Springtime announces the arrival of green leaves, blooming flowers and crawling insects. Our class received a shipment of ladybugs! Keeping live insects provides an up-close and hands-on learning experience with nature and science.
The ladybugs are teaching us about their unique life cycle. When they arrived, we noticed that they did not look like the rounded, red and black ladybugs we know and love. They were longer and black and yellow striped. This is the first stage.
Every day at circle time we brought out the ladybug house to observe changes. We also gave them a few drop of water with a pipette. The children are learning about the needs of living things as well as a timeline for their growth.
Soon after arrival, our ladybugs began their metamorphosis by sleeping in little balls, similar to the way butterflies make a chrysalis. When they emerged, they had grown to be red with black spots!
Finally, the ladybugs were ready to be set free! We brought them to the playground and looked for a safe place for them - somewhere they could crawl around with plants to eat and where they would be in danger of getting stepped on. We settled on Morah Ruth's garden, where plenty there is plenty of green growth and protective sides.
Bye, bye, ladybugs!
