You are invited to download the spring and summer picture cards for sorting with ten types of insects and ten types of flowers – learning printables for preschool and kindergarten children. Use this resource with photographs to create hands-on spring and summer activities for your students.
I’ve always been fascinated by insects. There are so many different kinds, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors. Some are beautiful, like the butterflies and dragonflies, while others are a bit creepy, like spiders and centipedes. But no matter how you feel about them, there’s no denying that insects play an important role in our ecosystem. They pollinate plants, help break down dead matter, and provide food for other animals. And while some insects can be pests, most are harmless and even beneficial.
I absolutely love spring flowers! There’s something so magical about watching the world come to life after a long, cold winter. I especially enjoy seeing all of the different types of flowers that bloom during this time of year. From daffodils and tulips to cherry blossoms and hyacinths, each flower is unique and beautiful in its own way. I also love how the vibrant colors of spring flowers can instantly brighten up any space.
Flowers Hands-on Activities
- Flower dissection: Children can explore the different parts of a flower by dissecting one. They can learn about the different functions of each part like petals, sepals, stamen, and pistil.
- Flower matching game: This activity involves matching different types of flowers to their names and characteristics. It can help children learn about the different colors, shapes, and sizes of flowers.
- Flower color wheel: Children can make a color wheel using different colored flowers. They can learn about primary colors, secondary colors, and complementary colors.
Materials:
- A large piece of white paper or poster board
- Different colored flowers such as daisies, roses, and pansies
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Cut out a circle from the center of the white paper or poster board using scissors. This will be the base of your color wheel.
- Divide the circle into six equal sections using a pencil and a ruler. These sections will represent the six main colors of the color wheel – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
- Start with the primary colors – red, yellow, and blue. Choose flowers that represent these colors and glue them onto the corresponding sections on the circle. For example, use red roses for the red section, yellow daisies for the yellow section, and blue pansies for the blue section.
- Next, move on to the secondary colors – orange, green, and purple. These colors are created by mixing two primary colors together. Use flowers that represent these colors and glue them onto the corresponding sections on the circle. For example, use orange marigolds for the orange section (mixed red and yellow), green carnations for the green section (mixed yellow and blue), and purple irises for the purple section (mixed red and blue).
- Finally, add complementary colors to the color wheel. These are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel and often look good together. For example, red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple. Choose flowers in these colors and glue them onto opposite sides of the color wheel. For example, use red roses and green carnations on opposite sides of the circle.
- Once all the flowers are glued onto the color wheel, allow it to dry completely. Then, display the color wheel for children to see. You can use this as a teaching tool to help children learn about primary colors, secondary colors, and complementary colors.
- Smelling flowers: Children can be introduced to different scents by smelling different flowers. They can also learn about pollination and the role of flowers in helping bees and other insects.
- Pressed flower art: Children can press flowers and make art using them. This activity can help them learn about the properties of flowers and how they change when pressed.
- Growing flowers: Children can plant seeds and observe the growth of flowers. They can learn about the different stages of a plant’s life cycle and how to care for plants.
- Flower petal counting: Children can count the petals on different flowers. This activity can help them with early math skills like counting and number recognition.
- Flower color sorting: Children can sort flowers by color. This activity can help them learn about categorization and color recognition.
- Flower sensory bin: Children can explore flowers using a sensory bin filled with flower petals, stems, and leaves. This activity can help them with sensory development and exploration.
- Flower nature walk: Children can take a walk in nature and observe different flowers. They can learn about the different types of flowers that grow in their environment and their role in the ecosystem.
- Flower arranging: Children can practice their fine motor skills by arranging flowers in a vase or pot. This activity can also help them learn about the different shapes and sizes of flowers.
- Paper flower-making: Children can make paper flowers using different colors and shapes of paper. This activity can help them with creativity and motor skills.
- Flower counting and graphing: Children can count the number of different flowers they see on a nature walk. They can then use this data to make a graph and analyze the results.
