ROLL THE DICE - To play this counting game, pairs of children will need a copy of the number chart (see enclosed), two game markers, and one die with the numbers 1-6 on the die rather than dots. (You can make this kind of die by attaching small stickers to the sides of a die or write the numbers on a foam cube.) Players, in turn, roll the die and move that number of spaces on the chart (starting with the number I and progressing through to number 30). Players name the number they have landed on each time they move. For a fun extension, have the players start on number 30 and move backwards (towards number 1) with each roll of the die.

NUMBER IDENTIFICATION - This activity will help your children practice numeral recognition. For each child, duplicate the number chart (see enclosed) and provide a set of randomly mixed index cards, which have been labeled 1-30. To begin, a child selects a number card; then he or she finds that number on the chart and colors in that square. The child continues in this manner until all of the squares on the chart have been colored.

CLOTHESPIN GRAPH OF FAVORITE BUG - Create a clothespin graph by dividing a poster board into two columns. Label the top of each column with the name of a bug. Then have each child clip a clothespin onto the side labeled with his or her favorite. Calculate the total number of children who selected each bug. Encourage them to share the reasons they made their choices.

CATCH BUGS - Make some bugs out of cardboard, use wax paper for wings. Throw them up in the air and let kids catch them. Count how many they caught.



Have a Bug Ball

It is always a pleasure to have a party when culminating a unit, but here is a special party idea that will involve the creativity and cooperation of all the children. Begin by gathering the work completed throughout the unit and displaying it around the classroom. Talk about the beauty of ladybugs and how they are well-loved the world over. Also discuss the fact that many insects and other crawling and flying creatures are not so well liked. Brainstorm lists of those bugs people generally like and those bugs people generally do not like. Let the children share about their own bug interests and prejudices. Then prepare for and host a "Beautiful Bug Ball!"

In 1963, Disney animators created a cartoon (Summer Magic) that used a song called "The Ugly Bug Ball ' " written by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman. The song is sung by Burl Ives. Today, the song can be found on a Disney collection tape or compact disc called Classic Disney: Volume I (The Walt Disney Company, 1995). The song is delightful. It tells the story of a caterpillar who turns to his beetle (ladybug) friend, bemoaning his lonely lot in life. The beetle tells the caterpillar about "the annual ugly bug ball" where the caterpillar can meet many new friends. The caterpillar joins spiders, crickets, ants, fleas, and more at the ball, and there he finds his future bride. The chorus of the song is particularly catching, and the music itself is playful and rollicking. The story virtually calls out to be told. Your children are sure to enjoy the music as well as the story. (Please note: For your culminating activity, refer to the ball as a beautiful, not ugly ball.) Play the song for the children and let them learn the lyrics. Then, as a class, prepare either a musical skit (with costumes) or a puppet show incorporating the band of characters from the song. (The named characters include a male and female caterpillar, a ladybird beetle, a spider, a dragonfly, crickets, ants, fleas, and worms.) Learn the song, and on your party date, perform the musical skit or puppet show for parents or other classrooms. (Pay close attention to the use of horns in the song: they will make a great addition to any show.) Let the ladybird beetle (ladybug) introduce the play and choreograph the bugs at the ball. There are musical interludes between the verses and will be great opportunities for some fancy steps. Offer programs to your guests, which have been printed on the ladybug stationery (see enclosed). Include each child's name on the program for a special keepsake.

After the show, invite your guests to tour around your classroom, observing the many things your class has accomplished throughout the unit. Complete the party by eating the ladybug cake (see snacks in ladybug unit) and serving it along with some red punch. If desired, offer each guest a child-made keepsake such as the ladybug magnet or pin.

Math

LADYBUG MATH MANIPULATIVES - Use red spray paint to color 30 small rounded stones. After the paint is dry, use a small, pointed paintbrush and black tempera paint to make spots on each stone. These adorable rock bugs can now be used as game pieces or mathematical manipulatives. They can be used in a variety of mathematical ways, including:

. Using them as game pieces for playing the Roll the Dice game (below)

. Providing counters for adding and subtracting

. Making sets of two, three, or more ladybugs

. Placing them in a bag and having a child pull out two ladybugs and totaling up the number of dots

. Having the children group together all of the ladybugs with the same number of spots to create sets

USE LADYBUGS TO LEARN ABOUT HUNDREDS - To do so, punch out 100 yellow circles to represent ladybug eggs and 100 green to represent aphids. (You can also use green and yellow dried beans or hard candies.) Let the children count and group the eggs and aphids. Let them know that a ladybug can lay up to 100 eggs at a time and eat up to 100 aphids in a day. Although these numbers are higher than the average, they are still possible.

SPIDER MEASUREMENT - Non-Standard Measurement Give each child a copy of the same spider picture or use plastic spiders. Find the answers to questions such as: How many spiders wide is your hand? How many spiders long is your shoe? Whose pencil is longer, yours or your friend's? How many spiders longer?

PATTERNING ACTIVITY FOR A LEARNING CENTER - Laminate and cut apart several sets of spider & insect cards. Place in an envelope. Create patterning task cards on larger sheets of paper. If your children can read, use the words "insect" and "spider." If not, use simple symbols such as drawing of different spiders and insects. Children lay out picture cards to imitate the patterns. Children can create their own patterns and have a friend discover the pattern. Categories: 1. Children separate the cards into sets of spiders and sets of insects and explain the reasons.

