A couple of weeks ago Tyson and I were outside in the backyard when he noticed a bug crawling on the ground. “What is that?” he asked me.
“I think it’s a slater,” I replied.
“Yeah,” he agreed, “where is he going?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, maybe he’s going home?” I suggested.
“Yeah he is. I can’t see his eyes, where are his eyes?” he asked me.
“I don’t know,” I replied, “good question, where do you think they are?” I asked him.
“I think they’re hiding,” he decided, and we watched the slater crawl away into the bush.
Looking at bugs is a fantastic way to enhance children’s learning. Just being outside in nature can help children to
- release worries and stress
- sharpen the senses
- become environmentally responsible
- stimulate the imagination.
While Tyson is outside exploring bugs he is:
- exploring the living world as he investigates the slater
- learning to be respectful to living creatures
- developing a relationship with the natural environment
- is building the knowledge of his own place in the world
- making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds
- developing science theories – where do they live? what do they eat? the life cycle, comparing bugs, what do they do? what bugs appear in what seasons?
- developing language – the terminology of body parts, arms, legs, thorax, antenna
- developing maths theories – how many legs does it have? how many can we find?
Here are some ways to extend Tyson’s interest on bugs
- Read books about bugs for example The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Go to the library to get out books about bugs
- Investigate slaters – Google image Slaters, what do they look like up close? How many legs do they have? What do they eat? etc
- Go on a bug hunt outside – what bugs will we find?
- Make a compost or worm farm in the garden to attract more bugs to look at and do your part for the environment
- Go to the museum and explore there displays they have about insects
- Catch a bug in a jar and draw a picture of it, then release it back into the garden
- Buy some plastic bugs to look at and compare
- Use magnifying glasses to look up close at the bugs
By involving the children in the process of understanding the world through observing, manipulating and experimenting with materials and equipment the develop theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds. Children also develop confidence in using a variety of strategies for exploring and learning.
Here are some pictures that might inspire you and check my kids board on pinterest for more ideas: http://www.pinterest.com/amalieyo/boards/