Creepy Crawlie "Arts,  Crafts,  Snacks" at page bottom...

 ALL ABOUT COLLECTING CRITTERS ...(Bugs/Insects) FYI:

By one estimate, about one million trillion insects are alive at any moment. So what would happen if all of these six-legged invertebrates were to suddenly vanish from our planet? The result would be catastrophic, according to Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson. Entire ecosystems would be destroyed… Unable to reproduce, plants that rely on insect pollinators would perish. So would trillions of organisms, including many reptiles, birds, and mammals that rely on insects for food. Without insects to aid in breaking down dead plant and animal matter, we'd soon be up to our necks in decay.

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 HOW & WHERE TO SEARCH for CRITTERS (Bugs)

Lift up anything on the ground and find little bug worlds "underneath". Many bugs hide among their favorite plants. Try a garden, yard, park, flowerbeds, hedges, and under rocks or logs.

• Katydids are green just like the leaves.
• Many moths are brown and look just like the bark on their favorite trees.
• Butterflies are drawn to red, orange and pink flowers and also like phlox, alyssum, verbena, and herbs such as marjoram and thyme.
• Look for beetles under fallen logs or rocks.
• Crickets love cracks in sidewalks and buildings.
• You might find the woolly bear caterpillar crawling across a sidewalk or on plants.
  Keep your eyes open for ants of all sizes---they are everywhere.

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COMMON PLACES TO FIND INSECTS
Insects inhabit every place on our planet except the ocean. Look for insects in these places:

• Under boards and rocks – Look for ants, crickets, beetles, termites.
• In or around streams, ponds, lakes – Look for mayflies, dragonflies,
  damselflies, stoneflies, caddis flies, aquatic beetles, true bugs, flies.
• Under loose bark, in logs and stumps – Look for termites, ants and
  beetles — particularly bark beetles, tiger beetles, wood boring beetles.
• On crops – Look for grasshoppers, beetles, flies, aphids, leafhoppers,
  spittlebugs, plant bugs.
•  In the air – Look for butterflies, moths, flies, bees, wasps, beetles,
  leafhoppers, grasshoppers.
•  In cellars and basements – Look for crickets, beetles, ants, bristletails.
•  On livestock, pets, poultry – Look for fleas, sucking lice, chewing lice,
  flies.
• Around outdoor lights at night – Look for moths, beetles, true bugs,
  mosquitoes.
• Around dumps or piles of refuse – Look for cockroaches, earwigs,
  beetles, flies.
• On manure piles – Look for flies, beetles.
• In, around or on flowers and ornamental plants – Look for thrips,
  plant bugs, beetles, bees, wasps, ants, aphids, scale insects, walking
  sticks, insects galls, butterflies, moths.
•  In houses – Look for crickets, cockroaches, beetles, ants, flies,
  mosquitoes, moths, termites, silverfish.
• In clothes, furniture, stored food – Look for clothes moths, carpet
  beetles, flour beetles, bean weevils. (Info from MSU website)

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AT HOME

If children are heading on a night-time hunt, instruct them try turning on a porch light, standing near a street light or shining a flashlight and you're sure to see some moths. With a large grassy lawn on a warm summer's night they’ll see the bright flickering of hundreds of fireflies. Fireflies and ladybugs are favorites among families. (Photo is a Fire Fly)

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SIGNS OF CRITTER LIFE include nibbled plant leaves or flowers.

• Look on the stems and underneath the leaves or petals for hungry caterpillars and other insects.
• Carefully lift up leaves, flowers and rocks to look for critters.
• Listen as carefully as you look. Cicadas, for example, sing at dawn and dusk in the summer.
• Peek on tree trunks. If you're lucky, you can watch a green cicada drying out on the tree trunk after crawling out of its brown nymph skin, which may still cling to the tree.

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IDENTIFYING INSECTS...
Insects are animals that have:

• 1 pair of antennae
• 2 pairs of wings (if any)
• 3 pairs of legs
• 3 body parts: head, thorax and abdomen
  and an exoskeleton ("exo" means their skeleton is on the outside!)

It may be difficult to correctly name what you've found, but here are some tips.

Count Legs: Insects have only six legs, but if it has eight legs as do spiders, ticks and scorpions, it is considered an arachnid, not an insect. A hairy spider could be a "wolf spider" that lives in the ground and moves very fast to catch its food.

• Antennae? Most BUTTERFLIES have antennae that look like golf clubs with thick bumps at each end; MOTHS tend to have antennae that are straight or feathery.
• If you want the official insect names, check out a field guide from the library; a good one for kids is the National Audubon Society's First Field Guide-Insects published by Scholastic.

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ARE YOU SPOTTING THE CRITTERS-- OR KEEPING THEM?

Let the kids decide if you want to "catch" what you see or just spot what you see. If you want to catch, see the below post for "critter keeper" directions. Your group may decide to just observe critters and chose to learn more about "what the critters do and how they live."

 

MAKING A PLASTIC CRITTER-KEEPER JAR: If kids want to collect what they've found, make this keeper jar. Your critters can breathe and you can watch them closely. Add some grass, sticks, leaves or flowers and when you're finished watching, LET THE BUGS GO BACK TO THEIR OWN HOMES AGAIN!

