Creepy Crawlers (Livy's Nature Class)

Olivia's nature class was about insects! Inside, the group discussed what makes an insect, the different bug families, different methods of eating and locomotion.

Afterwards, the kids went outside to try some bug catching and identifying. The naturalist layed down a white sheet and showed the kids how to sweep with a net and use the sheet to find things. Georgia helped out with the class, teaching kids how to use the net if they had trouble.

Livy sweeping away....

They had some small clear bug boxes to put their finds. Olivia found a grasshopper, a cricket, an ant....

and a Praying Mantis. They had to find a larger box for her to put it in.
She was proud of her find! It was definitely the largest insect found that day.

The kids sat in a circle and passed around the bug boxes with the bugs that were caught. They talked about what family the insect belonged to and noted special features they had.

Afterwards the kids released the insects where they were found.

Back inside, the kids made a bug craft. They made a butterfly from coffee filters and pipe cleaners.

Back home, the girls and I read about the praying mantis in our bug books, and at National Geographic, Insecta Inspecta World, Enchanted Learning, and printed a coloring sheet from ABC Teach.