Ladybug Crown
“Ladybug, ladybug fly away home…” Spring is right around the corner, that means ladybugs are waking up. Who doesn’t love ladybugs? Kids love ladybugs because they are cute and harmless. Gardeners and farmers love ladybugs because ladybugs eat the pesky bugs that feed on their plants. If you want ladybugs to stick around your garden this summer make sure you plant flowers with lots of nectar. Let’s make a ladybug hat in honor of these amazing insects!
MATERIALS
- Two strips of red construction paper, 2” wide by 12” long
- One half sheet of black construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
- White crayon (for tracing)
- Black marker or crayon
- 5” round lid (for tracing)
- 2 wiggly eyes, or white construction paper
TRY IT!
- Build Your Headband. Cut 2 strips of red construction paper 2” wide by 12” long. Wrap the first strip around your head, then use the second one to make a complete band that will fit around your head. Trim off the extra paper from your second band, making sure to leave about ¼” extra on the paper strip. We will tape this together during the last step!
- Make Ladybug Spots! Draw and color in black circles on the red strips of paper.
- Create a Ladybug Head! Use your white crayon to trace and cut a 5” circle from the black construction paper. Glue the black circle to the larger strip of red paper. This will become your ladybug’s head.
- Make Antennas! Cut 2 strips of black construction paper (1/2” wide by 6” long) and glue them to the top of the ladybug’s head.
- Add Eyes! Glue 2 wiggly eyes to the ladybug’s face. If you don’t have wiggly eyes, draw or cut circles for eyes.
- Draw a mouth on your ladybug, if you’d like! Is it smiling?
- Wrap the two strips of red paper around your head and tape them together. Put it on and become a ladybug!
GUIDING QUESTIONS
- What colors do you see on a ladybug?
- What shapes did you use to create your ladybug with?
- Have you ever seen a ladybug? Where did you find it?
LEARNING BEHIND THE PLAY
- Supports math skills, including geometry (shape identification) and measurement of the parts of the headband.
- Strengthens fine motor skills through the use of scissors and crayons.
- Develops decision-making skills through making choices on where to place shapes.
TAKE IT FURTHER
Make connections through literature! Read A Ladybugs Life by John Himmelman, or another book of your choice, featuring fun facts about ladybugs. Read the book as a family and discuss what you’ve learned.