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insects

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

August 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m sharing an incredible slime recipe to add to your fun day when learning about insects. Also, look at my page Free Kids Insect Unit Study for more ideas.

It sounds kinda icky, but it’s actually super interesting.

Let’s dive into the sticky, squishy world of insect slime and discover why it’s one of nature’s coolest tricks.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Insect slime, or as scientists call it, “exudate,” is a gooey substance that some insects produce.

It’s not just any slime.

It is made of special proteins and other natural compounds that help insects in various ways.

However, regular slime can stretch, squish, and even bounce!

The magic of slime lies in its unique texture and the way it changes under different pressures.

It’s like a science experiment and a toy all rolled into one!

3 Ways Insects Use Their Incredible Slime

1. Hunting

Did you know that some insects use slime to catch their prey?

The sticky goo can trap small insects or other tiny creatures, making it easier for the slime-producing insect to feast.

2. Defense Mechanism

Many insects use slime to protect themselves from predators.

For example, some caterpillars can shoot out a sticky slime when they feel threatened. This goo can deter predators or even make them slip away!

3. Building and Home Making

Some insects use slime to build their homes.

Silk-spinning spiders, for instance, create intricate webs out of a slimy substance that hardens into strong silk threads.

Similarly, certain beetles use slime to line their burrows, making them smoother and more comfortable.

Also, look at some of these fun books to your learning day.

Insect Books for Kids

11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read

Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.

When Insects are Babies

Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.

We Like Bugs

This illustrated book for children asks the Have you ever seen a doodlebug? A dragon fly? A leafhopper? Find out all about bugs in this book.

Fabre's Book of Insects

Hailed by Darwin as "The Homer of Insects," famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823–1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.

Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous explorer yet he seldom left his own backyard. He spent his whole life discovering the secrets of the insect world. His home and its surroundings served as his laboratory, and his lab assistants were his wife and children. The entire family shared his passion for insects, especially his youngest son, Paul. Follow Paul as he assists his famous father uncover the secrets of his "children of summer"-insects. You'll meet the undertaker beetle that buries dead animals; the acorn elephant beetle, whose snout is so long that it must hold it straight out to keep from tripping over it; caterpillars that spin tents and roadways of silk; red ants that kidnap black ant babies and raise them as slaves; dancing scorpions; dung beetles that get their nourishment from animal droppings; male peacock moths that pay homage to their princess but don't eat a single meal as adults; and many other unusual creatures. On the way, you'll get to know a fascinating scientist widely regarded as the father of modern entomology. Through texts drawn from the beautiful written records that Fabre kept of everything he did and saw, and exquisite illustrations done in close, scientific detail, this enchanting book reaches far beyond the boundaries of its subject to engage even those who didn't know they were interested in bugs.

Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty—and the “wow!” and the “yuck!” factors—of hundreds of insects and spiders. Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up close, and personal!

Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Describes insects that have peculiar and strange characteristics, such as the camouflage of the walking stick, and the driver ants that prefer people to picnics.

Insect Life

Be immersed in the fascinating world of insects as you're taken on a journey observing and learning about the world around you.

This volume teaches about what makes an insect, the parts of a caterpillar, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and more!

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer’s colorful illustrations. Illustrated in color throughout.

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.

The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

Features the beetle in huge, three-dimensional form. The book consists of an enormous center pop-up and two seven-page books, one bound into each cover, which are full of additional pop-ups, anatomical cutaways and photographs taken through electron microscopes.

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. 

Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.

Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.

Next, look at some of these other insect activities.

  • 4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft
  • How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture
  • Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects
  • 8 Facts About Moths and a Fun Nature Elephant Hawk Moth Craft
  • Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids
  • Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft
  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids
Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Additionally, look at these other slime activities.

More Incredible Slime Activities

  • How to Make Fluffy Lemonade Summer Slime With Kids
  • The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime
  • How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas
  • How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning
  • Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime
Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Finally, look at how to make insect slime.

How to Make Insect Slime With Kids

Supplies:

  • 1 (6oz.)  bottle of green glitter glue
  • ½ tbsp. Baking soda
  • 1 tbsp. Contact solution
  • Insect toys
  • Mixing bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • Plastic mat
Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Directions:

First, pour the glue into the mixing bowl.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Add the baking soda and stir well until combined.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Pour in the contact solution and stir until slime becomes stretchy.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

 Note: Your slime will feel sticky at first and it will seem like there’s too much contact solution.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

However, keep kneading the slime and it will get to the desired consistency!

