My first grade artists are finishing up this fun ladybug multi-media project. We did it all…drew, painted, cut paper, glued…and read some great ladybug stories, including the classic The Very Grouchy Ladybug. I was amazed at the cool facts we learned about ladybugs along the way – here are some of the things my first graders told ME about ladybugs:
* they roll into a ball and “play dead” so birds won’t eat them
* really stinky orange stuff oozes out of their knees so they don’t taste good to other bugs
* they sleep under leaves all winter long and come back out in the spring
* they like to eat aphids, yum!
Cutting ladybugs from construction paper and adding details with a large marker. The eyes are a round white sticker with the center cut out with a paper punch. My kids loved peeling the sticker off and placing the eyes in just the right spot.
Adding cut paper flowers – yellow background and blue sky has been painted with water color.
Finished ladybugs. I love that they are all different – each has their own little ladybug personality. Cutest. Ladybug. Project. Ever!
This project was inspired by this image from shutterstock.
This IS the cutest ladybug project EVER and I am so stealing your idea!!! Thanks so much for a great post!
Thank you! Enjoy…my kiddos really had fun with this one. And every single one was a success – I love when that happens!
Check out the Lost Ladybug Project for an easy citizen science project for all ages!
*Over the past twenty years several native ladybug species that were once very common have become extremely rare. During this time several species of ladybugs from other places have greatly increased both their numbers and range. Ladybugs are essential predators in farms and forests that keep us from being overrun with pests (like aphids and mealybugs).
*To help the nine spotted ladybug and others, scientists need to have detailed information on which species are still out there. You Can Help! 1. Go out and find ladybugs. 2. Photograph them! 3. Upload your digital images using our submission form at http://www.lostladybug.org or mail us photos, along with the time, date, location, and habitat. 4. Return ladybugs to the wild.
*Learn more about ladybugs on our website where you can view, sort, map, and graph the 16,000+ ladybugs found so far; find children’s activities and a 4H SET curriculum; download or print beautiful ladybug materials; and listen to our ladybug song!