What You'll Need:
28 or 40-ounce plastic peanut butter jar
Sharp scissors, (an adult's job)
Nylon netting, tulle, or fine wire mesh
Electrical or masking tape.
Optional: 2 chenille stems, paint markers, bug stickers
TIP: Use scraps of lace or netting and substitute masking tape and permanent markers to cut down on supply costs.

WHAT TO DO:

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HOW TO GET AN INSECT ZOO! Work with the children to set up a few insect traps on the play yard.
Things you will need:
Four small, clear, plastic cups, Shovels, Peanut butter:

Help the children dig four small holes in the dirt. The holes will need to be the same size as the plastic cups. Lower the plastic cups into the holes so that the brims are even with the Earth. Put a small scoop of peanut butter in each of the cups and cover it with a small layer of loose grass. That’s it! Wait a while and you will get a big surprise. In a few days, you will have an insect zoo for your insect aquarium...release insects after observing.

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 MAKE A "BUG INN"

Materials Needed:
One round oatmeal container
2 feet of fiberglass screening (from a hardware store) or
some donated old screens...
Craft knife (for adults only)
Markers or poster paint

1. Use markers or poster paint to decorate the outside of the oatmeal container.
2. Draw windows and a door on the container. With the craft knife, an adult should cut out windows and cut three sides to form your door, so it opens and closes.
3. Roll the screening so it rests tightly around the inside of the container.
4. Trim so the top edge fits beneath the lid and leave a one inch overlap where the side edges meets.
5. When 'guests' arrive at the Bug Inn, be sure to provide them with food, such as grass, or whatever they were eating when you found them.
6. Place a bottle cap filled with water in the container. When you are done observing your guests, please let them go back to their real homes.
.....This would be suitable for 5 years old and up.

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WHEN INSECTS ARE CAPTURED AND BROUGHT INSIDE...

Be sure to put a small cap full of water in the bug house and some leaves and twigs. Let children watch them, look at them with a magnifying glass and then release them back to their outdoor home.

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SNACKS

Want to turn the above into a Theme?

Just add some of the fun "EDIBLE CREEPY CRAWLIES" to your plans! Yum...6 and 8 leg critters never tasted so good!

PEANUT BUTTER CATERPILLARS
Bananas
Peanut butter
Grapes
Chow Mein noodles
     • Peel and slice a banana. Join the slices together by "gluing" them with peanut butter. Carefully poke two Chow Mein noodles (or break a pretzel stick in half to make two pieces) through the top of the grape. Use more peanut butter to attach the head (grape) to the front of the body, with antennae (Chow Mein noodles) pointing up.
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ANTS IN THE SAND
Crushed graham crackers
Chocolate sprinkles
Snack sized re-sealable plastic bags
  • To crush graham crackers, place inside a large (gallon size) re-sealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crunch crackers through the bag by rolling back and forth over them until they are all in crumb form.
Fill snack sized re-sealable bags halfway with graham cracker crumbs. Add a small handful of chocolate sprinkles to the bags and seal.
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ANT HILL Make  edible ant hills in cups!
Use clear plastic punch cups to see the layers.
1. For the 'dirt" layer--first put chocolate pudding into the cup.
2. Crush graham crackers in a plastic Ziploc bag and pour the crumbs into the cup for the anthill "sand".
3. Add chocolate chips or raisins for the "ants".

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GREAT "BUGGY" VEGGIE  SNACKS...

BUGS ON A LOG...
MAKE 'LOGS' from any of these foods:

• CELERY STALKS (cut to about 3 inches long)
• APPLES (cut in halves or quarters with cores removed)
• CARROT STICKS (cut to about 3 inches long)

FILL THE 'LOGS' WITH A SPREAD:

• Cream Cheese
• Cream cheese and pineapple
• Cheese and pimento
• Peanut butter
• Egg salad

SPRINKLE 'BUGS' ON THE SPREAD:

• Raisins
• Golden raisins
• Dried cranberries or cherries
• Raisenettes candy
• Unsweetened cereal
• Sunflower seeds
• Chopped peanuts of finely chopped walnuts
• Mix in chopped apple or crushed pinapple

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COOKIE SPIDERS
Black or chocolate licorice twists
Fudge sandwich cookies
Chocolate frosting
Red cinnamon candies or chocolate chips or raisins for eyes

• Cut licorice in half.
• Remove the top of each sandwich cookie; press 8 licorice pieces into the fudge center to resemble spider legs.
• Spread a little chocolate frosting over the licorice; replace cookie tops.
• Frost the tops of the spider cookies with frosting. Place red cinnamon candies on top for eyes.
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MUENSTER CHEESE BEETLES

Crunchy Chow Mein noodles
Muenster cheese (or other soft block cheese)
• Cut the cheese into 2" x 1" rectangular blocks. Gently insert three Chow Mein noodles on each side of the cheese blocks for legs. Using two broken Chow Mein noodles, insert into the "head" as antennae.
Tip: Use softer cheese such as gouda, Havarti, Monterey jack, or mozzarella so cheese does not crumble Chow Mein noodle are inserted.

