Materials
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
tan or yellow oval sponges
black permanent marker
finger paint (red, blue, yellow, green, white, black)
wax paper
index cards
Instructions
* Read books about bees with the children.
* Trace bee outlines on yellow paper, write a lowercase letter on each and cut
them out. Note: Make several more bee outlines than beehive outlines.
* Trace beehive outlines on tan paper, write an uppercase letter on each and
cut them out.
* Cut yarn and attach it to the cutouts so that the children can wear them as
costumes.
What to Do
1. Gather the children together and engage them in a discussion about bees.
2. Explain that bees live together in hives, and that most bees spend their days
collecting flower pollen to bring to the hive to help make honey. Also explain
that bees will give one another directions to the best flowers by dancing and
other body movements.
3. Set out the bee and beehive patterns, and select different children to wear
them. Explain that each bee's hive is the one with the matching uppercase
letter on it.
4. Have the children mix around together. After a few moments, tell the bees to
fly home. Encourage the children to help one another by using gestures to
direct one another how to get back to the correct hives.
Assessment
Consider the following:
* Can the children describe where bees live, and what they are doing flying
around all day?
* Can the children match lowercase letters to the correct uppercase letters?