- Flower tag: Children can play a game of tag where one child is “it” and chases other children who pretend to be different types of flowers. This activity can help them learn about different types of flowers and their characteristics.
- Flower symmetry activity: Children can use pieces of flower petals to create symmetric shapes. This activity can help them learn about symmetry and patterns.
- Flower measurement: Children can measure the height of different flowers using a ruler or a measuring tape. This activity can help them with early math skills like measuring and estimating.
- Flower storytelling: Children can create a story about a flower’s life cycle, starting from a seedling to a fully grown flower. This activity can help them with language development and storytelling.
- Flower scavenger hunt: Children can go on a scavenger hunt to find different types of flowers in their environment. This activity can help them with observational skills and learning about their surroundings.
- Flower sensory bottle: Children can create a sensory bottle using flower petals, water, and glitter. This activity can help them with sensory exploration and observation skills.
- Flower color mixing: Children can mix different colored flowers to create new hues. This activity can help them learn about color theory and mixing.
- Make insects and flowers using playdough to point out the difference between the two types of living things.
- Gather binoculars next time you go outdoors and invite the children to observe different types of flowers and crawling creatures.
- Gather Safari TOOB figurines and invite the children to sort them into two groups.
- Explore the most commonly found insects and flowers found in your area – make a poster with your students.
- Discuss in a small group all the different ways children can protect animals and plants in their natural habitat.
Insect hands-on activities
- Observing and classifying insects: Collect different types of insects and place them in a magnifying jar. Have the children observe and describe the insects using a magnifying glass. Encourage them to categorize the insects based on their characteristics such as wings, legs, color, and size.
- Insect life cycle: Teach preschoolers about the life cycle of insects. Start by introducing them to the concept of metamorphosis. Show them pictures or real examples of different insect life cycles, such as butterflies, ants, or ladybugs. Provide materials for the children to create their own life cycle charts or dioramas.
- Insect anatomy matching: Create small cards or pictures of different insect body parts (e.g., head, thorax, abdomen, antenna, legs, etc.). Provide the preschoolers with insect models or pictures and have them match the body parts to the corresponding images.
- DIY insect habitat: Set up a small terrarium or bug box for the preschoolers to observe insects up close. Use natural materials like soil, leaves, rocks, and twigs. Encourage the children to find insects and place them in the habitat temporarily. Discuss the insects’ needs for food, water, and shelter.
Find a suitable container: Look for a small plastic or glass container, such as a jar or a small plastic terrarium, that has a lid or a screen top with holes for ventilation.
Add a layer of soil: Place a layer of soil at the bottom of the container. You can use potting soil or collect some soil from the yard or park.
Add natural materials: Add natural materials like leaves, rocks, and twigs. These materials will provide shelter, hiding places, and climbing surfaces for the insects.
Add water: Add a small amount of water to the soil. Be careful not to add too much, as this could make the habitat too damp and unhealthy for the insects.
Find insects: Encourage the preschoolers to find insects in the yard or park and place them in the habitat. Make sure the children handle the insects gently and don’t harm them.
Observe the insects: Have the children observe and describe the insects they find. Discuss the insects’ needs for food, water, and shelter, and how they use the natural materials in the habitat to survive.
Release the insects: After a short period of observation, release the insects back into their natural habitat. Remind the children to always handle insects with care and respect.
By setting up a small terrarium or bug box and observing insects up close, preschoolers can learn about the natural world around them and develop an appreciation for the beauty and diversity of insects.
Choose safe insects: Make sure the insects you choose are safe for the children to handle and observe. Avoid insects that may sting, bite, or carry diseases.
Provide food: Some insects may require specific food to survive. For example, ladybugs feed on aphids. Research what insects you plan to observe and provide appropriate food sources.
Use a magnifying glass: Provide a magnifying glass for the children to use to observe the insects up close. This will help them see details they may not have noticed otherwise.
