Bug fascination???
Katie
the sight of a bug. Now they are completely the opposite direction -
they hunt out bugs to find them - try to pick them up - squish them in
the process, etc...
Actually...I'd be most comfortable with somewhere in between - kind of
looking and watching - not screaming but not touching either. I guess
the thing that bothers me most is picking up the wrong bug like a bee
or tick or one of those fuzzy caterpillars whose long needles fall off
and make you start itching and rashy from the needles....
Any suggestions for helping re-direct their interest a little...I've
been trying to show them how much more fun it can be to watch and see
what the bug does but this hasn't helped much so far. I've even tried
not discussing it thinking that would be a passing fascination....
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toto
>Not 6 months ago the kids (both under 5) would be screaming silly at
>the sight of a bug. Now they are completely the opposite direction -
>they hunt out bugs to find them - try to pick them up - squish them in
>the process, etc...
>Actually...I'd be most comfortable with somewhere in between - kind of
>looking and watching - not screaming but not touching either. I guess
>the thing that bothers me most is picking up the wrong bug like a bee
>or tick or one of those fuzzy caterpillars whose long needles fall off
>and make you start itching and rashy from the needles....
>Any suggestions for helping re-direct their interest a little...I've
>been trying to show them how much more fun it can be to watch and see
>what the bug does but this hasn't helped much so far. I've even tried
>not discussing it thinking that would be a passing fascination....
>
>
No suggestions for redirection, but take advantage of their interest
to let them learn about insects in a real way.
:SPIDER WEBS by Amy Goldman Koss Posted by Colleen at
:Teachers.net.com early childhood board
:The spider weaves a sticky web
:To capture bugs to eat.
:What keeps the spider's sticky web
:From sticking to her feet?
:
:Spider webs are very tricky
:Because not all the strands are sticky.
:Unlike the passing hapless fly,
:The spider knows which strands are dry.
:
:But if she accidentally stands
:Upon one of the sticky strands,
:She still would not get stuck, you see--
:Her oily body slides off free.
http://www.sedl.org/scimath/pasopartners/spiders/welcome.html
Make
:A WORM HOTEL
:
:What You Need:
:Clear, open-mouth jar
:Jar lid or plastic wrap & rubber band to cover the jar
:Good-quality garden soil, evenly moistened but not soggy
:Damp sand
:Small pebbles
:Grass clippings or/& shredded leaves
:Dark paper (to wrap around the jar)
:Several healthy red worms or other earthworms
:
:What to Do:
:Put pebbles in the jar, to a depth of 1 inch or less, to help
:excess water drain from the soil.
:Add a layer of moist soil. Put a layer of damp sand on
:top of it, and then add more soil. Continue layering sand
:and soil until the jar is nearly full. Finish with a layer of soil.
:Place your worms in the jar, and cover them with a little
:more damp soil.
:Add a layer of grass clippings or shredded leaves.
:These materials will feed the worms.
:Punch holes in plastic wrap to make a top for the jar, or ask
:an adult to punch holes in the jar lid for you. Put the top on
:the jar. If you use plastic wrap, keep it on with a rubber band.
:Cover the jar with dark paper wrapped around it to screen
:out light and encourage the worms to burrow next to the glass.
:Put the jar in a cool place - for red worms, a cool spot out of
:direct sun; for garden worms or night crawlers, a basement or
:refreigerator.
:After a few days, remove the dark paper to see the worms
:and the tunnels they have made. What happened to the
:grass and leaves? To the different layers of sand and soil?
:When you are done watching the worms, put them back in
:the garden and cover them with some loose soil. If you
:want to keep them longer, they will need a larger container.
:
:
:WORM VIEWER
:
:What you Need:
:Two sheets of clear Plexiglas, about 12 x 12 inches.
:You can ask the hardware shore to cut the pieces and
:sand the edges.the s
:Two pieces of wood, 1 ½ x 1 ½ x 12 inches long, for
:sides of the container
:One piece of wood, 1 ½ x 1 ½ x 9 inches long, for the
:base of the container
:Two plywood rectangles, about 3 x 6 inches (to help
:keep the container from tipping over)
:3 inch screws or nails
:¾ inch screws
:Black plastic electrical tape
:Duct or carpet tape
:Moist garden soil
:Several healthy red worms
:Grass clippings, shredded leaves, or/& coffee grounds
:
:What to Do:
:Screw or nail the wood side pieces to the base of the
:container.
