Boost literacy skills with a ladybug-themed alphabet craft. Start with wooden, foam or paper cutouts of the letter "L." If you can make or find letters that are already colored red, the craft will be even simpler. If not, cover the letters with red paint or fabric in advance of the craft day. Explain to the kids that the letter "L" is the first in the word "ladybug," then give each of them a letter, along with black tempera paint or crayons, so they can add their own ladybug polka dots.
Kids can create ladybug pet rocks out of simple materials like stones and paint. To acquire smooth, round stones, go out on a nature hike together and search for suitable rocks; this will help the children practice their skills with identifying shapes, as well. If you don't have time to do this, simply provide the stones for the kids to decorate, either from your own search or from a craft store. Set out red and black tempera paints, along with smocks if possible, so the kids can turn their stones into ladybugs. Help each child glue a pair of googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae on his dried ladybug pet rock to complete the critter craft.
The children should get a real kick out of this ladybug craft, because the finished product has moveable wings. Give each child two small paper plates and have them decorate one using red and black paint to look like a ladybug's back. Help the children cut their decorated plates in half, then have them paint the other plates entirely black. Attach the wings by poking holes in the plates and using brass paper fasteners to hold them in place. The wings should be loose enough to move after you attach them with the fasteners. Glue on a black head with optional pipe cleaner antennae and googly eyes.
Give each child a round plate or sturdy piece of red paper to decorate like a ladybug's back with black spots. Give each kid another smaller black semi-circle to attach as the ladybug's head. They can then add eyes by gluing on googly eyes, with your help if necessary, or by drawing them on with white crayon. Cut eyeholes in the middle of each ladybug's back so the children look through them. Attach a large wooden craft stick handle to the bottom of each ladybug mask.