I did not have to add any extra solution to this recipe.

Once the slime is at the desired consistency, it’s ready!

Use a plastic mat for play time.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Add the insect toys to the slime. Store the slime in an airtight container or a jar.

Insect slime is an amazing part of nature that helps insects in many cool ways.

So next time you see a bug, remember that its slimy tricks are part of what makes it so awesome!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, insects, slime

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

July 27, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re learning 4 cicada insect fun facts for kids and creating a cicada clothespin craft. Also, look at my Free Kids Insect Unit Study for more ideas.

Have you somehow escaped the “attack” of the cicadas or haven’t seen that this year (2024) is a multiple brood emergence for cicadas?

It is an event that hasn’t happened in over 200 years.

And I have some fun facts for you.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

There are over 3,000 species of Cicadas worldwide.

They are sorted into two families based on life cycle.

For example, they are either annual or periodical cicadas.

Annual cicadas have dark green or black bodies with green veins in their wings and come out every year.

Periodical cicadas: have black bodies, red eyes and legs, and red veins in their wings.

They live for years underground before they emerge.

While their appearance is startling, Cicadas are harmless.

And they do not endanger crops or people, they are just a noisy nuisance.

Cicadas

Special Double Brood

Cecily Cicada: Special Double Brood Edition

Our special edition of the classic, Cecily Cicada, created for the Midwest's double-brood emergence of 2024.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids

Next, here is a great video Cicadas: The Loudest Bugs in The World for kids all about these interesting insects

  1. For the most part periodical cicadas are found east of the Mississippi River. 13-year cicadas are found in more southern states. The later emerging 17-year cicadas can be found in the more northern states.
  2. The 13- and 17-year lifespan of periodical cicadas is one of the longest of any insect. They spend most of this cycle underground (99%) in the nymph stage. They feed on liquid from plant roots and emerge above ground for just a short time.
  3. When cicadas emerge in a giant mass the noise can reach a deafening crescendo -up to 100 decibels. This is the sound of male mating call and is louder than your neighborhood lawn mower.
  4. Not only do birds and animals enjoy eating them, but many people do also. Cicadas are edible and are considered a delicacy in many areas because they are high in protein, low in fat, and gluten-free, as well as a good source of minerals and vitamins.

In my handy dandy nature anatomy book, I was able to find a little section with an illustration of a 17-year Cicada, these books are a treasure!

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Also, look at these facts about their life cycle

Cicada Life Cycle

  • Eggs- Females use their ovipositor to carve a groove in a groove in a tree branch or trunk, this protects and provides a nutrient rich fluid.
  • Nymphs- After 10 weeks the eggs hatch into nymphs, feed off the tree and then fall to the ground. They then dig and burrow their way underground and live there for 2-17 years depending on the species. They rely on feeding off plant roots for nourishment.
  •  Adults- When the soil reaches appropriate temperatures the nymphs molt into winged adults on a nearby vertical surface. These are the exoskeletons you find abandoned around the yard.  For about 30 minutes they are extremely vulnerable and soft but after about 30 minutes their new exoskeleton hardens off. Male cicadas then sing mating songs creating a lot of noise.
4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Once emerged cicadas only live for no longer than 6 weeks and they are gone until the cycle begins all over again.

More Insect Hands-on Crafts for Kids

  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids
  • How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture
  • Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects
  • 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft
  • Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

Finally, look at how to make this clothespin cicada craft.

How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Even though our craft uses hot glue your child will not be directly touching it until completely cooled so this is a great introduction to this useful tool.

You will need:

  • Wooden clothespin
  • Black button
  • Red beads
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Markers
  • Silicone mat
  • Hot glue gun/glue sticks
4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

First,[ paint the entire clothespin black and set aside to dry.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Now to create the wings. It is really fun.

You want to use a flexible silicone mat because it can take the heat of the hot glue without damage.

Once cooled the hardened glue peels off easily.

Use a light-colored dry erase marker to draw out a pair of wings on the silicone mat.

Now you are going to fill in the outline with a thin but solid layer of hot glue.

Allow it to harden completely.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

While you are waiting, use hot glue to attach small red beads to either side of the button for eyes.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Hot glue button to the end of the dry clothespin.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

After your glue has hardened you can easily peel up the wings and trim them with scissors if needed.