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MARSHMALLOW SPIDERS
You'll need a package of large marshmallows, pretzel sticks or chow mein noodles and mini M & M's or raisins.
  • Have the kids push four pretzel sticks or noodles into each side of the marshmallow as the spider's legs. These will make the marshmallow body of the spider actually stand on their spider legs.
Use another stick to poke two eye holes in the marshmallow; insert M&M's or raisins into place as the spider's eyes.

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CRACKER SPIDERS with peanut butter or cheese spread!
These arachnid treats are easy to make and they look positively lifelike crawling across the snack plate.
For each:
2 round crackers
2 teaspoons smooth peanut butter (or cheese spread if allergies)
8 small pretzel sticks
2 raisins
  • With the peanut butter, make a cracker sandwich. Insert eight pretzel "legs" into the filling. With a dab of peanut butter, set two raisin "eyes" on top. Makes 1.
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THE ABOVE ARE ALSO GREAT WITH NUTELLA
Ingredients:
8 Ritz crackers
4-5 Tbsp. chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
thin pretzel sticks for decorating
Raisins or white chocolate chips for decorating
Directions:
1. Spread approximately one tablespoon of the chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella) on four Ritz crackers. Top each with another Ritz cracker to make a sandwich.
2. Insert pretzel sticks on the sides of each cracker to make a spider's legs. You will be able to fit about six pretzel sticks on each spider.
3. Make the spider's eyes by dabbing a bit of Nutella on the back of two raisins or white chocolate chips and placing them on top of the cracker sandwich. Make the spider's mouth the same way, using the Nutella as glue for the white chocolate chips or raisins, and arranging them in the shape of a mouth.
4. Serve and eat!
Makes 4 crunchy spiders

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EASY CATERPILLAR CAKE...Ingredients: Cake mix (Confetti nice for this)
Frosting
Green or yellow food coloring
Coconut
Pretzels 
Prepare cake mix as directed on box and bake in bunt pan.
Cut the cake in half and lay the two pieces together IN A CURVE---for the caterpillar body.

Color the frosting green or yellow (your choice) and spread on cooled cake.
Sprinkle coconut so the caterpillar looks fuzzy.
Add straight pretzels for antennas.
Add other facial details as desired

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CREEPY CRAWLERS
1 lg. pkg. butterscotch chips
1 lg. pkg. milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter
1 (5 oz.) can chow mein noodles
1 to 2 tbsp. water
  • Melt chips and butter in double boiler or glass bowl in microwave. Stir to mix. Gradually add small amounts of water to thicken mixture. Stir in noodles and mix to coat in chocolate mixture. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.

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BUTTERFLY BITES #1

Put out apple slices, mini carrots, pretzel sticks and raisins or dried cranberries. Have kids use apple slices for the wings, the carrot for the body and pretzel sticks for antennae, Decorate with raisins. Photo by KidActivities

 

BUTTERFLY BITES #2

Ingredients:
Stalks of celery, Twist pretzels, Pretzel pieces, Raisins and Spreadable cheddar, any cream cheese or peanut butter

Directions:
Wash celery and cut in half crosswise. Fill each celery piece with 1-tablespoon cheddar cheese, cream cheese or peanut butter. Add two pretzel twists for wings. Use pretzel pieces for antennae and raisins for decoration. Eat your butterfly before it files away!

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DRINK BUG JUICE! Sprinkle a few raisins in glasses/cups of apple juice or apple cider...

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ARTS & CRAFTS (Critter Jar up above...)

A cool idea from Shannon Stewart at Stetson School...INSECTS UNDER MAGNIFYING GLASS

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 A "Bumble Bee picture" is in Art Gallery: Grades 1 to 3. These images were made by 3rd graders.

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 CREATE AN EGG CARTON BUG!

Materials: Cotton balls, egg cartons, paint/markers, google eyes, pipe cleaners, construction paper, glitter, any other material the children may want to use.
Cut the egg cartons in separate 1 to 3 hump-pieces and put them out with a variety of the above supplies. See where the children's imaginations will take them! 

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CATERPILLAR
Materials:
Plastic-Foam meat tray
Hole puncher
Yarn and Pen

• Cut circles from a thoroughly sanitized plastic-foam meat tray.
• With a hole puncher, punch a hole through the center of each circle.
• Tie a knot in one end of a piece of yarn.
• Push the other end of the yarn through the hole in each circle.
• When your caterpillar is as long as you want, knot the second end of the yarn, leaving some yarn behind the knot for a tail.
• Draw a face on the front circle. You now have a Caterpillar!
• You can also make the caterpillars with long sections of egg cartons-such as the above bugs!

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BUTTERFLY FEET
Paint the bottom of children's feet with non-toxic tempera paint. Have the child step onto a piece of paper with their feet and heels together. When dry, have children add antennae with crayons, markers or yarn.
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FINGER PRINT BUGS
Dip thumbs in washable paint to  make 'thumbprint' bodies on paper. Have children decorate insect bodies by drawing in legs and antennae.

PAINT THUMB PRINT PICTUES with Watercolor Tins.

