Here we are at the end of April still going strong with spring themes! Check out this past post if you’re interested in even more spring fun. If you are looking for spring themed active learning journal pages, you’ll find 10 ideas right here!
Our most recent shelf is all about BUGS! My buddies love to hunt rolly pollies on our walks. We have recently become interested in all the caterpillars which have seem to infest Texas this spring!
I tried to keep the supplies minimal for this activities since we are spending so much time outside. In the spirit of Earth Month, I also tried to use things we already had or things I had DIY’d.
For these activities you’ll need:
*Plastic bugs (I’m using a colored set you can easily find at a teaching supply store)
*Playdough
*Cut Up Straws, Googly Eyes, and Yellow Pom Poms
*Number cutouts (I’m using wooden puzzle pieces)
*Balloons and Fly Swatter
*Yellow Ball Pit Balls (or any small balls you have)
*Empty Ice Cube Tray and Rubber Bands (or muffin tray)
*Fine Motor Tools (like small tongs)
First up are three playdough activities!
To strengthen those small finger muscles we’re playing with some playdough and bugs! All the rolling, pinching, and pressing really help stretch the hands.
A fun invitation to create bugs gave us an hour worth of giggles! I simply set out this basket of straws and eyes with playdough and a made a few bugs myself to show the kids what to do. After that they had free reign!
E quickly came up with her game called “Find the Eyes” which turned out to be just as exciting as making our own bug creations!
This turned into a great example of “I play, now you play” which is a great way to introduce materials to kids. Maybe one day I’ll write a post dedicated to this idea!
E would hide eyes inside the playdough that I had to dig out. I would then do the same thing for her.
Continuing with the fine motor activities next up we three Rescue the Bug variations.
I love this really simple set up. Its a easy as it looks!
Wrapping rubber bands around the bugs allowed my buddies to really work the tiny finger muscles!
I have started calling this DIY project a “Rescue Board” because we’ve used it with many different themes!
I love this activity for younger toddlers who aren’t quite ready for fine motor tools. Just look at all the bilateral work that is going on while J is pulling the spider out from under the rubber band!
We watched a butterfly drinking from a flower during one of our walks last week which turned into a conversation about pollination! Enter the next two activities.
Reusing this DIY rainbow and yellow pom poms that I always have around turned into this new twist on a transfer activity. We are practicing being Pollinator bugs by moving pollen from one place to another! J decided himself that he needed the ice cube tray as well! I love toddlers thought processing.
For a larger gross motor pollination activity, we’re using yellow ball pit balls. I placed them around the room for the kids to collect in a bag like a bee to bring back to the hive. You could also turn this into a race outside.
One more gross motor game has been the hit of all these activities!
I was going to turn these balloons into bugs, but the kids didn’t give me any chance to do that! Who knew that balloons and a fly swatter would be so fun and worth while! All the gross motor needs like tossing, striking, and hand eye coordination are being used during a simple game of Swat the Bug.
Lastly, I have a sweet bookish play activity to share. First off this book by Kelly Hill is adorable, especially if you’re an Anne of Green Gables super fan like myself! Secondly, you don’t need this particular book for this activity. If you have a favorite spring themed counting book, or any counting book, go ahead and use that!
I’ve been working with E on number recognition and one to one correspondence for a few months. I wanted to really introduce number symbols in a fun way. To do this I sat her on my lap with the numbers. While we read and counted each page, she dug in the box to find the matching number. Although in the only picture I could take she’s holding up the wrong number!
Alright, I hope you found some Spring inspiration! If you use any of these ideas, don’t forget to connect with me on Instagram @rachrunstx or theteachingnannyblog.com
The Teaching Nanny 
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