Take a marker and add some vein details to them.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Run a little hot glue down the top of the clothespin and attach your wings.

You do not want to apply the glue to the wings directly as the heat from the glue gun will melt them.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Cut 6 small legs out of pipe cleaners and hot glue them into place on the underside of the clothespin cicada.

Bend them into two parts.

4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, insects, life science, science

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

May 15, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Not only is it a fun new medium but this ladybug watercolor picture is a great way to incorporate science into your art project. Look at my Free Kids Insect Unit Study.

Instead of printing a worksheet to have your children label, have them paint their own beautiful ladybug picture.

Then use watercolors and label each part. It’s not a lesson they would soon forget.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Did you know that a group of ladybugs is called ‘a loveliness’ or ‘a bloom’?

What a wonderful name!

The ladybug has an exoskeleton made of a protein like the one that forms our hair and fingernails.

First, look at some books to add to your study.

Books About Ladybugs

7 Ladybug Resources & Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Want to learn more about the amazing ladybug? Check out some of these resources to make a wonderful immersive study around this little insect. Grab a favorite book from the library or Amazon to make sure your ladybug journey is full of hands-on fun and learning. You can even raise ladybugs in their own tiny world.

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

A beautifully illustrated, informative book for children introducing them to bugs that creep, crawl, bite, fly, and more.

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

Ladybug

McClung, in explaining the vision and purpose for his books, remarked "practically all my books deal with wild animals and the natural environment. Unfortunately, more and more of the vital habitat that wildlife needs for survival is being polluted or destroyed by the activities of Homo Sapiens.

Insect Lore Live Ladybug Growing Kit

Includes voucher for 10 to 13 ladybug larvae and all the food they need to grow into adult ladybugs included

Ladybug at Orchard Avenue

Ladybug encounters many predators while hunting for food and searching for a winter home. Ladybug's bright red coloring helps to keep her safe, but will she find enough food and a safe shelter for the winter months ahead? Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Ladybug at Orchard Avenue is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations.Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!

Life Cycle Kit Science

Life Cycle Matching Card Set: Contains a set of plastic animals of the life cycle of a Ladybug. It helps demonstrate the life cycle of animals with beautiful 3D designs that entice kids to learn!

Ladybugs

Everything you ever wanted to know about ladybugs— and why they're crucial to our environment. When you think of a ladybug, you might picture a little red beetle with seven black spots on its back—but did you know there are thousands of types of ladybugs, spread across the world?

A Ladybug's Life (Nature Upclose)

Ladybugs are a farmer's best friend-they eat the bugs that would otherwise harm plants. Nature Up close series uses beautiful watercolors to depict each creature's world from its unique perspective. Simple text describes the creatures' movements and activities.

Next, here are some more facts about ladybugs.

Ladybug Facts

Its body has three distinct parts: a head, thorax, and abdomen.

The head houses the ladybug’s mouthparts, compound eyes, and antennae.

Beneath the protection of the elytra, which is the colorful spotted covering are their flight wings. These spots warn predators that they are not.

Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles are very much considered a beneficial bug rather than a nuisance.

They help to rid areas of aphids, mealybugs and other crop destructive pests that would otherwise take over healthy plants.

With almost 400 different kinds of ladybugs in North America these pretty little flyers are plentiful which is a good thing.

Also, they help pollinate flowers and fruits, especially in the winter months.

Just like the beautiful butterfly, ladybugs have four stages before they complete their metamorphosis.

They start out as tiny eggs that hatch into larvae, then the pupal stage, lasting around two weeks.

Finally, they become adult ladybugs, and their hidden wings appear.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Looking for a few more ideas for using your watercolor supplies?

Here are 4 more nature watercolor tutorials to look at that will help you cover art to science study, as well as some geography in one project.

Nature Watercolor Tutorials

  1. I just love this video tutorial for Watercolor Fireflies In a Jar, it has such a fun magical summer feel to it.
  2. You would almost think that you had visited yourself when you painted a Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial .
  3. This Beautiful Watercolor Butterfly Painting combines oil pastels and watercolor for a lovely art project.
  4. While resist paintings have been around for ages this Bee Art Activity | Watercolor Crayon Resist puts a fresh new spin on it.
  5. Dive deep and create a magical tropical Jellyfish Art Project for Kids for an ocean themed study.

