Give each preschooler an inexpensive clicker noisemaker. With the children seated in a large circle, call out one child at a time to do something difficult, like hopping on one leg, doing a somersault or walking on a low balance beam. While each child is trying a task, the others will click their noisemakers. They also click when a child completes his task.
Provide beetle shape drawn or printed on an 8-by-10-inch sheet of paper for each child to color and cut out. Praise the children for their coloring and cutting skills. Have three or four children at a time place their beetles on a floor space. The children get down on their hands and knees. Tell the children to blow on their beetles to make them move to the "finish line" in a race. Give all the children the opportunity to compete in the beetle races.
Preschoolers make beetles from plastic spoons. Provide markers or paints for the children to decorate both the inside and outside bowl of their spoons to look like a beetle. Color or glue eyes on the rounded side of the spoon to make the top view of a beetle. When their beetles are finished, they place their spoons with the rounded end, or top of the beetle, down on a flat surface. Show them how to push on the very front of the spoon to make it jump. Allow time for the children to flip and move their beetles. Remind them that it often takes practice to do things so they turn out just right. Praise the children for trying, even if their beetles land upside-down.
Encourage preschoolers to make their own snacks that look like beetles. Slice cucumbers lengthwise so each child has an oblong-shaped piece. Provide pieces of sweet peppers, cheese and sandwich meat strips. Have the children squeeze mayonnaise dots at one end of the oblong piece, where eyes, mouth and feelers should be. They put pieces of peppers or cheese in the mayonnaise to form the facial features. Have them squeeze drops of mayonnaise in four places along each side and place meat strips in those spots for the beetle's legs. Encourage the children to eat their creations for a snack. Praise them for trying new foods like peppers and cucumbers. Substitute low-fat ranch dressing for mayonnaise, if preferred.