Minibeast safari

Children are endlessly amazed by insect life, and rightly so – watching little creatures wriggle and crawl about their daily lives is fascinating. Make the topic of minibeasts a fun experience by allowing children to initiate their own learning through exploring and observation.

Introduce the bugs

Before you get stuck into the job of looking for bugs in their natural environment, have a couple of sharing assemblies on the subject of bugs and insects.

• Start by asking children what they think an insect is. Explain that insects have three parts to their body – head, thorax and abdomen, six legs, antennae to smell and feel their way around and wings to fly with
• Show pictures of bugs throughout the world in books, magazines or the Poster ‘Minibeasts’, and invite children to bring in any pictures or books on bugs they may have at home
• Ask children to put their hands up if they have ever had an itchy insect bite, giving children the opportunity to share their stories, and prompt children by asking questions like; who has seen a spider in their house? Has anyone ever seen ants in their house, and why do you think they came in?
• Read a selection of bug-related picture books, talking about the pictures and what they think might happen next.

Bringing bugs into your setting