Keep real insects in the class as learning tools.
Have fun creating insect and bug crafts with your brood of preschoolers. Some crafts can be created by reusing certain items such as toilet paper rolls or old clothespins, though you will probably still have to purchase materials such as googly eyes, pom-poms and card stock. Such crafts help introduce children to different types of insect species.
Bee Crafts
Preschoolers will have fun making bee candy or cereal bowls using 7-3/8-inch plastic or paper bowls. Print out a bee pattern template off craft sites such as Danielle's Place, First School and DLTK's Growing Together on card stock or make your own. Pipe cleaners can also work as bee limbs. Have children paint the bee face before you help them glue the bee parts on the bowl. Use toilet paper rolls to make a bee craft by painting the rolls black and yellow and using card stock bee templates to add a face, wings and antenna. Use wooden craft spoons (like those used in single-serve ice creams), to create googly-eyed bees with wings made of foam.
Dragonfly Crafts
Help your preschoolers make 3-D butterflies using craft templates or your own tracing. Create four sets of wings so that one pair floats up above the paper. The kids will also have fun coloring the butterflies and adding googly eyes to the craft. Make dragonfly wings using craft sticks and chenille fabric, then have the children decorate the dragonfly bodies using larger craft sticks as the base and assorted pom-poms to create a colorful dragonfly. Googly eyes and chenille stems for antenna complete the craft. Use card stock, googly eyes and clothespins to create assorted-color dragonflies. Clothespins can also be used to create caterpillar and other bug crafts.
Tags: card stock, googly eyes, craft sticks, paper rolls, toilet paper, toilet paper rolls, using craft