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Compassion

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! Science Fun ~ Once Upon a Book

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Book Summary: Pretty ladybugs, fluttering butterflies, creepy daddy longlegs, and roly-poly bugs are some of the familiar creatures featured in this whimsically illustrated insect album. Complete with an "actual size" chart and bug-o-meter listing fun facts about each bug, Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! will inform and entertain curious little bug lovers everywhere.

Butterfly Lifecycle Observation
While bug hunts are fun for a quick outdoor activity, I wanted to give my son a chance to observe them as they grow and change. Using the Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden, we got a front row seat to God's amazing plan for butterflies. If you've never seen a caterpillar change into a chrysalis then emerge as a butterfly, I encourage you to try this activity. It is a truly fascinating process that gives me cold-chills every time I watch it happen.

The Insect Lore Live Butterfly Gardenis really simple to do. Your caterpillars come in a clear plastic container with all of their food. You will observe them as caterpillars for about a week. Your tot will probably be surprised at how fast they grow.

After 7-10 days, you will see the caterpillars attach themselves to the top of the container and hang. When you see them do this, you might want to stay close, they change into a chrysalis very fast! Personally, this was my favorite part.
You will remove the paper from the top and pin it to the inside of the butterfly garden.

After another 7-10 days, the butterflies emerge. My son was excited to watch them as they fluttered around the butterfly garden. He grew attached to them and was upset when it was time to let them go, but he was brave and had fun chasing them as they flew away.
  
We also went to our local aquarium and spent a long time in the butterfly area. Jonah even had a butterfly stop and stay a while!

Other Observation Ideas:
 
Observe Ants with the Fascinations AntWorks. Maureen wrote about their experience observing ants with this and has some activities to go along with it.

Observe Ladybugs with the Insect Lore Ladybug Land.
  

If all of these things seem too big to do with your tot, grab your tot and go on a bug hunt in your front yard. Hand them a magnifying glass, a clipboard, and a pencil to record their observations. For emerging writers, encourage them to write the beginning letter sound.
 
Sara

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