Keep the habitat clean: Regularly clean the habitat to prevent mold or bacteria from growing. Replace the soil and natural materials as needed. Setting up a small terrarium or bug box is a fun and educational activity for preschoolers. It allows them to observe insects up close, learn about their needs, and develop an understanding of the natural world around them.
- Bug hunt: Take the preschoolers on an outdoor bug hunt to collect insects in a safe and supervised environment. Provide them with magnifying glasses or bug catchers. After the bug hunt, discuss the children’s findings, and encourage them to reflect on the types of insects they found and why they might be present in certain habitats.
- Insect sensory exploration: Set up different sensory stations related to insects. For example, you could create a touch-and-feel station with different textures mimicking insects’ wings or body parts. Another station could have scented items related to insects’ favorite flowers or foods. Encourage the children to explore and discuss their sensory experiences.
- Insect-themed art: Provide art materials such as paints, crayons, paper, and glue. Invite the preschoolers to create insect-inspired artwork. They could draw or paint their favorite insects or create collages using pictures of insects from magazines.
- Insect-inspired gardening: Incorporate insects into gardening activities by planting flowers that attract butterflies or creating a butterfly garden. Discuss the role of insects as pollinators and their importance in the ecosystem.
Remember to always prioritize the safety and well-being of the children during these activities, and ensure proper supervision when handling live insects.
Flowers and Insects Soring Printable
This resource will come in handy if you are planning to explore meadow habitat in your Montessori and early childhood classroom.
Print on card stock and laminate for longer use. After cutting cards, draw with a marker or stick dot stickers to the back of each set – one color for each set. Place the label cards in a row. Explain the difference between the two types of living things. Invite the child to sort cards into two categories.
After the child completed the task, invite him or her to flip the cards and self-check. Each card has to be under the correct category based on the dot color.
Young children can be encouraged to match the cards when printed twice and draw the insects and flowers they like the most using their choice of art medium.
Older children might be inspired to research and create their own books about wildflowers and insects native to your area.
Exploring Spring - Children's Books and Learning Resources
When Spring Comes
Watch the world transform when spring comes! In a starred review, School Library Journal called this delightful picture book “A must-have, joyful seasonal title for the youngest listeners.”
A Walk Through the Woods
This stunning gift book, with hand-cut paper art and lyrical text by an award-winning poet, leads you deep into the forest . . . and out again into the light.
Listen: the forest is calling.
What Can You See in Spring? (Seasons)
Books in this series introduce emergent readers to the four seasons. In Spring, children are taken on a tour of things they can see in spring including typical spring activities and new life and growth in the natural world.
The Honeybee
Buzz from flower to flower with a sweet honeybee in this timely, clever, and breathtakingly gorgeous picture book from critically acclaimed author Kirsten Hall and award-winning illustrator Isabelle Arsenault.
Worm Weather (Penguin Core Concepts)
Join in the rainy-day fun, as kids splash through the puddles, affecting another weather enthusiast, a nearby worm. An imaginative and playful story, readers will love seeing the worm delight in the weather just as much as the kids.
The Tiny Seed: With seeded paper to grow your own flowers! (The World of Eric Carle)
Planting a Rainbow
In this perennial classic with sturdy board book pages by Caldecott Honor–winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones learn the colors of the rainbow as they watch a plants grow in a beautifully vibrant garden.
How Do You Know It's Spring? (Rookie Read-About Science: Seasons)
How do you know its spring?
Through vivid photos and engaging nonfiction text, this fun and fact-filled Rookie Read-About Science book answers the question, How do you know its spring?
The Reason for a Flower: A Book About Flowers, Pollen, and Seeds (Explore!)
The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style.
Plants in Spring (All about Spring)
In spring, seeds are planted. Sprouts pop up through the soil. Colorful flowers bloom. See how plants come to life in spring.
I Am Spring: A Book About Spring for Kids (I Am Learning: Educational Series for Kids)
After the cold of Winter, comes the warmth of Spring. “I Am Spring” takes young children on a journey through the many important events that occur uniquely in the beautiful growing season of Spring. When the day becomes longer than the night, and the leaves begin to sprout on the bare branches, and bugs and animals that were hiding start to reappear, get ready, because that means Spring is here!
