In the Spring, I set up a science display table with all things bugs. I have done a bug theme in September before because of all the bugs the kids were seeing outside, but most often, we learn about bugs in the Spring.
Over the years I have collected several materials for learning about bugs. This table display has some real bug specimens: I have real butterflies and a beetle. I bought those at a craft fair. I have a real cocoon and a set of butterfly matching cards, which is a free printable I have here on PreKinders. We have a lot of cicadas where I live, so I also have some cicada shells that are not pictured here. Another thing not pictured is a large collection of realistic plastic insects and a “How Insects See” viewer from Insect Lore.
Pictured above is my science center shelf. I have a set of bugs that are preserved in clear acrylic. Each bug sits in the big green bug holder (this set came from Lakeshore). The smaller clear acrylic block with bugs came from Nasco. The ladybug kaleidoscope is from Insect Lore.
I also keep dollar store bug boxes in my science center, so we can collect and observe bugs the kids find. Except in this case, we found tiny frogs. We only observe any critters for one day, and then set them free.
Find more Bug Activities for Pre-K on the category page.