1.  Prime the paints by placing a bead of water on each color.
2.  Stick your thumb in a watercolor pan.
3.  Make a thumbprint on the paper.
4.  When it is dry, add lines to make it a bug.

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 Back to top of page

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Visit the Joke Category of Fleas, Flies & Spiders 

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GAMES

PLAY...CATERPILLAR IN THE GARDEN
1.  Divide your guests into two teams.
2.  Line the children up in two columns, one child behind the other, at the start line.
3.  Have each child put his or her hands on the waist of the child in front of them, forming a "caterpillar."
4,  When you say, "Wiggle!" each team must run, staying connected, to the finish line.
5.  If a team becomes disconnected, they must stop and reconnect before continuing.
6.  The first team to the finish line wins.
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BEES IN THE GARDEN
Need:
A Large Piece of White Poster Board
A Black Marker
Any Colored Marker (optional)
Scissors or an X-Acto Knife
At Least 3 Plastic Yellow Easter Eggs
1.  Draw a flower shape on the large piece of poster board.
2.  If this game is being played by younger children, make sure the center of the flower is about 7" - 8" in diameter. If  youth are older, make the center smaller (i.e. no smaller than 5" in diameter).
3.  Cut the center out of the flower.
4.  Color or paint the flower petals.
5.  Attach the flower to a stake or stick that can be placed in the ground.
6.  Make the three "bees" by drawing black stripes and antennae on plastic yellow Easter eggs.
TO PLAY: Place your flower in the ground, and draw a line about 6 feet in front of it. Line children up behind the line. Let each child try to toss each "bee" through the center of the flower.

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SONGS AND FINGER PLAY

HUNTING BUGS (Author Unknown)
Sung to: "A- Hunting we will go"

A-hunting we will go
A -hunting we will go
We'll catch a ______ (insert any insect here)
and put it in a box...
(loudly) and then we'll let it go!

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BUGS

June bug, stink bug,
Ladybug, chinch bug,
Water bug, pink bug,
Please-don't-pinch bug!

Horsefly, housefly,
Dragonfly, deer fly,
Firefly, fruit fly,
Buzzing-in-your-ear fly!

Honeybee, bumblebee,
Queen bee, drone bee,
Worker bee, nurse bee,
Leave-me-alone bee!

Gypsy moth, luna moth,
Beetle and mosquito,
Bugs and insects
Really are neat-o!

Cockroach, katydid,
Cricket and cicada,
Grasshopper, mantis,
Catch you all later!
Author Unknown

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WE'RE GOING ON A BUG HUNT...
Rhymed to: "We're Going on a Bear Hunt"

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh my! A bee!
A black & yellow bee,
Flying over the flowers.
BUZZ.....

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh, my! An ant!
A tiny, black ant,
Crawling through the grass.
Shh...

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh, my! A grasshopper!
A big, green grasshopper,
Hopping around the tree.
Boing, boing...

We're going on a bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh, my! A butterfly!
A pretty, orange butterfly,
Floating in the sky.
Whoosh, whoosh...

We're going on bug hunt!
We're going to catch some big ones.
What a sunny day!
Are you ready? OK!

Oh my! A spider!
A big black spider,
Creeping on the tree. Creep, creep...
(Author Unknown)

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FUZZY WUZZY CATERPILLAR

Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar in the garden creeps
He spins himself a blanket and soon falls fast asleep.
Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar wakes up by and by...
To find he has wings of beauty, changed to a butterfly.

Pretty little butterfly, what do you do all day?
I fly around the flowerpots, nothing' to do but play.
Nothing' to do but play, darling', nothing' to do but play.
So fly butterfly, fly butterfly, don't waste your time away. (Author Unknown)

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If you like Insects... Click here for our great 'WORM THEME'!

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 Looking for a different theme? Think about worms! Fun in the spring time and of course in the Fall! (Apples and worms go together!) Art, Crafts, Science, Games, Snacks, Book Worm Slogans, Finger Play, and more!

 ART & CRAFTS

  WORM ART  

  • Dip pieces of yarn into paint and drag it across paper to make squiggles, lines, etc.
  • You can also use COOKED NOODLES for worms. (See below)

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PAINT WITH COOKED SPAGHETTI

1.  Cook spaghetti and add some oil to the water so that the noodles do not stick together.
2.  Drain and place in a small container for the kids.
3.  Set out 2-3 plates filled with different colors of tempera paint and some white paper.
4.  Show children how to drag a piece of spaghetti through the paint to create interesting designs on the paper.

