Here’s what you need for Week 1: Insects + Spiders:
Books (find at your local library or order below on Amazon):
- Insect Detective by Steve Voake (or read it on OpenLibrary here)
- The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi (or read it on OpenLibrary here)
- My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis (A Nature Diary) by Paul Miesel (or listen to this read aloud on YouTube)
- I Am Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton (or listen to this read aloud on YouTube)
- (+) optional upgrade: The Life and Times of the Ant by Charles Micucci (or read it on OpenLibrary here)
Optional chapter book:
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Bonus family activity: Plan a family movie night! Pop some popcorn and end your week by watching A Bug’s Life as a family.
Supplies (use what you have, but here are links to shop if you need anything):
- paper + access to a printer (don’t have one? we like this model)
- pipe cleaners
- headband
- playdough
- straws
- googly eyes
- insect figurines (or you could use this sticker book)
- white tissue paper
- glue
- mini cupcake liners
- pom poms (this one also comes with googly eyes)
- mustard powder or turmeric powder
- pony beads
- foam sheets
- glitter glue or glitter paint (optional)
- black dot marker, black marker, or you could use black circle stickers
- construction paper (need green, black)
- brads
- popsicle stick (optional)
- paper plates
- yarn
- hole punch
- uncooked spaghetti
- faux spider web (or you could use tissue paper or your crepe streamers)
- 3-6 river rocks (or something comparable in size and weight)
- sensory bin container (could use a baking tray, shoebox, etc.)
- white crepe paper streamers (or you could use yarn)
- 2 lb. bag of white rice
- green food coloring (optional)
- bug catching tools (used for a modification this week, but you will use these tools again in a later unit!)
Here’s what you need for Week 2: Spring:
Books (find at your local library or order below on Amazon):
- The Reason for the Seasons by Ellie Peterson OR The Reason for the Seasons by Gail Gibbons (or read it here on OpenLibrary)
- From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons (or read it here on OpenLibrary)
- We are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines
- Are you a Ladybug? By Deborah Short (or read it here on OpenLibrary)
Supplies (use what you have, but here are links to shop if you need anything):
- paper + access to a printer (don’t have one? we like this model)
- coloring materials (crayons, colored pencils, markers, etc.)
- cardstock
- wooden craft sticks
- glue
- sidewalk chalk
- small flower pot (or you could use any jar or glass)
- tissue paper (or you can modify with paint and a pom pom)
- cotton balls
- clear glass or plastic cups or jars
- bean seeds
- laminator + laminating sheets (optional, but recommended for repeating lessons)
- dice
- dry erase markers
- mini chenille chicks
- medium sized cardboard box (shoebox size)
- white and blue mini pom poms (this one also comes with googly eyes) or beads
- brown paper grass (or you can make your own with brown construction paper)
- hot glue gun + glue
- paint (optional)
- scrap piece of cardboard (about 10×10 inches)
- permanent marker
- shipping tape
- foaming shaving cream
- farm animal figurines (optional—use what you have!)
- vegetable + fruit figurines (optional)
- construction paper
- two black pipe cleaners
- ingredients for this recipe
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