The Bad-Tempered Ladybird

Today we managed to get out in the rain in our boots and umbrella's and go for a quick walk! (Before the down pour) On our walk Master 2 discovered a ladybird which he carefully held on his finger throughout our walk. No amount of convincing was going to get Master 2 to release the ladybird as he pointed out "NO, ladybird wet...spots wash off!" So we put out little ladybird into our bug catcher while we got busy reading The Bad-Tempered Ladybird and had a great afternoon doing all sorts of fun activities related to the ladybird. (Whilst Master 2 was asleep Master 4 and I let the ladybird go. When he woke from his nap we explained that the rain had stopped and she had flown back to the garden!)



















Five Little Ladybugs

Five little ladybugs, climbing on some plants,

Eating the aphids, but not the ants!

The first one said: "Save some aphids for me!"

The second one said: "These are tasty as can be!"

The third one said: "Oh, they're almost gone!"

The fourth one said: "Then it's time to move on!

The fifth one said: "Come on, let's fly!"

So they opened their wings and flew through the sky.

Why not get all bugged up and make some fun ladybird snacks to eat!

- Strawberry/berry.chocolate bugs

- Apple/sultana bug

- Iced biscuits with choc drops

A CD seems to be the perfect shape for a ladybug.

Supplies needed :
CD
Felt
Chenille Stem
Wiggle Eyes
Pen
Craft Glue
Scissors

Trace around the CD onto red felt and cut out the circle. Glue the circle to the CD. Make a half-circle black head, a little smaller than half the CD, and glue it into place. Use a piece of the chenille stem to make a line down the ladybug's back. Cut small, black circle out of black felt and glue them onto the ladybug's back. Add wiggle eyes, and for extra detail, chenille stem antennae.

Ladybug Counting - Provide your child with a red circle. Have them draw as many black dots as they would like on one side. Count the dots on the paper and write the number on the other side.

Fingerprint Ladybug - provide your child with a piece of white paper and a red non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished add wing outlines, dots, heat and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the features.

What you'll need:
3 small paper plates
Red and black paint
Red and black construction paper
Disposable foam paint brushes
Scissors
Googly eyes
Glue
Hole punch
Pipe cleaners

How to make your Paper Plate Ladybug:
Cut the center circle out of one of the paper plates.

Paint the circle black.
Paint the second paper plate (the whole plate) black.
Cut the third paper plate in half and then paint both halves red.
Glue the black circle to the underside of the black paper plate.
Glue the red halves to the black paper plate body so that they are split a little bit (so you can see some of the black body underneath them).
Dip the handle end of one of the paint brushes in black paint and use it to make the spots on the red ladybug wings.
Cut 6 thin strips of black construction paper that are all the same length. Accordion fold the strips and glue them onto the underside of the body, 3 on each side.
Use your hole punch (or if you don't have a hole punch have an adult poke two holes in the ladybug's head with scissors) to punch two holes in the ladybug's head near the body. Stick half of a pipe cleaner into each hole and twist very slightly at the bottom so they don't fall out.
Glue two googly eyes onto the head.
Cut a smile out of red construction paper and glue onto the head.