More Insect Activities

  • Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects
  • Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids
  • 7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a BeeHive With Felt Activity
  • 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft
  • Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations
  • 8 Facts About Moths and a Fun Nature Elephant Hawk Moth Craft
  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids
How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Finally, look at how to do this ladybug watercolor art.

Ladybug Watercolor

If you are going to learn about an insect, the lovely garden friend the ladybug is an excellent subject and makes for a pretty picture as well.

Young children can be given small slips of paper with the basic parts on it.

If they are not quite writing yet while older children can get more detailed, even labeling the scutellum, central line, femur, tibia, tarsus, and tarsal claw.

You will need:

  • Watercolor paints
  • Watercolor paper
  • Container of water
  • Large circle object for tracing
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Fine line marker
  • Paintbrushes
How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

You can absolutely free hand your ladybug if you like but I find it really helpful to trace a circular outline and then freehand from there.

Use a bowl or something similar to lightly trace a circle into the center of your page.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Paint a light wash of black down the center of the circle for the abdomen and a larger black half circle at the top for the pronotum (which covers the ladybugs thorax).

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Allow to sit until mostly dry.

Now, fill in the circle with 2-3 coats of red to get the shade you desire.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Let it dry or use a blow dryer to help speed it up but you want it completely dry before you begin adding more details.

Once the red is dry paint on the head and 6 jointed legs.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Fill in black dots with a couple of thick coats of paint.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Use a fine line marker to outline the ladybug and sharpen the edges, this will really give it a completed look.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Take a ruler and make lines where you would like your child to label the parts, the older the child the more detail you can get.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

You can simply have them label “legs” or more detailed like “foreleg, middle leg, hind leg”.

Once you have created your lines and everything is dry, have them neatly fill in the parts.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, insects, life science, science, watercolor

Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

March 4, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Let’s creep and crawl our way into a fun insect unit study that will have your child buzzing and flapping around while they learn about bees, beetles, dragonflies and more. Also, look for more unit studies on my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

I am a strong believer in more hands-on fun activities for younger children rather than sitting down for hours with worksheets.

To help you create a fun and busy insect unit study I have some ideas for each subject that you might want to cover.

Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

Of course, I also have my own idea for creating bug specimens to put on display with some air dry clay and little wood pieces that you can find at Dollar Tree.

These make a perfect decoration for your homeschool shelves, desk, or even the coffee table.

As you put them together you can talk about what makes it an insect and ask questions like is a spider an insect? (no they are not).

This is a great time to pore over colorful books, take nature walks and explore bugs in their natural habitat, and even play with little plastic ones in a variety of ways.

More Insect Unit Study Activities

  • Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo
  • How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture
  • Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids
  • Fun And Easy Spider Craft: Insect Lessons For Elementary Students
  • Bugs Facts For Kids And Free Paper Bug Bracelets
  • Bioluminescence For Kids: How To Make A Fun Firefly Craft
  • 4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft
  • 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft
  • Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft
  • Free Butterfly Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
  • Free Ladybug Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
  • The World Of Slimy Insects: Snails Versus Slugs Unique Comparison

First you want to go over what makes an insect an insect.

All insects have the following characteristics:

  • Invertebrates (no backbone)
  • 2 compound eyes, usually on either side of the head
  • 3 body parts- a head, a thorax, an abdomen
  • 6 legs
  • A pair of antennae
  • 0 or 2 pairs of wings

Insect Books for Kids

Next, add some of these books to your unit study.

Since you have readers at different levels, I try to get a variety of reading levels.

11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read

Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.

When Insects are Babies

Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.

We Like Bugs

This illustrated book for children asks the Have you ever seen a doodlebug? A dragon fly? A leafhopper? Find out all about bugs in this book.

Fabre's Book of Insects

Hailed by Darwin as "The Homer of Insects," famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823–1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.

Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous explorer yet he seldom left his own backyard. He spent his whole life discovering the secrets of the insect world. His home and its surroundings served as his laboratory, and his lab assistants were his wife and children. The entire family shared his passion for insects, especially his youngest son, Paul. Follow Paul as he assists his famous father uncover the secrets of his "children of summer"-insects. You'll meet the undertaker beetle that buries dead animals; the acorn elephant beetle, whose snout is so long that it must hold it straight out to keep from tripping over it; caterpillars that spin tents and roadways of silk; red ants that kidnap black ant babies and raise them as slaves; dancing scorpions; dung beetles that get their nourishment from animal droppings; male peacock moths that pay homage to their princess but don't eat a single meal as adults; and many other unusual creatures. On the way, you'll get to know a fascinating scientist widely regarded as the father of modern entomology. Through texts drawn from the beautiful written records that Fabre kept of everything he did and saw, and exquisite illustrations done in close, scientific detail, this enchanting book reaches far beyond the boundaries of its subject to engage even those who didn't know they were interested in bugs.

Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty—and the “wow!” and the “yuck!” factors—of hundreds of insects and spiders. Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up close, and personal!

Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Describes insects that have peculiar and strange characteristics, such as the camouflage of the walking stick, and the driver ants that prefer people to picnics.

Insect Life

Be immersed in the fascinating world of insects as you're taken on a journey observing and learning about the world around you.

This volume teaches about what makes an insect, the parts of a caterpillar, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and more!

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer’s colorful illustrations. Illustrated in color throughout.

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.

The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

Features the beetle in huge, three-dimensional form. The book consists of an enormous center pop-up and two seven-page books, one bound into each cover, which are full of additional pop-ups, anatomical cutaways and photographs taken through electron microscopes.

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. 

Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.

Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.

Next, look at some of these easy ideas to incorporate into your unit study.

Kids Insect Unit Study

Math Insect Ideas

  • Use plastic bugs as counters for preschoolers to practice basic math skills like counting and very simple addition and subtraction.
Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects
  • One of the first math skills a child can learn is basic sorting, this is also doubles as a fantastic science lesson as you cover what makes a bug a bug -Bug or Not: Simple Sorting Tray.
  • Practice early math skills by making a Caterpillar number match for your child to play with.

Language Arts Insect Ideas

  • Games like the Swat the Bug Alphabet Game get children moving and help the simple lessons they learn really stick and make an impression.
  • Pull out all your plastic insects and have your child practice the beginning letter sound and naming the letter.
  • For a sweet read aloud, reach for Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar to  strengthen your child’s listening, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

Science Insect Ideas

  • Create this Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids to simply demonstrate a simple life cycle with an artistic twist.
  • Be sure to give some attention to the buzzing bee with 7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a BeeHive With Felt Activity.
  • A great resource for science is the Big Book of Bugs, a fun and beautifully illustrated oversized book that your children will love to read with you or flip through on their own to look at all there is to see.
Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

Watch Find Out About Insects from Nat Geo on YouTube.

Geography Insect Ideas

  • Research one insect that is native to each of the continents. Here is one for each continent to get you started.
  • Antarctica- Antarctic Midge
  • North America – Cicada
  • South America – Rhinoceros Beetle
  • Africa – Devil’s Flower Mantis
  • Asia – Orchid Mantis
  • Europe – European Firebug
  • Australia- Giant Centipede
  • Learn about Entomologists- A scientist who studies insects. Learning about careers and community workers is an important part of social studies for young learners.
Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

Art Insect Ideas

  • Learn 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft.
  • Make the beautiful Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft.
  • Light up your windows with a Firefly Suncatcher Craft as you learn about this bioluminescent bug.

Sensory and Snacking Insect Fun

  • Check out how neat and inviting this Insect Ice Excavation Science Activity for Kids is, especially during the warmer months.
  • Make Clear Bug Slime For Kids for a fun sensory activity they will love.
  • Put together a Bug Sensory Bin for little hands to explore and learn about all sorts of insects.
  • Make these adorable Fruit and Vegetable Bug Snacks.

Finally, look how to make these fun clay insects.

How to Make Clay Insects

You will need:

  • Crayola Model Magic
  • Craft paint
  • paintbrushes
  • Craft stick
  • Small wood pieces
  • Pipe cleaners
Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

First, break off a small piece of clay and begin shaping it into whatever bug shape you like.

Use one of your reference books to get an idea of which bugs you want to recreate.

Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

Add details using a paintbrush, craft stick, or toothpicks.

Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

If you are making a larger bug I recommend using a pipe cleaner inside the clay to help hold its form better.

Be sure to add antennae and legs.

Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

Allow your models to dry for 24 hours and then paint them.

Add some details like clay leaves and paint and sand to your wooden bases if you like to dress them up a bit like we did here for this dessert base.

Mount onto wood pieces to create a display stand and secure with glue. I found wood slices of both sizes and the rectangle at Dollar Tree.

Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, insects, life science, science

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

February 12, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Let’s fly right into 10 insect fun facts about Texas for kids and a cute and simple dragonfly craft made from just 2 art supplies to round out this little mini unit. Also, look at my Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas page.