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WORM ART #3 Materials: 8 1/2 X 11 paper
Brown liquid tempera
Small jars, 6 inches of string
A clothes pin
   •Mix tempera to a consistency that won't drip-but not too thick.
   •Pour it into jars.
   •If possible observe a live worm; discuss how worms crawl, wiggle squirm.
   •Have children dip a string into a jar of tempera, keeping one end paint-free (Use clothes pin if   necessary).
   •Have children drag the string across their paper as a worm would crawl or wiggle. Encourage the children to continue dipping their strings and painting until their papers are covered with 'worm tracks.'
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WORM NOTE HOLDER CRAFT
For one Holder Use:
1 clip type clothespin
Four 1" green pom-poms
Two 6 mm google eyes
Glue
Small magnet strip
Glue the pom-poms to one end of the clothespin.
Glue two eyes to the end pom-pom.
Glue the magnet strip on the back of the clothespin to make a magnet.
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MAKE A GARDEN WORM (Craft)
Need:
Opaque tights or stockings, cut to thigh length
Rubber bands
Plastic grocery bags, preferably all the same color.
Scrap of yarn
Lids from a plastic bottle & buttons.
Hot glue
 
1. Wad up two grocery bags into a ball, and stuff into the toe of the stocking. Tie it off using a rubber band.
2. Press a second ball of plastic next to the first, and tie it off with another rubber band.
3. Repeat these steps until reaching the end of the stocking.
4. Glue a button inside of each lid to make "eyes".
5. Glue the finished eyes to the toe of the nylon. Finish off your garden worm by gluing a yarn mouth into a friendly smile.
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INCHWORM MAGNET
Materials:
5 pompoms
1 wiggle eye
1 craft stick
Glue
Magnet
1.  Glue the pompoms to the craft stick.
2.  Glue eye to first pompom.
3.  You can glue a small piece of red yarn for a mouth if you like.
4.  Attach magnet to back.

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PLAY DOUGH that LOOKS LIKE MUD! (WORMS LIKE DIRT!)
Bring 3 cups water and 3 tablespoons vegetable oil to a boil.
While the mixture is heating, put 3 cups all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cream of tarter, and 1 1/2 cups salt into a large bowl. Carefully mix the wet and dry together and knead until smooth.
For the MUD additions, add brown tempera paint (either dry or liquid) and 2 or 3 Tablespoons of coffee grounds. It really looks like dirt!

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APPLE WORM PUPPET#1 (Apples and Worms go together!)

You will need a 4" x 4" piece of cardboard.
   •Cut the cardboard into a large apple shape.
   •Next, cut out a small finger hole somewhere on the apple.
   •Have child color the apple with a red crayon or marker.
   •Children hold up the apple with one hand while they stick their pointer finger from the opposite hand into the worm hole and wiggle.

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MAKE A WORM PUPPET #2
Materials:
Small cup,
Brown paint or markers
Black marker
Scissors

   •Take the cup and cut out the bottom.
   •Paint or color the cup brown; is the dirt from which your worm peers. 
   •Draw a face on the tip your index finger (Finger the worm.)
   •Stick the worm through the cup and you have a fun worm puppet.

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MAKE THIS SNAKE-PAINT IT BROWN and call it a WORM!

Materials:
Paper towel tubes, paint, google eyes, decorations of choice

•Cut the paper towel roll into six sections of similar width.

•Paint the sections- decorating with glitter glu, and other details as desired.
•Once the paint is dry,apply googly eyes.
•Loop yarn around last section and tie
•Thread the yarn through the rest of the section, leaving it loose at the head as a leash to pull the snake. Idea/Photo adapted from FreePreschoolCrafts by Devanie Angel

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GAMES

1. THE WORM SQUIRM Obstacle Course Game
... Great for a WORM THEME party"! This is an obstacle course made of pillows, boxes etc. when it's your turn, you squirm like a worm on your belly to complete the obstacle course

 

2. GUMMY WORM HUNT CONTEST

-This one is fun!
Give each child a plate with three gummy worms covered in whipped cream, and a cup.
The first child to find the gummy worms with their mouths and get them into their cup is the winner! No Hands used!!!  

Be sure to have your camera ready-a good photo op!

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3. SNAKES AND WORMS
(You can call this game anything you want. An idea is to use brown and green yarn and call it snakes and worms...)

1. Cut two colors of yarn, each about 20 feet long. (If you have a large group playing at the same time--you may need 3 colors of yarn and cut the pieces longer)
2. Next cut the long length into many pieces.
3. Hide the pieces of yarn outside.
4. When time to play, carefully explain rules and regulations to children.

Form two teams with one or two kids on each side as captains.
They will tie each yarn piece that is brought to them, to the next yarn piece.
The team with the longest finished yarn (Worm or Snake)  wins!

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4. WIGGLE WORM RELAY
Form relay lines.
1.  Everyone in each line puts their left hand between their legs and the person behind grabs that hand with their right hand.
2.  Then they run at a given signal to the other end of the playing area and back.
3.  The first team to return 'intact' wins!

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5. 'WORM' THROUGH THE APPLE...

 1. Have children stand in a straight line with their feet apart.
2. The child at the end is the "worm."
3. They crawl through the "apples" (children's spread feet/legs).
4. When the player reaches the front of the apple line, the next person in line becomes the "worm".

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6. THE INCH WORM WALK...

1. Stand with feet together, bend, and touch hands to the floor-- just in front of your feet.
2. Walk your hands forward - without moving your feet up - until you can't go any farther.
3. Next walk your feet up to your hands. Continue...
4. If some of the children cannot do this, they could always lie down on the floor and wiggle forward any way they can.

Play some music to go with the movement!!! 

