::: mini beasts and mini webs
As the children seem to be quite interested in mini beasts at the moment, we read a great book together about bugs and beetles and other creepy crawlies.
It was a great opportunity to discuss the differences between insects and spiders and our old favourite topic, metamorphosis.
The children wanted to create their own mini beasts so we popped out egg cartons and lots of other bits and pieces…
and let the children go for it.
They came up with some very wild …
and wonderful creatures.
We love the way the children were referring back to the book checking out details like the number of legs their mini beast needed.
We particularly love this mosquito!
After having made the big woollen webs the day before …
the children had a great time playing in them with their new mini beasts …
and just playing in them!
Some children were keen to make their own webs for their mini beasts to go into.
We had a big pile of sticks which Donna had brought in (as you do) and these were perfect for the children to use for mini webs as well as lots and lots of wool scraps left over from the day before.
Some used the sticks crossed …
while others chose to use just one stick.
Both designs were very effective!
The mini beasts had found new homes …
all totally irresistible!
Tags: egg cartons, mini beasts, webs, wool
What wonderful mini beasts! I love the idea of egg carton pieces and other odds and ends so the kids could make their own beasts. So great!
As usual INSPIRATIONAL!!! And I’m the first to tell you, but sure I won’t be the last
So much to love – you guys truly have the gift of making things irresistible to kids – just the way you popped out the plastic bugs on the logs along with the craft materials – lovely.
First of all, that’s a very impressive way to extend the wool-web play.
Secondly, I’m wondering what it is that you (and Jenny, for that matter) do that allows certain types of play to stay within reason while when we try it, insanity breaks loose — good insanity, mostly, but insanity nevertheless. I’m going to be posting photos of our wool-web attempts in the next day or so. Arrrrrrg! =)
::: TOM that’s a really difficult thing to answer. There are certainly times with chaos breaks out but I guess we (and we don’t speak for Jenny of course) have different boundaries.
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I love the open ended approach, giving the children lots of choices. The children look like they had such fun!
Great bug/insect flash cards can be found at my site to download and print for free: http://ecrportfolio.luckydaycare.ca/nomenclature-cards-different-kinds-of-bugs/
This is a wonderful idea to use with our minibeasts unit we are completing right now. I ordered butterfly larvae from a homeschooling supply place and we have six chrysallis due to pop any hour now. Thanks for a great extension activity.
I am new to the site and it is refreshing and exciting to see developmental curricula and theory is making a comeback… North America is still very much into testing! academics! standards! and such that takes the joy out of learning for the young and old alike. Thanks for a great blog.
::: Thank you for your lovely comments Jennie and welcome! Hatching butterflies is very exciting … enjoy!
