Bugs and insects provide entertaining outdoor science activities for kids.
You, like most other people, may be thinking that both bugs and insects are one in the same. While all bugs do belong to the "insect" class, all insects are not bugs. Probably the most easily distinguishable bug features are their sucking mouth parts that look like straws and wings that lay flat on their backs. When planning outdoor bug activities, have children distinguish between bugs and insects. Or, just help them become acclimated to bug and insect characteristics and environments.
Bug Field Journal
Provide kids with a folded paper booklet, pencil and magnifying glass. Instruct them to pretend to be scientists out in the field looking for new bug species. Take kids outside and direct them to hunt for bugs. As they find bugs, have them draw detailed pictures of them and note where they were found. After returning inside, instruct kids to research the bugs in books and online to figure out the scientific name of each one and write in their field journals.
Bug's Eye View
Supply kids with drawing paper, clip boards and pencils. Direct them outside to locate bugs. After finding them, instruct kids to lay down on the ground and pretend to be a bug. Ask them to look carefully around and imagine how the surroundings would appear to a bug. Have them draw pictures of their surroundings from a bug's eye view.
Bug Nature Art
Remind kids that bugs and insects differ because a bug has a proboscis that looks somewhat like a long, skinny beak and works like a straw for feeding. Review bug parts with kids, including body parts, legs, antennae and wings. Provide kids with a piece of foam board or cardboard and glue. Direct them to look outside for natural items, such as leaves, sticks, small pebbles and bark, to glue onto the board and create the image of a true bug. Instruct students to complete this activity outside to minimize mess from bringing natural items indoors.
Bug Scavenger Hunt
Provide kids with a list of bug descriptions that they might reasonably be able to locate outside. Use descriptions such as, "smaller than a pea" or "has a yellow stripe." If available, provide kids with a digital camera for snapping pictures as proof of the found bugs. Leave room on the bug scavenger hunt list for kids to write where they found the bug and to draw a small sketch of it.
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