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7. PLAY 'WORMS' WITH A PARACHUTE!

Place four to six skipping ropes on the chute. By shaking the chute, the children try to shake the 'worms' off.

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SCIENCE 

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 SNACK IDEAS

WORMY SNACK MIX

Ingredients
1 cup miniature pretzels
1 cup miniature Teddy Grahams snacks
1 cup dry roasted peanuts (If no allergies)
1 cup m&m's
1 cup gummy worms
Mix together and enjoy.

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EASY WORM SHAPED CAKE

This idea is adapted from a 'Caterpillar Cake' in the Insects-Creepy Crawlie Theme. I usually don't comment--although it's a cute idea-- I think it would look better as a caterpillar--will make that one next time! lol Barb) Photo by Kid Activities

Need: Cake mix-any flavor, Chocolate Frosting, Edible facial feature decorations

Directions:
1. Prepare cake mix as directed on box and bake in bunt pan.
2. Cut the cake in half and lay the two pieces together IN A CURVE--for the worm body body. Spread frosting on cooled cake. 3. Add facial details as desired. For eyes you could use several  foods such as maraschino cherries, dot candy, banana circles, etc. This one has white jelly beans with a frosting dot in the center-- and a leather fruit strip mouth.

Make it green and you have a snake! Make two bunt cakes to make extra long.

You could also put together frosted cupcakes in a worm shape! Put the first cupcake on its side and decorate with facial features...

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WORMY APPLE!
Help kids slice apples into thirds and remove seeds from the center. Have them reassemble the apple with peanut butter (or cream cheese) and gummy worms between each layer. Worms should be hanging out from apple.

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WORMS ON A BUN
Try this  twist of the traditional hot dog and bun.
Ingredients:
Hot dogs
Hamburger rolls
Ketchup
Directions:
1. Cut the hot dogs into thin slices and score the edges (about three cuts per slice).
2. Boil or microwave until the slices curl like wiggly worms. Serve three or four worms to a bun. For an extra-icky touch, add a few squiggles of ketchup.
Source: FamilyFun.com

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WORM BURGERS

1 1/2 c Mung bean sprouts
1 lb Ground beef
1 Egg
Salt and pepper to taste
Mayonnaise
Ketchup
6 Hamburger buns
Mixing bowl
Large Frying pan
Spatula
Aluminum foil
Platter

1. Wash sprout (worms) with warm water. Using clean hands, mix one cup of the sprouts, the ground beef and the raw egg together in a bowl. Reserve the remaining srpouts until later.

2. Form burgers into six patties. Place in fry pan and srpinkle with salt and pepper. With an adult's help, cook on medium heat until they are well browned underneath. Carefully turn the patties. Season again and cook until the second side is well browned.

3. Place on open buns and serve with the worms sprinkled on top as a garnish. For Grossness--don't forget the pus and blood (Mayo and Kdetchup). Serves 6
From  Book: Gross Grub by Cheryl Porter Random House ISBN 0-679-86693-0

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WORMY ICE CUBES
Cup gummy worms or other creepy crawler candy
2 ice cube trays
1 quart fruit punch
   • Arrange gummy worms in ice cube trays, 1 worm per cube. Fill tray with fruit punch as you normally would water. Freeze until solid, 8 hours or overnight. Place into punch bowl/drinks minutes before serving

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SLUDGE with worms (Green Jell-O)
   • Fill clear plastic glasses with green Jello. When the Jello has almost set, add gummy worms, making sure a few of them are escaping over the rim of the glass. 
   • If desired, when the Jello has set, add a dollop of mud (chocolate pudding).

 

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WORM AND DIRT CUPS...

#1 INDIVIDUAL DIRT CUPS (COOKIES ON TOP)
 
Canned or Pre-made Chocolate Pudding Mix
Milk (If making pudding)
Oreo Cookies
Gummy Worms
Cool Whip
Cups
Spoons
Zip Lock Bags

  • Place Oreo cookies in a zip lock bag; have children break them up by banging the bag. Cover the bottom of cups with crumbled Oreos. 

  • Combined pudding mix and milk to make your pudding, pour into the cups--leaving 1/2 an inch of space at the top.   

 • Refrigerate pudding until set. Add crumbled Oreos to the top of each cup and garnish with a gummy worm.

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#2 DIRT CUP VERSION ( COOKIES IN PUDDING)
2 cups of cold milk
1 package (4 serving size) JELL-O Instant Pudding (chocolate flavor)
3-1/2 cups (8 ounce container) COOL WHIP whipped topping, thawed
1 package (16 ounces) chocolate sandwich cookies (like OREOS) (crush them into tiny pieces in a plastic bag)
Gummy worms 
Measuring cup
Medium mixing bowl
Wire whisk
Rubber scraper or large spoon
Measuring spoons
 8-10 paper or plastic cups (8 ounce size)
 
1. Pour the milk into the mixing bowl and add the pudding mix. Beat with the wire whisk until well blended (about two minutes). Let pudding stand for five minutes.

2. Stir whipped topping and 1/2 of the crushed cookies into the pudding (very gently) with rubber scraper until mixture is all the same color.

