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.
Don't worry - we never sell or share email addresses!
As a science educator using correct science vocabulary is important to me. Please use the correct vocabuary when addressing science. You can say bugs but ….then correct yourself….tell them Fancy Nancy calls these insects. Or ask them what these animals are and when they say bugs tell them they are correct but since we are all scientists, lets use the same word as scientist do…. lets call them insects
Geri, thank you for your thoughts, but the word “bug” is not an incorrect term. An insect specifically has 6 legs and 3 body parts. The word bug can include insects as well as spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and ticks, which are not insects. Since my thematic unit covers creatures other than insects, I refer to it as a “Bug Unit” because calling it an “Insect Unit” would be incorrect. I do use the word “insect” with my students as well as the word “arachnid”, but I distinguish between the two. Geri, you might be surprised, but in Pre-K we use a lot of rich vocabulary. Many Pre-K teachers do research what we teach.
Hi, Do you have any advice to preserve the collected dead insects? My children and I have found a dead butterfly and I don’t know how to preserve it. It is currently in the fridge!!! We live in the Tropics – hot and humid.
Also how should I deal with my children when they are rough with the specimens? It is hard to find decent dead bugs (that haven’t been half eaten by other bugs)
Thank you
Hi, I’m sorry, I don’t know how to preserve them. The ones I have were purchased.
Thank you for replying
The Mailbox preschool magazine put out an idea to preserve them in hand sanitizing gel in a tube or clear container. Haven’t tried it, but it might work.
Sounds neat! Thanks for sharing!
Where did you purchase those?
Nicole–I don’t know where Karen purchased them, but I just searched on Amazon and there were a few things that popped up when I typed “bug collection” and then more when I also typed “insect collection.” Don’t know if it will help or not, but I also wondered where she got them. 🙂
The butterflies in the top photo came from a local craft fair. There was a man who preserved them as a hobby. I also bought a big beetle from him – you can’t really see it, but it’s in the little wood box on the right in the top picture. In the 2nd picture: the real bugs in plastic came from Nasco Educational catalog. The cocoon I found in my backyard and put in a little clear plastic box (something I recycled). The plastic butterfly lifecycle set is from Dollar Tree, but you can also get them at Insect Lore.
You can also preserve the bugs in rubbing alcohol in small glass jars, like baby food jars. Sealing the jars with super glue keeps more curious and “tactile” learners from opening the jars. 🙂