And look at my Insect Unit Study page.

Because of its climate and habitats Texas is a very insect-friendly state.

It falls into spot # 3 for insect hospitality right after Florida and California.

Also, you know what they say…everything is bigger in Texas, including some of the insects.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Some are huge, some dangerous, some pretty like the Monarch that passes through.

Others do a lot of damage, and others can even mimic other creatures.

We are creating cute and simple dragonflies from beads and pipe cleaners.

These graceful flyers are so easy to identify as they dip and dart around with their two pairs of iridescent wings and a long and slender abdomen.

Books about the Great State of Texas for Kids

Next, look at these living books about Texas to add to your study.

In addition, I add reference books as necessary.

27 Books For Kids Who Love Reading And Being Read to About Texas

 Forget a boring textbook and add some of these books about Texas to your unit study or add to your learning day.

Susanna of the Alamo: A True Story

Relates the experiences of the Texas woman who, along with her baby, survived the 1836 massacre at the Alamo.

The Boy in the Alamo

The classic story of the siege of the Alamo, as told for young readers. Originally published in 1958, thousands of children each year enjoy this story from the unique point of view of twelve-year old Billy Campbell.

Plains Warrior: Chief Quanah Parker and the Comanches

A biography of the legendary Comanche leader profiles the son of a white woman, who fiercely defended tribal lands against those who tried to seize them and who, after being moved with his people to a reservation, fought for the recognition and decent treatment of his tribe.

A Paradise Called Texas

Searching for a better life, Mina, Papa, and Mama left their German fatherland aboard the brig Margaretha ,bound for Texas. They had been told it was the paradise of North America, but when Mina steps onto the desolate beach at Indian Point on a cold December day in 1845, she wants to go back to Germany and Opa's cozy house in the village of Wehrestedt. But go on they must. In spite of mama's tragic death, Mina and Papa push inland with the Kaufmann family to the Texas Hill Country. There Mina encounters an Indian chief and his young daughter, Amaya, whose help she needs when Papa falls ill. Based on her ancestors' immigration to Texas, Janice Shefelman tells of a journey into the wilderness that is filled with hardship, tragedy and adventure.

The Texans! Tejas to Today

Lessons Taught In Story Form.

Alamo All-Stars (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #6): A Texas Tale (Volume 6)

“Remember the Alamo!” That rallying cry has gone down in Texas history. But what, exactly, should we remember? Who were the ragtag group of adventurers behind the famous slogan, and how did they end up barricaded in a fort against a Mexican army Who survived, who died, and how. In the early 1800s, Native Americans, the Mexican government, and settlers from other areas of the United States were fighting over the territory that would become the Lone Star state. Here, vivid illustrations—rendered in black, white, and shades of gray, with tinges of yellow—and witty text tell the story, from Texas’s near wilderness beginnings to the Battle of the Alamo and General Sam Houston’s ultimate victory over General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Indians Who Lived in Texas

Briefly describes the environment, daily life, and customs of four Indian groups that lived in Texas--the farmers, the fishermen, the plant gatherers, and the hunters.

Make Way for Sam Houston (Unforgettable Americans)

Colorful Sam Houston leaps to life in the pages of this fresh and funny biography, set against the story of Texas's fight for independence from Mexico.

Wilderness Pioneer, Stephen F. Austin of Texas

I wanted to tell Austin's story so that boys and girls all over the United States would come to know him not as a stuffy figure in a history book but as a man who had a great dream for the welfare of his fellowmen, and in working to make that dream come true met adventure and danger, heartache and happiness.

Caleb's Choice (Puffin Novel)

In 1858 Texas, people are violently divided over a law that makes it a crime to help runaway slaves. Caleb isn't sure how he feels. When an escaped slave saves his life, Caleb knows he has a debt to repay. But should he break the law and risk his life to help two slaves escape?

A Gentle Tour Through Texas History

A guide for teaching Texas History through literature. It is based on a 34-week timeframe and is useful for students in grades K-6/7.

Johnny Texas

In the early days of Texas history, ten-year-old Johann comes from Germany with his family to settle in this vast land and soon grows to love his new home.

Remember the Alamo! (Landmark books)

I love this series of books and this one tends to be fairly accurate.

