I have 10 awesome insect projects for elementary students. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro for more fun ideas.
Then I have a fun tutorial for making a praying mantis from a clothespin. Too, look at my post Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃How to Make Clay Insects for more insect projects.
Praying mantises are fascinating insects with unusual features. They have long bodies, triangular heads, and large eyes.
One thing that makes them very unique is that they have two special front legs that they use for catching food. And these legs have spikes that help them hold onto their prey.
We will, of course, learn about insects as a whole class within the amazing animal kingdom and more about the praying mantis.
Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.
HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS
- Exciting Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students Who Love Hands-On
- How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students
- 3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love
- Fun Mosaic Art Lesson Plans Elementary | How To Make A Tray
- Easy Praying Mantis Craft: Awesome Insect Projects for Elementary Students
- Easy Art And Geometry Activities For Elementary Students
- Biology Science Curriculum For Elementary Students They Love & Tiger Craft
- Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love
- Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project
- Best Homeschool History Curriculum Elementary: A Focus on Albert Nobel
- Easy Diorama About The Civil War For Elementary Students
- How To Create Elementary Geography Curriculum Using Living Books
- Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft
Then, add some books to your study of insects.
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.
Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Then, look at these facts about praying mantis.
COOL PRAYING MANTIS FACTS
- They come in different colors, like green or brown, which helps them blend in with plants.
- Praying mantises eat other insects like flies, crickets, and even butterflies.
- They are called “praying” mantises because they often hold their front legs up as if they are praying. But really they are just waiting to catch their next meal!
- Baby praying mantises are called nymphs.
- Praying mantises can turn their heads almost all the way around.
- They can be found in gardens and fields and are very good at hiding because their color helps them blend in with their surroundings.
Now that we’ve learned a bit about the praying mantis, let’s take a look at the facts and features of insects in general and what makes an insect.
THE AMAZING WORLD OF INSECTS
- All insects have six legs.
- Insects have special sensors that help them smell, taste, and feel their environment.
- Insects have three main body parts-head, thorax, and abdomen.
- Many insects have wings and can fly.
- Some have two wings, and some have four.
- Some insects go through a process called metamorphosis, where they change their shape as they grow. For example, a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
- Insects live in many different places, such as underground, in trees, or even in water.
- Some insects, like bees, communicate with each other through dances.
- Many insects use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings and hide from predators.
10 INCREDIBLE INSECT PROJECTS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
- Here 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft that is just adorable.
- Make a fun and Easy Crawling Caterpillar Craft as part of a butterfly study.
- Check out this Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects.
- Kinda gross but still pretty cool, create your own Dung Beetle Insect Craft.
- 4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft
- Bee Pollination STEAM Activity
- Turn empty rolls into these cute little Cardboard Roll Yarn Wrapped Bugs Craft.
- What a neat idea, the LEGO Ideas The Insect Collection lets your child make a model of some common insects with their favorite building blocks.
- In case you ever wondered How to Make a Bug Hotel Craft, here ya go, a great way to invite bugs to the yard for observation.
- Put together a Fun And Easy Spider Craft: Insect Lessons For Elementary Students.
Finally, look at how to make this fun praying mantis craft.
EASY PRAYING MANTIS CRAFT
You will need:
- Wooden clothespin
- 2 Green pipe cleaners
- Green craft paint
- Green craft foam or felt
- paintbrush
- Hot glue or tacky glue
- Google eyes
Paint the wooden clothespin green and set to the side.
Cut a small triangle with rounded corners from green craft foam a little larger than the clothespin width and one oblong shape a little wider than the clothespin, cut up the center about ¾” of the way.
Finally cut two small circles about ¾” across.
Cut a 1” length off each pipe cleaner and then cut what is left into 3 equal pieces.
Glue eyes to the craft foam/felt on either side and then secure it to the clamp end of the clothespin with glue.
Attach the 1” pieces to either side of the triangular head for antennae.
Bend the remaining 6 pieces into V shapes and attach to the front, middle and back of the clothespin.
Fold the oblong shaped piece of foam over the back to make the wings and secure with glue.
For the final part glue the green circles you made over the forearms of the front legs like this, you can use scissors before or after you attach them to give them a bit of a ragged edge to make their graspers.
Then you will want to bend the front arms around so that they are in the praying position of the mantis.