3. Place about 1 tablespoon of the remaining crushed cookies into the bottom of each cup.
 
4. Fill cups about 3/4 full with pudding mixture. Top each cup with the rest of the crushed cookies.

5. Add gummy worms and insects to decorate. Put cups into the refrigerator for about one hour to chill them.
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#3 OREO PUDDING WORM CUPS (SAND AND DIRT CUPS)
Ingredients:
4 cups of cold milk
1 package (4-serving size) Jell-O chocolate flavor instant pudding
1 package ( 4-serving size) Jell-O vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip topping, thawed
18 Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed, divided
8 plastic cups (6-7 oz)
Gummy worms
 
1. Prepare instant chocolate and vanilla puddings separately, with two cupsof cold milk each , as directed on packages. Let stand for five minutes.
2.Gently stir 1/2 cup of cool whip into each bowl of pudding. Sprinkle onetablespoon of Oreo crumbs into bottom of plastic cups. Top each with 1/4 cupof vanilla pudding, 1 tablespoon Oreo crumbs and 1/4 cup chocolate pudding.Sprinkle evenly with remaining Oreo crumbs. Refrigerate at least one hour.
3. Insert one or more gummy worms a into each cup just beforeserving.
Makes 8 Sand & Dirt Cups.

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#4 WORMS IN DIRT (USING JELL-O))

  • You'll need clear plastic cups, orange or green Jello, gummy worms and crumbled Oreo cookies.
  • You can refrigerate the Jell-o right in the cups- place a gummy worm in the bottom of the cup before refrigerating.
  • When the Jello sets, place a layer of crumbled cookies on the top and place a few gummy worms 'crawling' out of the 'dirt.'
  • Kids love this party treat!  Add a dollop of whipped cream if desired.

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Make a DIRT and WORM CAKE IN FLOWER POT

1. Bake enough cake mixes to accommodate number of kids and regular pans.
2. Let  cakes cool and cut into approximately two-inch cubes.
3. Purchase a very large terra-cotta pot. Wash it well and dry it. Line the bottom with foil to cover the hole.
4. Fill the pot about half way with cake cubes. Spoon a layer of pudding onto it. Sprinkle with gummy worms.
5. Add the remaining cake cubes. Cover with chocolate whipped cream. Sprinkle with chocolate cookie crumbs or chocolate chips. Add a few more gummy worms on top.
7. Scoop it out for guests with a brand new, washed gardening trough.

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MISCELLANEOUS IDEAS: 

1. Find BOOKS ABOUT WORMS and what they do.
 
2. Encourage children to try CRAWLING like worms.
 
3. Help children MAKE UP A SONG about worms.
 
4. TOUCH a worm, how does it feel?

5. For fun-What do your kids think the proverb "The Early Bird Catches the Worm" means? 

6. What do the kids think "Book Worm" means? There are two kinds of bookworms..... children and grownups that like to read are often called "bookworms". It's a good thing to be called a bookworm! A bookworm also refers to any type of insect which infests books---it's the first definition you're looking for!

 A good activity to go along with this could be making a book worm bookmark! (See below)

7. Watch the 2006 Movie "How To Eat Fried Worms" (PG for mild bullying and some crude humor) Or get the book by Thomas Rockwell (At Amazon.com--really inexpensive used!) Be sure to discuss the aspects that make this film PG.

  

 8.  Be a BOOK WORM; make a bookmark to keep pages from wiggling away!

1. Draw a worm on card-stock paper - large and wide-enough to mark a page well. (You can have children make their own bookworm or you can make a template for them to trace)
2. Cut out the worms. With a craft punch, make a hole at the top.
3. Now personalize the worms! Make swirls, dots, and lines in different colors. Add a silly face, some words, or the name of a favorite book.
4. Flip the bookmark over and decorate the other side a whole new way!
5. Embellish the bookmark with ribbon, string, or yarn tied into the hole at the top. Add self-adhesive google eyes or other decorations, too.
6. If you can, laminate them to use repeatedly. (Source Crayola.com)

The above bookmark idea and photo is from About.com

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A SELECTION OF SLOGANS WHICH COULD BE USED ON BOOKMARKS ARE:

• Time for reading
• Reading is the next best thing to....
• Switch on to reading
• I'm a bookworm
• Sssh! I'm reading
• Dive into a book
• Enter a different world - read!
• Enjoy a book- get reading!
• I've got my head in a book
• Have you chosen a good book?
• R is for reading
• 54321 READ!
• Ready, steady, READ!
• Reading is fun!
• I ♥ reading!
• Reading is cool!
• Reading forever!
• I ♥ 2 read!
• Make friends with a book!
• What's inside your book?
• Born to read
• I'm off to see the world - read!
• I'm ready for reading!
• On your mark, get set, READ!

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SONG AND FINGER PLAY...

