Spring is here which means the insects and butterflies are sure to follow. So, now is the perfect time add some prewriting practice to your insect theme activities for preschoolers.
Don’t’ forget to grab your FREE printable at the end of this post!
***I’ve paired up with some of my close blogging friends bring you a ton of fresh and new insect activities for preschoolers. Be sure to get to the end of the post for all the details.***
This morning, I invited my dad out to my house to help me plan out my garden. The baby slipped outside and made quick work of my raised garden beds, getting black soil under his fingernails and in his recently cut hair…and finding the first insects coming out of diapause.
He was a mess, and so were my garden beds, but it reminded me that it was time to get out all our bugs and butterflies themed preschool activities. This time of year is always fun and a favorite, partly because the sun is so rejuvenating after a gray winter, but also because these creepy crawlies are so fascinating to preschoolers.
So, this spring, I added another FREE printable to our filing cabinet. Insect theme prewriting practice mats. But these mats teach preschoolers shape formation, so it does double duty!
And you know how I love that!
Insect Theme Prewriting Practice
You can add these prewriting practice mats to your writing center, your science center, or your math center…or all three! They teach shape formation instead of basic pen strokes, and my preschoolers love to name the shapes as they trace.
And be sure to keep scrolling for your free printable as well as a ton of other insect activities for preschoolers!
Materials
- FREE printable prewriting practice sheets
- small buttons, preferably black
The Set-Up
Print the free insect writing sheets on heavy cardstock and laminate for added durability. Place them on a tray with five small buttons. The buttons will be the “ants” on the printable. Invite your preschooler to join you in doing some finger tracing to work on fine motor skills and shape formation.
The Insect Prewriting Practice Activity
The reason you need buttons for this prewriting activity is because they are used as ants, and the ants have to walk around the shape to get to the fruit in the insect trap. Place a button on each ant and invite your preschooler to move the button ant along the shape lines.
By placing a button on each ant, the preschooler gets to practice tracing shapes five times, one for each button. You can also use the shape tracing cards with a dry erase marker, but pushing the buttons along the shape is more fun. 😉
You can practice counting, too!
Looking for More Insect Activities for Preschoolers?
I’ve got you covered! All new ideas to complete your bugs and butterflies theme lesson plans!
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Ladybug Life Cycle Wheel // The STEM Laboratory
Bug Puzzles (Beginning Sounds) // Fairy Poppins
Bug Subtraction Cards // The Kindergarten Connection
Ladybug Editable Sight Word Puzzles // A Dab of Glue Will Do
Printable Ladybug Letter Puzzles and Sensory Bin // Fun-A-Day
Simple Outdoor Ant Experiment // Science Kiddo
Ladybug One More One Less Activity // Fantastic Fun and Learning
Bug Jar Addition and Subtraction Mats // Fun Learning for Kids
Counting Ants Math Game // Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station
Insect Theme Prewriting Practice // Stay at Home Educator
I Spy Bugs Sensory Bin // Teach Me Mommy
Insect Printable Sorting Worksheet // Fun with Mama
Bug Counting Clip Cards // Playdough to Plato
Ladybug Counting Cards 1-20 // Powerful Mothering
Butterfly Life Cycle Mini Book Freebie // The Primary Post
Homemade Butterfly Playdough Kit // Sugar Spice and Glitter
CVC Bug Matching Game // Sweet Sounds of Kindergarten
Bug Story Problems // Recipe for Teaching
Bugs: How Many Syllables? // Liz’s Early Learning Spot
Bug Theme Bingo Cards // Schooling a Monkey
Ten Frame Game More and Less // Sara J Creations
Buggy Partner Cards // Simplified Classroom
Get Your FREE Insect Prewriting Practice!
Want to add these sheets to your math, writing, or science center? Grab your free download by clicking the image below.
Want More Spring Activities?
Here you go! Enjoy!
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
Thank you for these shape pages. I know my kiddos will laugh at the ants.