Rock Bugs

Looking for a great way to get outside with your children and spark their creativity?  Our "Rock Bugs" are the perfect craft for you!  Begin by going on a "rock hunt" with your kids.  The reservoir if the perfect place for this!

So much learning occurs in the small everyday moments.  Adding language to your child's actions enhances the overall learning experience, aids literacy development and encourages curiosity.  This is a great time to focus on your children's senses. "Oh, look at this rock.  How do you think it feels?  This one is bumpy.  This rock is smooth."  

Take advantage of the beautiful weather and set up a rock cleaning station outside. I filled a bin with soapy water.  Give your children small sponges or towels and let them enjoy the soapy fun.  Rinse the rocks in water and dry with a towel.  

Set up a painting area for your children.  Using small containers, paint palettes or plates squeeze small amounts of red, yellow, blue, white and black tempera paint.  Using primary colors, plus black and white, gives children the natural opportunities to discover color mixing.  Give each child paint brushes, a water cup and paper towel or sponge for blotting.  One of the concepts I am teaching my children is how to switch paint colors by rinsing the paint brush in water, blotting on the paper and then switching colors.  This is a wonderful opportunity to practice sequencing.

Have your child choose a rock and paint it.  Your child can make the rock look like one of the insects you are exploring or just have fun making a fantasy bug.  Remember when speaking to your child about his artwork focus on the process of the art rather than the end product.  "Look at the way you are putting blue on both sides."  "Wow, Charlotte, you made a new color!  What paints did you mix together?"  By verbalizing your child's actions you are opening up a dialogue aiding literacy development and supporting creativity.  

Once the paint dries give your child the opportunity to chose the number of legs for her bug and whether or not the bug will have antennae.  If your child is trying to make one of the insects you are studying you can reference the books or your Bug Chart for body parts.  

To make your Rock Bugs YOU WILL NEED: painted rocks, googly eyes, pipe cleaners

Using a hot glue gun (note: this is an adult job) attach googly eyes, legs and antennae.  Once dry slightly bend the legs. 

I love, love, love these little guys!  Seriously, I can't get enough of them and neither can my kids.  One of the first things my children did was take the Rock Bugs to our block area and made little block homes. 

Luca spent a gorgeous sunny morning outside with the Rock Bugs.  First lining them up and then having them talk to each other.  These little bugs helped create the perfect platform for dramatic play and language development. 

I have a feeling our new friends found the perfect home with my kids.  I hope you and your kids love your Rock Bugs as much as we love ours!

Please visit my site, Homegrown Friends, to discover more of our activities, recipes and literature recommendations.  Take a moment to Like the Homegrown Friends Facebook Page to stay informed on all the fun!
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Meredith Magee Donnelly, MS, Ed, is an early childhood educator and mother of three