:Cover one edge of each Plexiglas sheet with black
:electrical tape. This will be the top edge, and the tape
:will smooth over any sharp spots.
:Place the Plexiglas sheets on the wooden frame with
:the taped edges up. Use duct tape to hold the sheets
:on the frame.
:Attach the plywood rectangles to the lower sides with screws.
:The plywood will help keep the container from tipping over.
:Fill the container with moist garden soil to within 4 inches of
:the top. Be sure that the soil is evenly moist but not soggy.
:Add about six worms. Then put in about an inch of moist grass
:clippings, leaves, coffee grounds, or any mixture of these materials.
:Place the container in a shady place. Mist the top layer when
:it starts to dry out.
:You can cover the sides and top of the viewer with dark paper
:to encourage the worms to tunnel close to the glass.
:
:A WORM COMPOST BIN
:What You Need:
:A container at least 8 inches deep, such as a plastic storage
:box or washtub
:Bedding materials - shredded newspaper, fallen leaves,
:peat moss, soil, or any combination of these things.
:Red worms
:Plastic trash bag or similar plastic to cover
:Kitchen scraps (see instructions)
:What to Do:
:Ask an adult to help you put drainage holes in the bottom of
:the container. The holes should be very small - less than ¼
:inch across - and spaced every 6 to 10 inches.
:Fill the bin halfway with bedding. Mix soil and several
:different types of bedding materials, and moisten the bedding
:evenly.
:Add at least a dozen red worms. If you are buying worms by
:the pound or gram, one pound or half a kilogram will get your
:bin started.
:Cover the mixture loosely with the plastic bag. Place the bin
:in a shady spot or cool cellar where curious animals won’t
:disturb it and rain won’t flood it.
:When your compost bin is set up, you can begin feeding the
:worms small amounts of kitchen scraps. Use fruit and vegetable
:peels, leftover lettuce, tea bags, crushed eggshells, bits of stale
:bread, and coffee grounds. Don’t use meat scraps, bones, or
:dairy products - the worms won’t eat them, and they will spoil.
:Bury the scraps in the bedding. Mist the mixture lightly if the
:top dries out.
:
:After a while, the worms will multiply, and you will be able to
:feed them more kitchen wastes. Anytime you find that the worms
:aren’t eating all the scraps, feed them less. If the worms begin to
:die or if the bin smells bad, make sure the bedding isn’t too moist
:or too dry and that the bin is in a cool place. Remove dead worms
:and scraps that are rotting without being eaten.
:
:The worms will also begin to break down their bedding. In three
:to six months, you’ll probably find that most of the bedding has
:been used up. Your bin is filling up with rich crumbly worm
:compost. When this happens, take as much as half of the material
:out of the bin and put it in your garden, worms and all. Or separate
:the compost to use for your house plants, and return the worms to
:the bin. Either way, refill the bin with fresh bedding.
:
:HOW DO EARTHWORMS REACT TO LIGHT?
:What You Need:
:Plastic container at least 1 foot long (a plastic dishpan,
:storage box, etc)
:Paper towels
:Water mister
:Several earthworms
:Sheet of dark-colored cardboard large enough to cover
:half the container
:Bright flashlight
:Cellophane in several colors, in pieces large enough to
:cover the end of the flashlight
:Rubber bands
:What to Do:
:Cover the bottom of the container with paper toweling. Using
:the water mister, dampen the toweling evenly. Be careful not
:to get it soaking wet.
:Put several earthworms in the center of the container.
:Remember to mist them with water from time to time as
:you continue.
:Cover half the container with the cardboard sheet.
:Shine the flashlight on the open area of the container and
:note what the worms do. Then return the worms to their
:storage container or to the soil in the garden.
:Cover the flashlight lens with red colored cellophane, secured
:with a rubber band. Repeat the experiment, using a new group
:of worms. Try again with different colors of cellophane, using
:new worms each time and noting how they react.
