Bugs in a Jar

We started our "Club Mom" this week.

 

Club Mom is basically my way of keeping the kids busy during the summer. 

We do this every year.

 

Little arts and crafts projects, fieldtrips, library story hours, gardening, kitchen fun..basically things that I do anyway only more intensified, if you know what I mean. 

In fact, I actually signed them both up for the library summer program today and since Nathan didn't have a library card and Nicholas couldn't find his, they signed up for their own cards, that they very eagerly ran home with to place in their wallets.

 

While I don't make it a practice to be my children's sole entertainment, in fact I hate when they come up to me and say 'I'm Bored, what are we doing today'.  I think to myself...umm, just go play already.

This might seem funny coming from me, but sometimes when they start questioning me about activities I tend to panic a bit if I don't have anything planned for the day and that sets me over the edge. 

 

Planning ahead helps me stay more on top of things and gives them an idea of what we are doing. 

They still have plenty of free time to play, swim, hang out with friends...I just like doing 'extra' things to keep them busy and out of trouble ;)

 

 

So this week's activities are focused around

 

BUGS!

 

I actually have so many ideas that I could easily do bugs for two weeks (and just may at that).

 

here's a sneak peek at some of the books we will be reading this week

 

 

 

Our project today was

 

Bugs in a Jar

 

 

I got the idea for this craft from Education.com

 

All you need is various paints, paper, glue and markers.

 

We took a sheet of white paper and cut it into the shape of a jar.

Then we glued the jars to a sheet of construction paper.

Next the boys used their fingers and brushes to make bugs with paint.

Afterwards they used a black marker to make feet, wings and antennas on their bugs.

 

Super easy project (but a bit messy, to be honest).

 

 

 

 

 

We read the book Bustle in the Bushes by Giles Andreae to go along with this craft,

 

 

 because there were a lot of pictures of different bugs in it.

 

 

The book is super cute and the boys seem to love Giles Andreae books.  The rhyming rhythm of each verse is soothing and creative.  And the pages illustrated by David Wojtowycz are bright and colorful.  We will most likely use this book again at some point during our "bug week" since there are so many great examples of insects in it, like spiders, dragonflies, butterflies, ants, and many more.

 

 

I also bought each boy a "bug catching kit" and a butterfly net from the dollar store

 

 

Which they promptly put to good use.

 

 

 

*Disclosure - I received a copy of the book Bustle in the Bushes from Tiger Tales for review purposes only.  The opinions herein are my own and were not influenced in anyway.