Ladybug Counting

Even folks who don't like bugs like ladybugs! And this Ladybug Counting activity will entice even those students who don't like math!

The best thing about Ladybug Counting is that you can differentiate the learning for each student. Whether you have some  students working on one to one correspondence, or numeral matching, or reading number words you'll be able to meet the needs of every child with this math activity. 

What do you need for Ladybug Counting?

• 10 red paper plates (I bought mine at Dollar Tree)
• Bag of dried Lima Beans (also can be found at Dollar Tree)
• Red Spray Paint
• Black Sharpie Marker
• Number Cards (you can use a set of flash cards or make your own using index cards)
• Number Word Cards

To make your ladybugs, spread the lima beans out on a piece of newspaper. Spray paint the beans on both sides allowing time to dry before you turn them over. Once the beans are dry, use a black Sharpie marker to draw the ladybug dots and faces.

I have had this set of ladybug beans for over 10 years and they are still holding up really well! 

By the way, I spray painted the whole bag so I would have plenty of counters for my class and I wouldn't worry if we lost a couple along the way. I have actually sent home baggies of ladybug bean counters with students who needed a little extra practice counting sets. Students love when I tell them they get to keep the ladybugs, too. So having extra ladybug counters is always beneficial!

Once I had the ladybugs, I made my dot plates. I took a one inch circle punch and cut out 55 circles (that gives you enough dots to represent numbers one to ten). I glued the dots onto the paper plates and then added a coat of Modge Podge to seal them down. The Modge Podge looks extra glossy in my photos but it's actually really smooth and clear. If you don't have a circle punch you could just draw black circles dots on the plates.

So if a student is working on one to one correspondence and counting dots, they use only the ladybug counters and the basic plate to match one ladybug to each black dot. 

Students who are practicing identifying numerals and counting a set used the dot plates, ladybugs, and the number cards/flash cards.

Those who are ready to start reading number words added the number word cards, as well. These cards are from an old bulletin board set I had on hand. 

Ladybug Counting is a great math activity when you're doing an insect study or spring theme.  I'm sure your class will love counting ladybug dots!

Insects Science Center

We're back from Spring Break and ready for our Insect study! 

I filled the Science Center with everything I own about insects! Come take a look!

The sensory table has dried green peas as a filler and lots of cute little plastic creatures. I added a tray so the kids can sort insects and get a fine motor workout with the tongs. There's a set of sturdy cardboard flashcards in the tub, too. I love including these real photographs for my students.

Gigantic, larger than life insects are available for students to observe with a magnifying glass. They can also use these as a model for drawing and sketching.

Books and puzzles are important in the Science Center. 

Students will sequence the life cycle of a butterfly with these hands on pieces. I also have cards showing this process in our pocket chart. 

Are you studying Insects this month? 

Five for Friday: Icky Interesting Insects

We've had an interesting week of insects!  The class realized insects aren't really icky but are a rather important part of our world.  I'm linking with Doodle Bugs Teaching to tell you all about our week.

I hope everyone has some sort of sensory tub in their classroom.  I really don't know what I'd do without mine. It's in the way sometimes and does require a bit of upkeep.  The benefits, however, far outweigh the inconveniences!  For this week's study of insects, here's what the tub looked like...

 

I found gigantic plastic insects at Hobby Lobby for the main component.  The kids LOVE them!  My sensory filler is a bag of dried green split peas.  The peas are teeny tiny so little fingers really enjoy sifting through them.  I added a small bucket and plastic scoops, too.  The final tub item is a box of beautiful insect photographs I found several years ago at Goodwill.  These flashcards are printed on heavy cardboard so they are very sturdy and perfect for the sensory tub.

 

 

 

 We made these adorable bee hives with bubblewrap!  Then the kids used a yellow stamp pad and crayons to make fingerprint bees swarming around their hives.  Such an easy craft and cute enough to display in the hall!

 

 

 

 

When you're learning about bees you must have a taste test of  honey!  My little learners gobbled up a treat of buttery Ritz crackers topped with a dollop of sweet honey. 

We learned about the life cycle of a ladybug and created a wonderful little craft.  I found the ladybug patterns and colorful life cycle pictures on TPT by seller Teacher's Breathing Space for only $1.  What a deal!  Here's a link to this awesome product.

 

Everyone enjoyed Dr. Jean's Insect Song from the Kiss Your Brain CD.  Have you sung this one with your class?  It's a fun, catchy tune which helps reinforce what you're learning as you study insects.  Let me warn you...once you sing it, you'll have a very hard time not to sing and hum about insects the rest of the day!