Gather children and help them make a list of all the insects they can think of on the front board. Draw simple pictures of them to help children recognize the insects. Discuss which ones are bugs--those with mouths shaped like straws and two sets of wings.
Take children outdoors and walk around the yard or school playground to look for bugs and other insects. Provide children with magnifying glasses to take a closer look at leaves and grass. Find out where the insects are hiding and living. Each time a child finds an insect, discuss what type of insect it is, the parts of its body and the shapes and colors that are found on it.
Return indoors and discuss with children the insects they know of that are dangerous. Some insects that they may be familiar with that can cause harm include bees, certain spiders and ants. Discuss with young children how these insects can be recognized and encourage them to stay away from hurtful ones.
Look at pictures of insects and discuss with young children the parts of insect bodies: how many legs they have and what role their antennae play, for example. Explain that insects use their antennae to communicate with each other, passing messages by touching their antennae together.
Create antennae headbands with children by cutting strips of various colored construction paper and attaching colored pipe cleaners with tape. Allow children some time wearing their antennae and pretending to communicate with them.
Read "Two Bad Ants" by Chris Van Allsburg with young children and discuss what happens in the book. Discuss with children the things they learned about ants from the book and what their favorite parts were.
Learn more about insects and how they live together by setting up an ant farm within the home or classroom. Ant farms can be purchased online for a small price. Explain how ants, just like bees or wasps, live in a group called a colony with different roles such as workers and the queen.
Display the ant farm in a location where young children can observe the changes and day-to-day lives of the ants.
After a couple days of observing the ants, have children draw a picture of the ant colony using white drawing paper and markers along with writing any special information they have learned about insects on the back of their paper.