LADYBIRDS - MINI THEME

Compiled by Robyn © September 2004

INFORMATION

Ladybirds are beetles, which are insects. They can be red, orange or yellow with black spots, some are black with red spots and some have no spots at all! The Ladybird uses it’s antennae to touch, smell and taste. They are helpful to have in the garden as they eat aphids, tiny insects that harm our fruits and other plant life. As is the case with all beetles, ladybugs have a life cycle that consists of four distinct stages ~ egg, larva, pupa and adult. An adult ladybird’s life span is only a few months. Ladybirds are also known as ladybugs (USA) or lady beetles.

RECOMMENDED READING from Kalahari Books

The Bad Tempered Ladybird by Eric Carle (Ages 4-8) >>See Amazon Reviews>>

This is the story of how a grouchy ladybird turns into a nicer, happier bug. Differences in small and large and time are shown visually as the sun moves through its path.

A Ladybug's Life (Nature Upclose) by John Himmelman (Ages 4-8) >>See Amazon Reviews>>

A series designed to be read aloud to younger children or alone by beginner readers. The text and pictures look at the life cycle of a ladybug, including hatching, metamorphosis, and eventual egg laying. The book includes a glossary of terms and the realistic illustrations are large and colourful.

CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

Ladybird Cookies

Make circle shaped cookies with red icing and black spots using Smarties or chocolate chips.

Ladybird Pet Rock

Find a smooth pebble and paint it red. Let it dry, then paint on some black spots and a face. Dry and varnish. Have fun looking after your pet rock!

Ladybirds

Cut a Styrofoam ball in half. Paint it red with acrylic paint. After the paint has dried, use a thin paintbrush and dot black paint all over the back. Add antennas by using glittery pipe cleaners and add googly eyes.

Ladybird Prints

Cut a potato in half. Dip into paint and make prints. Try making some different coloured ladybirds using yellow and orange paint this time. When dry, add the spots by making black fingerprints. Add eyes and legs using black felt pens.

Counting

Copy a large Ladybird (template below) either on red paper or on white paper and colour in, but do not add the dots. Make numeral index cards. Using the cards, place the correct number of spots by using black buttons on the ladybird.

Addition

Using the same red paper Ladybird and buttons, older children can do sums eg. 3 spots on the one wing + 4 spots on the other wing = how many? 7 spots!

Paper Plate Lady Birds

Take two small paper plates. Paint one paper plate black and one red. Take the red paper plate and cut in half. Fasten the two halves overlapping slightly onto the top of the black paper plate with a brass fastener. With the fastener the two halves should be able to move. These are the Ladybirds wings. Add black spots and any eyes you choose.

The Bad-Tempered Ladybird Clock

Make a clock with a large red cardboard circle and 2 black cardboard ‘hands’ attached with a brass fastener. Add black dots with numbers as they appear on a clock. As you read the story together adjust your clock to the time in the story.

SONGS & RHYMES

Ladybirds Fly (to the tune of Three Blind Mice) with actions

Fly, fly, fly.
Ladybirds fly.
Fly over here.
Fly over there.
They fly up high and they fly down low.
Around and around and around they go.
They fly so fast, and they fly so slow.
Oh, Ladybirds fly.