Use any one of these fun art projects to augment your studies on frogs:
Tag Archives: Fun Art Projects
Ant Activities For Kids
Summer is officially here! The bright sunny days and warm weather sends most of us outside. Whether you are engaging in an outdoor sport, enjoying a day at the pool, or relaxing with a picnic lunch at your favorite park, you have probably encountered one of the most social insects around…the ant. But don’t be bugged by this little intruder, instead, seize the opportunity to teach your little ones about their magnificence using these fun ant activities:
Nature Walk
The best way to teach kids about ants is to let them observe their behavior. Ants, like bees, live as part of a colony. Because of this, they move through life with a purpose. Take children on a nature walk in search for ants. This can be done anywhere outdoors. Provide magnifying glasses (if available) and nature journals so children can record their investigations. Be sure to communicate the intent of looking and not disturbing things found in nature. In addition, children need to be aware that some ants can bite or sting. Once you have found some ants to observe, guide students as they evaluate what they see. Ask questions and draw their attention to specific characteristics of the ant.
Foster an Ant Farm
Want to explore what ants really do underground? Investing in an ant farm will help you do just that. You kids will also think you are the coolest ever! Check out these online retailers (yes, you can get them through the mail!):
Ant Art Projects
You can’t learn about ants without incorporating them into some fun art projects!
Sing About Em’
Break out the musical instruments and get marching like ants with these songs about ants!
Read About Em’
Here are our picks for some entertaining (and informational) stories about ants.
Write About Em’
Writing about a topic can be a great way to solidify concepts taught, assess what has been learned, or simply engage students in a wonderful world of fantasy. The following are writing activities that focus on the topic of ants and incorporate the use of multiple genres.
Eat Em’!!!! Or at least like em’
Ants love sweets! One of their favorite things to eat is a sugary liquid produced by aphids called honeydew. Serve up some melon or a special snack sampler that features different foods ants would enjoy eating. Be sure to teach children how ants really do get their nourishment.
Here are some other ideas for creating bug snacks.
Ant Hill Art Project
Here is a fun and hands-on way to solidify the teaching of an ants body. Children will use their own fingers to create the three segments that make up an ant. This ant craft makes for a great place to display any poetry or learning statements that children have written about ants. Read More…
Ant On My Plate Art Project
Use this fun little ant craft as a follow-up art project after reading your favorite book about ants. Need help selecting a good read? Be sure to check out our picks for ant books.
Recommended Grade Level: PreK-1
Supplies Needed:
paper plate (1 per child)
picnic food template (1 per child)
glue sticks
medium-sized black pom poms (3 per child)
googly eyes (2 per child)
black pipe cleaners (1 per child-cut into 6 segments to form legs)
hot glue gun
hot glue
Directions:
Allow time for students to color, cut out, and glue on their picnic food pieces to the paper plate. While children are working (or you can make ahead of time), hot glue three pom poms together in a row to form an ant. Bend the ends of each pipe cleaner down to form feet. Hot glue the center of each pipe cleaner to the underside of the last two pom poms that form each ant. Hot glue the eyes on the front of the ant. Children can then have fun pretending their ant is eating all the food on the plate!
Little Cloud Art Project
This activity was created as a follow-up to the story “Little Cloud”. Blue construction paper and some cotton balls create a simple way for children to connect with the story and the environment.
Recommended Grade Level: PreK-1
Supplies Needed:
blue construction paper
glue (liquid in bottle)
cotton balls (3-5 per student)
Directions:
After reading the story, encourage students to look around the room and think about all the different things that clouds can look like. Encourage students to use their imaginations to think of something they would like to create. Demonstrate how to stretch and pull the cotton balls apart to form different looks. Allow students time to manipulate their cotton. Once completed, provide glue. Remind students that much is not needed to hold the glue in place! Taking phrases from the book (e.g. “Little Cloud changed into…”), have students dictate what their cloud is and write it on their creation.