SPIDER SUBTRACTION - Use the "Five Hairy Spiders" counting poem to practice the concept of subtraction. If children are ready for math at the symbolic level, write the equation for each part of the poem. For example, as you say "One crawled away and then there were two, write 3 -1 =2 on the board or put a strip on the flannel board showing that number sentence.

SPIDER ADDITION - Challenge the class to help you make up a poem that starts with one hairy spider and adds a spider with each verse. Use the same patterns to show each verse on the flannel board. For example:

One hairy spider crawled across my shoe.

Along came another; then there were two.

Two hairy spiders sat upon my knee.

Their brother came to visit; now there are three.

FLIES FOR DINNER - Number of players: 2 - 4. Introduce the game with an adult leader. When children have learned the rules, a child may assume the role of leader. What You Need: A set of flies for each child. There needs to be as many flies as there are question cards. Use plastic flies if you have them, or reproduce drawings or clip art of flies. You will need a copy of a web. You may wish to enlarge the web on the photocopier. Color each fourth of the web (between the heavier black lines) a different color. Glue the web to tag board and laminate. Task cards with "questions" for the children to answer. Use whatever skills your class has been practicing, for example: number facts, vocabulary words, shapes, colors, or letters. Make as many task cards as you wish. Rules of the Game: Place the task cards upside down in the middle of the group. Each player picks a section of the web that will be his or hers. Each child in turn takes the top card in the pile. If the question on the card is answered correctly, the child can place a fly in his/her section of the "web." You may wish to designate some harder cards as "2-fly" or "3-fly" questions. When all the task cards have been used, the player with the most flies wins the game. Spider stickers may be used as prizes.

SPIDER, SPIDER WHAT DO YOU SEE? - Children sit in a circle. Give each a picture card to be held so that the group can see the picture. Go around the circle making sure that each child can identify the card he or she holds. One child is picked to be addressed first, for example the child holding the garden spider card. Everyone says in unison: "Garden Spider, Garden Spider, what do you see?" The child holding that card picks out another insect/spider card and says: "I see a (cricket) looking at me." Whole class says: "Cricket, Cricket, what do you see?" "Cricket' says: "I see a (butterfly) looking at me. "And so on, until someone names the Tarantula. In response to "Tarantula, Tarantula, what do you see?" The "Tarantula" says: "I SCARED EVERYONE LOOKING AT ME!" The first few times the game is played you may wish to be the "Tarantula." Children will beg for this part once they have learned the game.

LADYBUG SPOT MATH - Write a math problem on each ladybug spot. Write the answers on the spots on the next page. Instruct the children to cut out and glue the spots in their correct places. Change the activity as needed to review different math skills. The pages can be used for other areas of the curriculum as well.

LADYBUG MATH - Make ladybug counter out of shells of walnuts. Paint red and put on the dots. Glue paper to the bottom. Write number on bottom corresponding to the number of the spots on top.

NUMBER BUGS - Make number bugs using small paper plates. Children count the number of spots on the ladybug and get immediate feedback when they pull the shell apart to reveal the correct numeral. For each number bug, you'll need to red paper plates and one brad. Draw the ladybug design on the backside of one plate. Decide how many spots the bug will have and draw them with a permanent black marker. Cut the plate in half. Align the plate halves over the second plate and punch a hole through all three layers. Connect the layer with a brad. Spread apart the shell halves and write the number of spots inside the bottom plate.

LADYBUG MATCH-UP - Make ladybug match-ups by duplicating the match-up cards on red paper. The blank card can be left as is or programmed to have any number of spots to create a larger playing deck. Cut out the playing cards and store them in a zip lock bag.

LADYBUG BINGO! - Create a ladybug bingo game. Draw the bingo pattern on paper plates, write numbers in the circles. Then cut and laminate black dots to cover circles when the number are called.

FOR A FUN COUNTING CENTER - Spray paint about 85 large lima beans red. That's 78 for the game and extras. When the beans are dry provide fine tip markers (permanent) and invite the children to add the dots. Label each container of an egg carton with numbers
1-12. Store the ladybugs in plastic bag. To use this center, a child must
match the correct number of ladybugs in the numbered space.

SPOTS ON LADYBUGS - Draw or photo copy five to ten large ladybugs. Color them but do not add the dots. Program unlined index cards with the numerals one through five and corresponding dots for younger children. Place black buttons in the center and have the children place the correct number of spots on the ladybug.

BEE STRIPS - Cut 10 bee shapes form construction paper. Divide the shapes into five pairs. On each pair draw one, two, three, four, or five stripes. Laminate. Match up by counting strips.

BEEHIVE MATHEMATICS - Make some kind of game with it.

CRICKET MATH - This physical activity is a fun way to practice counting skills. Take your children to an open area in your classroom or on the playground and ask them to pretend they are crickets. Ask the children to hop a certain number of times and then stop. Continue in this manner for basic counting skills. To increase the difficulty, ask simple questions such as, "Three hops plus one hop. How many hops altogether?" When the children announce the answer, they hop that number of times. Invite the children to make up their own hopping equations to announce to their classmates.

Some insect ideas compiled from many sources by: Sheila Smith