Grouchy Ladybugs







One of the first things I do each day of insect week (or weeks) is go back to our class KWL chart.  We add anything to the L column that needs to be added.  Next, we look at our W column to see what information we should be looking for today.  Once again, I have informational picture books about ladybugs that I share with the class.  The students are usually surprised at the transformation ladybugs go through during their life cycle. 

Student Sample

Our next activity involves Eric Carle's book The Grouchy Ladybug.  I like to pull out the Judy Clock so we can review telling time as I read the story.  Since the text is repetitive, I allow the students to help me "read" the book (you have to have active involvement and keep them engaged).  After reading the book and reviewing telling time on the hour, I send the students back to their seats so we can make ladybug clocks.  I have all the pieces ready for the students and we complete the project step by step together.  First, the students cut out a black head (I have already drawn all the circles; they just have to cut neatly on the lines) and place it on the construction paper.  We don't glue anything until all the pieces are laid out.  Next, we cut out the red body, the clock face, and the clock hands and then lay them on the construction paper in the correct spot.  Then, we color spots on our last red circle and cut down the center line.  Next, we need 6 legs and 2 antennae.  After all the pieces are in place, I allow the students to glue the pieces down except for the clock hands and the wings.  I laminate the clock hands and wings separately from the rest.  I (or a wonderful parent volunteer) attach the hands and wings with brass brad fasteners so these pieces can be movable.  Finally, the students glue wiggly eyes onto the ladybugs.  This one can be a little time consuming so it may take us two days or we skip rest time and complete the project in one day. 

The next day I add a new activity to our center rotation.  I found these at Toys R Us, but my container includes pieces for ladybugs, ants, and butterflies.  The students put the manipulatives in the correct order and then draw each stage of the life cycle.  I created a page for the students to draw each stage of the life cycle- Ladybug Life Cycle .  I also created one for ants and butterflies and use those later in our unit.