:Results: Did the worms try to move out of the light? Did they
:act the same way in light of various colors?
:Conclusion: Was your prediction correct? Can you explain
:why the worms acted as they did?
:Worms generally try to get away from strong light. Sunlight
:can dry the worms out, and it’s ultraviolet rays can harm them.
:But earthworms are less sensitive to red light than to other
:colors of light.
:
:WHAT DO WORMS LIKE TO EAT?
:
:What You Need:
:Large plastic container, with a cover (or cardboard to use
:as a cover)
:Garden soil
:About a dozen worms: night crawlers (which pull food materials
:into the soil) work best
:Various items worms might eat: green leaves, small twigs, flower
:petals, orange or apple peels, grass clippings, breakfast cereal,
:and similar items
:What to Do:
:Fill the container to within a few inches of the top with evenly
:moist (not soggy) garden soil.
:Place the worms on the soil and cover the container. Wait a day.
:If you are using garden worms or night crawlers, be sure to put
:the container in a cool place.
:Cut or break the food items into pieces about ½ inch long.
:After a day, open the container. The worms will have burowed
:under the soil. Place the food items on the soil surface. Use two
:to three pieces of each kind of food, and put them at different
:places on the soil.
:Cover the container and put it back in a cool place. After a day
:or so, check the box to see which foods have disappeared.
:Results: Which foods did the worms eat? Repeat this activity
:several times to see if you get the same results. Put the bits of
:food in different places each time.
:Conclusion: What do your results tell you about worm food likes
:and dislikes?
:Earthworms are not picky eaters. But you may find that they
:take plant matter over unfamiliar items such as breakfast
:cereal.
:
:DO EARTHWORMS HELP PLANTS GROW?
:
:What You Need:
:Four flower pots, all the same size and type
:Good quality garden soil or potting soil
:Peat moss
:Eight red worms (red worms will survive best in the warm
:soil of plant containers)
:Grass clippings or shredded leaves
:12 bean seeds or marigold seeds
:Pen or pencil
:Four Popsicle sticks or masking tape
:Aluminum foil
:Optional: Plant-growing light
:What to Do:
:Prepare all four pots the same way. Mix equal amounts of
:peat moss and soil, and mist the mixture to make it evenly
:moist. Fill the pots with the mixture to within 2 inches of
:the top. Be sure to put the same type and amount of soil in
:each pot.
:Place four red worms in each of two of the pots. If you can,
:choose worms that are all about the same size. Using
:Popsicle sticks or masking tape, mark the pots to identify
:them: No worms & worms.
:Put grass clippings or shredded leaves on the soil, leaving
:the center free.
:Plant three bean seeds in each of the four pots. Cover the
:seeds with a thin layer of soil.
:Keep the soil in the pots evenly moist, but don’t soak it. Make
:sure the pots all get the same amount of water. When the seeds
:sprout, cut off all but the healthiest sprout in each pot.
:Put the pots next to each other in a place where they receive
:strong light. But remember that the worms will die if the soil
:becomes too warm. To keep the soil cool, choose a cool porch
:or windowsill, and cover the outsides of the pots with aluminum
:foil to reflect sunlight. Even better, use an artificial plant-growing
:light. These lights produce little heat.
:Results: Compare the plants as they grow. Measure them and
:record your results. Which plants grew best? What happened
:to the grass or leaves on the soil surface?
:Conclusion: Was your prediction correct? Can you explain
:what happened?
:Because worms enrich the soil with castings, they normally help
:plants grow. When worms are present, their tunnels help water
:and air reach plant roots. But many other factors affect plant
:growth-light, temperature, moisture, the quality of soil, the seeds
:themselves. If your results aren’t clear, try these experiments again.
:You might do them with more pots-four instead of two. Or eight
:instead of four-to allow for variations.
:
:MORE EARTHWORM ACTIVITIES
:
:Take a close look at an earthworm. Place it on a damp paper towel,
:and mist it with water from time to time as you examine it.
:How long is the worm? Place a ruler on the towel next to the worm
:and estimate its length.
:How much does the worm stretch when it moves?
:Can you tell which is the worm’s front end? Can you find the mouth?
:The clitellum?
