Does your child love creepy crawlies in all shapes, colors, and sizes? Help him better understand the science of insects by researching and creating cute fingerprint bugs. Take a nature walk and look for spotted, winged, or even horned insects! He'll delight in exploring the environment around him; for added learning, urge him to draw any insects he sees in a sketch book—a great way to develop his observational skills. Now grab a magnifying glass and get ready for a brilliantly bug-filled adventure!
What You Need:
- Tempera or finger paints
- Paper
- Paint palette or tray
What You Do:
- Start with a little bug research. Look at real bugs, or search for illustrations and photographs in books. Ask him to talk about what he sees. How many spots does a ladybug have? What color is a grasshopper? Follow up these questions with a more in-depth bug exploration. Encourage him to think critically and ask why grasshoppers are green or why butterflies have wings.
- From his sketches, ask him to choose at least one bug to print.
- Place a variety of paint colors in small pools on a palette or washable tray.
- Ask him to dip a finger into the paint and then press his finger onto the paper.
- Have him repeat this action, until he has formed a bug print that is in the shape of his chosen bug.
- He can add other layers of paint to create wings, eyes, and more!
For an added lesson on color, give your child the primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) plus white and ask him to mix new shades and hues for additional bug prints.
By Erica Loop
Erica Loop has a MS in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education. She has many years of teaching experience working in early childhood education, and as an arts educator at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.
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