To introduce the topic and grab the attention of preschoolers, read a book that features a bug or insect, such as Eric Carle's "The Hungry Caterpillar" or "The Grouchy Ladybug." You might also read "Miss Spider," by David Kirk, "On Beyond Bugs: All About Insects," from The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library by Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz, or "One Hundred Hungry Ants" by Elinor Pinczes.
Several entertaining, appropriate videos also feature insects. While watching a video such as "Ant Bully," "Bug's Life" or "Antz," point out the realistic characteristics of different bugs and insects portrayed in the movie, such as insects that have three parts or spiders that have eight legs. Ask the children to point out the parts of the movie not portrayed in a realistic way, such as bugs talking or wearing hats. Make a class graphic organizer of the realistic and the nonrealistic characteristics of the bugs portrayed in the movie. Use pictures rather than words in the graphic organizer.
Build a temporary ant farm so preschoolers can safely observe ants up close. Put loose, slightly sandy soil in clear glass jar. Transplant some ants from outdoors into the jar. Place a piece of an old nylon sock or stocking over the mouth of the jar, then put a rubber band around the rim to secure it. Wrap black paper around the jar to keep the light out so the ants build tunnels. After leaving it covered for a day, uncover the jar and let the children observe the tunnels and ants with magnifying glasses.
Teach preschoolers about science experimentation with an easy experiment. Locate a section of sidewalk or driveway outside where ants congregate. Place small pieces of three to five different foods, such as candy, fruit, crackers and cheese, on the ground. Make a small chalk mark next to the food. Leave for an hour, then go outside periodically to check and see which food the ants seemed to like best and which, if any, of the foods the ants moved.
Create bug and insect art with preschoolers and teach them about science at the same time. After a discussion of the body parts of a bug or insect, create bugs or insects from egg cartons, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes and paint. Cut the egg cartons into sections and paint them with acrylic or tempera paint and allow them to dry. Use small pieces of pipe cleaner to fasten body parts together. Use larger pieces of pipe cleaner for legs and antennae. Glue wiggle eyes on with craft glue.
Preschoolers can learn about flying bugs and insects while creating a piece of art. Have the children draw the insects and bugs on white pieces of paper in thick crayon in dark colors using circular or oval shapes and lines for legs. For wings, teach them to draw long, pointy ovals and in outline only. When the drawings are finished, paint over them with a watery blue wash to create the effect of the bugs flying in a blue sky.