:
:Are worms busy around your home? Check in different areas- a garden,
:a lawn, a wooded area, a sandy spot. If you turn the soil or push leaves
:aside, you may see worms. Which areas have more worms? Can you
:think of reasons why they might?
:
:Listen to a worm. Place the worm on a sheet of construction paper near
:the edge of a table. (Don’t keep the worm on this dry paper for long.)
:Put your ear close. As the worm moves, you’ll hear a faint scratching
:sound-the sound of its setae rubbing against the paper.
:
:Nature Close-up EARTHWORMS by Elaine Pascoe.
:Blackbirch Press, Inc. Woodbridge, 1997
Insect songs here:
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/insect-rhymes.htm
Make a butterfly cake:
:"Butterfly"
:
:Instructions:
:
:1) Bake one 91/2 by 13 cake. Ensure that your pan is greased
:and floured, so the cakes remove from the pan easily. Cool
:
:2) Cut a 1 1/2 inch piece off the side. Cut from corner to corner
:diagonally from both top corners.
:
:3) Arrange pieces in shape of butterfly. Apply your favorite icing
:and color. Use licorice as antennas. Decorate creatively using c
:andies and sprinkles. Coconut can also be used.
:
Get an ant farm at your local pet shop.
Try some crafts involving insects
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/insects/
Take a look at the antcam here
http://www.antcam.com/
Shows how to build your own ant farm if you want to try that.
Virtual insects here
http://www.ento.vt.edu/~sharov/3d/virtual.html
You get the idea anyhow.
Dorothy
There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
source unknown
Shawn
> Not 6 months ago the kids (both under 5) would be screaming silly at
> the sight of a bug. Now they are completely the opposite direction -
> they hunt out bugs to find them - try to pick them up - squish them in
> the process, etc...
Kids love bugs! It's tough for normal parents because they don't like
bugs (I say normal, meaning I'm not normal, I'm an entomologist!).
I would try to teach them about not touching them. Tell them about how
some insects think you're going to eat them and can hurt you (sting,
bite, etc) trying to protect themselves. Tell them insects aren't smart
enough to know you aren't going to hurt them. Or tell them how you
should be careful around all animals in case they could hurt you - bugs,
dogs or whatever. I know it's not fool proof or easy.
Another thing you could do is catch the bug and put it in a jar for them
to watch. That's not as exciting but it might keep their curiosity in
check a little. My Mom always made us let our captives go at the end of
the day (saying we don't know what they eat, they might die, etc) so you
wouldn't have to keep them forever.
HTH's some,
Shawn
--
Sandis Anne, 5 Dec 2001
http://lamar.colostate.edu/~smwalter/sandis/
--------------------------------------------------------
Marie
news:3D0A0C47...@hotmail.com...
> Kids love bugs! It's tough for normal parents because they don't like
> bugs (I say normal, meaning I'm not normal, I'm an entomologist!).
>
> I would try to teach them about not touching them. Tell them about how
> some insects think you're going to eat them and can hurt you (sting,
> bite, etc) trying to protect themselves. Tell them insects aren't smart
> enough to know you aren't going to hurt them. Or tell them how you
> should be careful around all animals in case they could hurt you - bugs,
> dogs or whatever. I know it's not fool proof or easy.
>
> Another thing you could do is catch the bug and put it in a jar for them
> to watch. That's not as exciting but it might keep their curiosity in
> check a little. My Mom always made us let our captives go at the end of
> the day (saying we don't know what they eat, they might die, etc) so you
> wouldn't have to keep them forever.
>
> HTH's some,
> Shawn
My girls like bugs, they especially like to find bees and pick little weeds
to let the bees climb on and carry them around. Bees "tickle" their fingers
lol. They know that as long as they are careful and gentle the bees won't
think they are in danger. My dh can not stand that I let them do this, b/c
he "doesn't like" bees(this means if a bee comes near him he swats it and
runs away) It's never bothered me, and I've been stung a few times.
My 7 year old is especially fond of bugs, lizards, frogs and turtles. No one
here likes spiders, thank goodness. But she'll take a jar and be outside all
day if I'd let her chasing bugs. She likes to kiss the crickets when she
lets them go (to which I have to say eww)
Marie