙ Any time of year (except during snowy weather)
⚙ Outdoors
Materials
⚙ Magnifying glass
⚙ Materials for capturing and holding the insect (e.g., repurposed jar)
Optional Materials
⚙ Small objects for size comparison (e.g., coin, leaf)
Safety
⚙ Supervise children at all times
⚙ Dress children appropriately for weather (e.g., hats, sunscreen, coat)
⚙ Remind children to be gentle with living creatures
Instructions
When children notice an insect, encourage them to take a close look at it with a magnifying glass. Ask children what they could use to safely temporarily catch and hold the insect. Do not forget to release the insect after observation.
Questions You May Ask
⚙ What do you notice about the insect?
⚙ What could you call this insect?
⚙ How can you safely catch the insect?
⚙ How many legs does the insect have?
⚙ How big is the insect compared to [your finger, this coin, this leaf]?
Related Children's Books
⚙ On Beyond Bugs: All About Insects by Tish Rabe
⚙ Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! By Bob Barner
⚙ The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
⚙ I Love Bugs! by Phileomon Sturges
⚙ The Crunching Munching Caterpillar by Sheridan Cain
Play-based Context
The children were outside in the play area when one of them spotted a ladybug. A couple of other children gathered around and when the educator noticed, she offered them magnifying glasses. One child suggested using a jar to safely capture the insect to take a closer look.
