Bugs & Beasties

A perfect 72 degrees, the heavens filled with twinkling stars and the serenade of tree frogs filled the air.  The sweet aroma of the buds bursting into daily new eye candy assaulted the senses and I sighed in peace.  This was a perfect night.  And then I saw it... a flash of light so quick that I thought it was my imagination.  I studied the horizon with intensity and waited.  Yes, there it was again.  A burst of light and then another.  Lightening bugs had arrived!  

Within seconds my mind was carried back 50 years ago.  I could feel the sense of anticipation and hear the squeals of children as we ran around the yard.  We all carried small jars and let out a whoop when we caught a lightening bug.  That night I would lay in bed and watch the lightening show in the jar sitting beside my bed. It was the best night light ever invented.

Summer brings about insects and creepy, crawly things.  And, children have a natural curiosity about these things.  It is when that curiosity peaks that parents can seize the most perfect teachable moment.  So, you need to be ready. 

Here are a few things to have ready so you can become scientists this summer:

Safety Note:  Always know what is poisonous for your area and teach this to your children.  This should be taught in a calm 'matter of fact' manner.  In other words, it is a safety precaution.  It should be presented in a way as to not scare or frighten your child from all insects or creeping, crawling things (like lizards, frogs, toads, etc.)  Not every insect and crawly thing can be picked up, but most can!  So, don't miss out on great learning opportunities by avoiding all of them.  Educate yourself and your children so that you can have many joyous adventures and be safe at the same time.

My favorite thing to have on hand when exploring anything new is a field guide.  Find a book on insects from your area.  If you don't have one, check one out from your local library.

A magnifying glass is also a wonderful tool to have in your insect collecting supplies.

A notebook with lined paper is great to take notes about what you find, keep tallies of how many you find, draw pictures or make up stories about your discoveries, etc.

This activity is for all ages.  Small children will observe and catch.  Older children can journal, identify and classify their critters.

Here are a few ideas for "BUG BOXES" that you can make from items you might throw away:


1.  Plastic fruit box from the produce department.  It has holes to allow your "catch" to breath while studying it.  Observe and release.

 

 2. Plastic jars with holes in the lid.

Below is an empty peanut butter jar.
Holes can be made BY AN ADULT with a small drill bit or a heated awl.

 

                            

 

Happy Hunting!

 

 

Inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky Baxa

Available from http://www.Amazon.com

in both Kindle and Paperback versions

 

 

Insects, Reptiles and Amphibians... Oh My!

 

Summer has arrived and the great outdoors is bursting with life

 that peaks the curiosity of young explorers!

 

Last week I was greeted by a tiny ring neck snake at the door of my barn.  He was smaller around than my little finger and about six inches long. He lifted his head to  inspect me, then quickly disappeared down the crack in the cement. If I hadn't been watching, I might have missed him altogether.

 

I remember one day finding another little (non-poisonous) snake in my garage.  Being the teacher always, I scooped him up in one of my peanut butter critter catcher jars.  He rode with me to my young home bound student's home that day and became our guest lesson.  It took most of the morning for me to convince her that it wasn't a worm!  We got out a book on snakes and identified what type of snake he was.  We learned what he ate and where he lived.  We hypothesized why he was in my garage.  We found out how big he got and if he was hatched or born.   We found a magnifying glass and watched him.  We drew pictures of him and even made up stories about his family and feelings. Instead of the regular lesson, we had an in depth, hands-on interdisciplinary lesson instead.  It was awesome, and so much more meaningful than words or a worksheet.  Her mother avoided our lesson area that day and shook her head and smiled each time she passed the room.  I tried to convince her to meet our new friend, but she politely declined.  That afternoon, Mr. Snake traveled back home with me and I let him go... in the yard along with a lecture about staying out of my garage.  He must have been confused.

 

I remember as a child making a living lantern by catching lightening bugs and putting them in a  jar.  I would fall asleep with them twinkling next to my bed. It seemed magical and became a treasured memory of summer evenings. My children also did this activity.  After they fell asleep I would release their "night lights" back into the yard.

 

It is amazing the different size, shapes and colors that butterflies, bugs and small critters come in.

Although many may scream and swat at these creatures,  they are extremely fascinating to look at and study. And they have a magnetism to children who are soaking up knowledge, curious and inquisitive.  And, if we are lucky, not swayed by negative adult opinion.

 

Insects, reptiles and amphibians are designed with the most unique, intricate, complex patterns and parts; and, serve many positive functions in our environment.

 

Today's post is in celebration of these amazing critters.

 

How this celebration is accomplished will be determined by the age of your child(ren).

 

Young children like to look at and watch.

Older children will research interesting facts about diet, habitat, lifespan, etc.

Some children may like to draw or take pictures of their discoveries.

Diaries or journals of summer discoveries might be a wonderful on-going activity.

Other children may delight in creating stories (both verbally and in writing) about their findings.

 

Of course, SAFETY IS THE HIGHEST priority with this activity...

so use common sense and education. 

Not all insects and snakes are safe to hold or catch (i.e. bees, wasps, poisonous specimens, etc.) 

 

However if you have a child that is really into the creeping, crawly variety of life,

observation and documentation of  habits are just as exciting as catching.

 

 

Here are some tools to make your study more exciting:

 

1.  Bug Box/Jar:  Any jar or bottle with holes punched in the lid will make a good container.

                            Holes can be made by pushing a hot ice pick melting through a plastic lid or

                            by using  a drill with a small bit.   This part is for adults to do.

                                            

empty, clean plastic peanut butter jar

 

 

For larger catches such as frogs, geckos, large insects, or tiny (non-poisonous) snakes,

plastic fruit containers make perfect collection boxes. 

They seal firmly and already have breathing holes.

 



plastic fruit box and peanut butter jars

 

2.  Insect net

 

3.  Magnifying glass

 

4.  Journal

 

5.  Sketch pad with colored pencils

 

6.  Trip to the library or time to research the characteristics and habits of what is found on the Internet

     

7.  Books and or Field Guides on insects, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles.

8.  Binoculars

 



 

 

 

This Blog Post is inspired  from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com or Etsy.com