A Time to Stand: The Epic of the Alamo

The #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Miracle of Dunkirk tells the story of the Texans who fought Santa Anna’s troops at the Battle of the Alamo. Looking out over the walls of the whitewashed Alamo, sweltering in the intense sun of a February heat wave, Colonel William Travis knew his small garrison had little chance of holding back the Mexican army. Even after a call for reinforcements brought dozens of Texans determined to fight for their fledgling republic, the cause remained hopeless. Gunpowder was scarce, food was running out, and the compound was too large to easily defend with less than two hundred soldiers. Still, given the choice, only one man opted to surrender. The rest resolved to fight and die. After thirteen days, the Mexicans charged, and the Texans were slaughtered. In exquisite detail, Walter Lord recreates the fight to uphold the Texan flag. He sheds light not just on frontier celebrities like Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett, but on the ordinary soldiers who died alongside them. Though the fight ended two centuries ago, the men of the Alamo will never be forgotten.

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900

More than a century later, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is still America's deadliest disaster. Lauren Tarshis's story of one child surviving the horrible event churns with page-turning action and bold hope.

The city of Galveston, Texas, was booming. Perched on an island off the southern coast of Texas, Galveston had been founded in the 1830s. By 1900, it was Texas's richest and most important city. Boats loaded up with American cotton and wheat steamed from Galveston to countries around the world. Arriving ships were crowded with immigrants. The streets, paved with crushed oyster shells, sparkled like they'd been sprinkled with diamonds.

Galveston's Summer of the Storm (Chaparral Books)

When fourteen-year-old Abby Kate boards the train in Austin to spend three weeks with her grandmother in Galveston, she’s full of excitement—about the train ride and the prospect of days on the beach, exploring Galveston with her cousin Jane, family picnics, and her grandmother’s good food. But things go wrong even before she gets to her grandmother’s house. Abby Kate gets off the train briefly in Houston—and the train leaves without her. Stranded in the railroad station, she is befriended by a man traveling with his two sons and eventually reaches Galveston safely.

Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen

In the 1820s, the Texas frontier was a rugged, lawless place that needed defending. The men that banded together to protect the citizens of Texas from the threats of bandits and raiding native tribes were known as the Texas Rangers. Since bravery was never in short demand, any unmarried man with a good horse and a sharp shot could be selected to join the ranks. As they roamed the Texas frontier maintaining peace and order, the Rangers were present for many of the most famous moments in Texas's exciting history-they defended the Alamo alongside Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, spied on the Mexican army during the war for independence, and chased down outlaws in the booming oil towns of the Wild West.

Texas Tomboy

The entire ranch is thirsty—will the rains ever come?

Remember Goliad: Their Silent Tents

Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, turned out to be the blackest day in the war of independence between Texas and Mexico. Colonel James Walker Fannin Jr. and his men were ruthlessly slaughtered at the Presidio La Bahia near Goliad. The order was given directly by General Santa Anna. The author describes the background leading up to the start of hostilities in October 1835 and the two Mexican armies which threatened to overrun the Texans, with the massacre at the Alamo on March 2 and then the attack on the Presidio La Bahia, which Fannin called Fort Defiance. A description of garrison life and the men under Fannin's command precedes the battle of Coleto Plains, where Fannin's Texans, without an adequate water supply and defenses, were surrounded by General Urrea's army and forced to surrender. One of the more traumatic aspects of the battle and executions involved a group of young soldiers from Alabama, mainly from the same area, whose leader, Dr. Shackleford, was spared to minister to the sick and injured and was forced to witness the deaths of his protégées.

Jane Long Mother of Texas

A biography of the brave wife of General James Long who was the first woman of English descent to enter Texas and bear a child there.

Camel express; A story of the Jeff Davis experiment (Winston adventure books)

Story of a little known chapter in American military history; extensive illustrations throughout book by Joseph C. Camana.

Texas Yankee: The Story of Gail Borden

Famous as a newspaperman and surveyor in Texas, Gail Borden was the discoverer of how to condense milk. 

Tex's Tales

Picked up by a tornado and swept away from his family in nineteenth-century Texas, a dog has some exciting adventures in the frontier wilderness before making his way home again.

Miriam “Ma” Ferguson: First Woman Governor of Texas (Volume 3) (Stars of Texas Series)

Miriam Ferguson was a quiet, private person who preferred to stay home in her big house in Temple, Texas, and take care of her husband, raise her two daughters, and tend to her flower garden. But in 1924 she was elected governor of Texas, the first woman governor elected in the United States.