Spring is Here!
Discover the world as it wakes from its winter slumber as the flowers blossom, the animals come out from their resting place, and nature comes alive during this season of renewal.
Seeds and Trees: A children's book about the power of words
Words are powerful. They can hurt or they can heal.
It's time to tell a special tale that will warm the hearts of readers of all ages. Seeds and Trees revels in the power of words. It explores their effects on feelings and emotions. And it does so through the journey of two different seeds.
A Little Book About Spring (Leo Lionni's Friends)
A new board book for the youngest fans of Leo Lionni--inspired by his bestselling books and perfect for Easter and springtime reading!
I See Spring
Celebrate the season of spring with raindrops, robins, bluebells, and butterflies! In Charles Ghigna’s I See Spring, colorful illustrations are matched with rhyming, easy-to-read text that explores rain falling, flowers blooming, and other springtime wonders.
My Backyard Bird Book: Fun Facts & Surprising Secrets
Discover the birds that live all around us!
Kids love learning about nature, and birds are a very important and amazing part of it! They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They live in trees, bushes, and skies of your town, park, and even your own backyard. With the help of this beautiful book your child will learn:
About Birds: A Guide for Children (About…, 1)
In this simple volume, former educator and author Cathryn Sill uses clear, easy-to-understand language to teach children what birds are, what they do, and how they live.
Common Backyard Birds
Award-winning bird photographer Doris Dumrauf introduces young readers to 20 birds frequently found in North American back yards, including: American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, and many others. Her vivid photographs depict birds in their natural habitat and typical backyard settings. The entertaining narrative highlights the simple steps required to attract birds to your yard.
The Little Book of Woodland Bird Songs
Being able to identify a bird's song is a skill that brings joy and fosters an appreciation of nature. Some bird songs are distinctive and easily recognized, like the common loon and wild turkey.
Unbelievable Pictures and Facts About Blue Jays
Smart Kids Presents…Blue Jays - Unbelievable Pictures and Facts about Blue Jays.
How do you tell the difference between a male or female blue jay?Are these birds territorial or not?
The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs
Being able to identify a bird's song is a skill that brings joy and fosters an appreciation of nature. Learning how to differentiate between the songs of a house finch and a goldfinch, however, is not easy.
Backpack Explorer: Bird Watch: What Will You Find?
The third book in the Backpack Explorer series from the Editors of Storey Publishing invites budding naturalists to head outside for a walk — in the woods, a park, or right in their backyard — to spot feathered friends. Backpack Explorer: Bird Watch leads kids aged 4 and up through the basics of birding, from identifying common birds to learning about habitat and migration and listening for bird songs.
A Backyard Birding Adventure: What's in Your Yard?
This friendly little book employs clever, yet educational, rhymes, stunning photographs, and whimsical illustrations to awaken your child’s interest in the avian world. Written by a veteran birder, the focus is on easy-to-see, readily available bird species, so that parents and children alike will feel encouraged to create backyard adventures of their very own! Now, A Backyard Birding Adventure is even more exciting and educational!
Birds, Nests & Eggs (Take Along Guides)
A fun, informative take-along guide that will help children identify 15 birds. Kid will also learn how and where birds build their homes and all about their young. Plus the guide features activities that are fun and easy to do. There's also a seven-page scrapbook for drawings and notes.
Baby's First Book of Birds & Colors
From the eastern bluebird and blue jay to the scarlet tanager and northern cardinal, little ones will discover the natural world and learn the names and colors of Phyllis Limbacher Tildes’s exquisitely illustrated birds in their natural habitats. The color word appears large and bold, and each bird is labeled by name, as are flowers, fruits, and foliage. Each bird is color coded and has a name and gender for children to easily identify.
Parts of a Plant, Plant Life Cycle and Needs of a Plant
Birds and Their Eggs Three-Part Nomenclature Cards
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