Texas History for Kids: Lone Star Lives and Legends, with 21 Activities

Encapsulating the 500-year saga of the one-of-a-kind state of Texas, this interactive book takes readers from the founding of the Spanish Missions and the victory at San Jacinto to the Great Storm that destroyed Galveston and the establishment of NASA’s Mission Control in Houston while covering everything in between. Texas History for Kids includes 21 informative and fun activities to help readers better understand the state’s culture, politics, and geography. Kids will recreate one of the six national flags that have flown over the state, make castings of local wildlife tracks, design a ranch’s branding iron, celebrate Juneteenth by reciting General Order Number 3, build a miniature Battle of Flowers float, and more. This valuable resource also includes a timeline of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online, and web resources for further study.

Make Way for Sam Houston

Colorful Sam Houston leaps to life in the pages of this fresh and funny biography, set against the story of Texas's fight for independence from Mexico. Lively, readable, and solidly researched, this is the kind of biography every child needs. Booklist, starred review Jean Fritz has done it again. Her writing turns this larger-than-life character into a very real person.School Library Journal, starred review ?Young readers will find the book fast-paced and fact-packed. The New York Times Book Review Jean Fritz lives in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

Trail Fever: The Life of a Texas Cowboy

The story of one of Texas's most famous cowboys is filled with cattle drives, stampedes, floods, droughts, freezing desert nights, raiders and bandits, and one man's endurance and love of life on the plains.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids

  1. Texas has one of the largest insects in North America, a stick insect called Megaphasma that can grow up to 7” long.
  2. The Monarch Butterfly was the Texas state insect in 1995. These beautiful orange and black butterflies pass through Texas twice a year during their migrations both north and south.
  3. Dog-Day Cicadas make their home in Texas, while each species of cicada has its own sound it is a very loud buzzing sound that is very distinctive, it might be a little annoying but to many, it’s like a soothing lullaby. Listen to these Texas Cicadas and see if it is a familiar sound to you.
  4. Some of the most dangerous bugs in Texas are (in no order) the Southern Black Widow, Brown Recluse, Striped Bark Scorpion, and Texas Red-Headed Centipede.
  5. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife 327 damselflies species have been documented in North America,. 160 of those being found in Texas and 70 that are native to Texas. All are found in or around watery environments. 
  6. Texas has the most variety of insects of any of the states at over a whopping 37,000 different species.
  7. The Texas Redheaded Centipede can reach up to 8 inches in length. While a bite to a human causes sharp, local pain and swelling they are venomous but not deadly.
  8. While they look and act similar to hummingbirds, Sphinx Moths can be identified by their two long antennae on their heads and 6 legs rather than two. They are found throughout North America including Texas. These moths sip from a variety of nectar flowers and are quite large with wing spans up to 5”.
8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Next, look at more activities for kids about Texas.

More Texas History Crafts & Activities

  • 25+ Texas History Books For Middle School For a Fun Unit Study
  • Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • Facts About Wildflowers And a Fun Felt Texas Bluebonnet Craft
  • How Texas Cattle Drives Shaped Its History and Longhorn Craft
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
  • Texas Native American History Quick Unit Study (Middle School)
  • How to Build the Alamo: Hands-on Learning (Free Texas Unit Study)
  • Free Copywork Cattle A Texas Poem For a Fun Unit Study
  • 22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages (editable) For a Fun History Study
8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Finally, look how to make easy dragonfly crafts.

You will need:

  • 3 pipe cleaners
  • Beads
8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

First, thread 12-14 beads on one pipe cleaner, roll and twist up one end into a little knot to stop the beads from sliding off, and push the beads down to press against the knot.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

On the end without beads, roll and form another knot into a head shape ½” above where the beads begin, you might use a bead or two at the center to help give it shape.

Gather two more pipe cleaners. Trim 1.5” off one pipe cleaner and then thread beads into whatever color or pattern you wish onto both leaving 1” of space on each.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Twist one of the wings around the body near the head, this is why we left a little space, if you need more unroll the head a bit.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Move down one bead and add the second set of wings.

To make your dragonfly look less like a butterfly you want to pull the wings out and elongate them rather than leaving them round, squeeze them close together where they’re almost touching along the line.

If you want more whimsical dragonflies, you can also glue Googly eyes to the head. We opted to leave ours at this stage.

8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, insects, life science, science, Texas, Texas history, texasunit

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