WIGGLE WORMS

Here are some worms who are, oh, so sad.
They've lost all the wiggles they once had.
They wonder if you, just for today.
Would lend your wiggles so they can play

Wiggle them up and wiggle them down (have the children wiggle arms up and down)
Wiggle your worms around and round (wiggle arms around in a circle)
Wiggle them high and wiggle them low (wiggle arms high and wiggle arms low)
Wiggle them fast and wiggle them slow (wiggle arms fast and wiggle arms slow)

Wiggle them over your shoes and socks (wiggle finger over shoe, and wiggle finger on sock)
Then wiggle them back up to their box (have children pretend to place their worm in a box on their lap)

Thank you for sharing your wiggles today.
You'll get them back when it's  time to play.
Now that your wiggles are all gone from you,
I'll tell you what we are going to do.

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OOEY GOOEY

Ooey Gooey was a worm
A mighty worm was he...
He crawled upon the Railroad track
The train he did not see...
Ooey Gooey!!! (Say loudly)

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WIGGLE WORM
(Have the children wiggle their fingers, arms or entire bodies as they sing the song)
Tune: Did You Ever See a Lassie?

Did you ever see a wiggle worm.
A wiggle worm, a wiggle worm?
Did you ever see a wiggle worm
Move this way and that?

Move this way and that way,
Move this way and that way,
Did you ever see a wiggle worm
Move this way and that?

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JOKES ABOUT INSECTS

Why was the centipede dropped from the insect football team?
He took too long to put his boots on!

What does a caterpillar do on New Years Day?
Turns over a new leaf!

What pillar doesn't need holding up?
A caterpillar!
 
What goes 99-clonk, 99-clonk, 99-clonk?
A centipede with a wooden leg!

What do you get if you cross a centipede and a chicken?
Enough drumsticks to feed an army!

What is worse than an alligator with toothache?
A centipede with athlete's foot!

Why wouldn’t they let the butterfly into the dance?
Because it was a moth ball!

What’s smaller than an ant’s mouth?
An ant’s dinner!

Where would you put an injured insect?
In an antbulance!

How do we know that insects are so clever?
Because they always know when your eating outside!

What do insects learn at school?
Mothmatics

What's the biggest moth in the world?
A mammoth!

Why is it better to be a grasshopper than a cricket?
Because grasshoppers can play cricket but crickets can't play grasshopper!

What is green and can jump a mile in a minute?
A grasshopper with hiccups!

What did one firefly say to the other?
Got to glow now!

Why was the centipede late?
Because he was playing "This little Piggy" with his baby brother!

What do you get if you cross a centipede and a parrot?
A walkie talkie!

What is the definition of a caterpillar?
A worm in a fur coat!

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JOKES ABOUT FLEAS

What do you call a cheerful flea?
A hop-timist!

What did the clean dog say to the insect?
Long time no flea!

What did one flea say to the other after a night out?
Shall we walk home or take a dog?

What did the romantic flea say?
I love you aw-flea!

Why did the stupid boy wear a turtleneck sweater?
To hide his flea collar!

How to fleas travel?
Itch hiking!

What is the difference between a flea bitten dog and a bored visitor?
Ones going to itch and the other is itching to go!

How do you find where a flea has bitten you?
Start from scratch!

What is a flea's favorite book?
The itch-hikers guide to the galaxy!

Two fleas where running across the top of a cereal packet? "Why are we running so fast?" said one.
Because it says "Tear along the dotted line."

What is the difference between fleas and dogs?
Dogs can have fleas but fleas can’t have dogs!

What do you call a flea that lives in an idiots ear?
A space invader!

What is the most faithful insect?
A flea, once they find someone they like they stick to them!

Why did the flea fail his exams?
He wasn’t up to scratch!

How does a flea get from place to place?
By itch-iking!

What did one flea say to the other flea?
Shall we walk or take the dog?

What goes "snap, crackle and pop"?
A firefly with a short circuit!

How do fireflies start a race?
Ready steady glow!

What did one firefly say to the other?
Got to glow now!

Why did the firefly keep stealing things?
He was light fingered!

If there are 5 flies in the kitchen,how do you know which one is the American Football player?
The one in the sugar bowl!

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JOKES ABOUT FLIES

What is the difference between a fly and a bird?
A bird can fly but a fly can't bird!

How do you keep flies out of the kitchen?
Put a pile of manure in the living room!

What do you call a fly with no wings?
A walk!

What has four wheels and flies?
A rubbish bin.

Why were the flies playing football in the saucer?
They where playing for the cup!

Why did the fly fly?
Because the spider spied 'er!

What do you call a fly with no wings?
A walk!

JOKES ABOUT ARACHNIDS: SPIDERS

What do you call 100 spiders on a tire?
A spinning wheel!

What did the spider say when he broke his new web?
Darn it!

What is red and dangerous?
Strawberry and tarantula jelly!

What did the wife spider say to her husband when he tried to explain why he was late?
Your spinning me a yarn here!

What is a spiders favorite TV show?
The newly web game!

Why are spiders like tops?
They are always spinning!

What do you get if you cross a tarantula with a rose?
I'm not sure, but I wouldn't try smelling it!

What do you call a big Irish spider?
Paddy long legs!

Why did the spider buy a car?
So he could take it out for a spin!
 
What does a spider do when he gets angry?
He goes up the wall!

What do you get if you cross a spider and an elephant?
I'm not sure, but if you see one walking across the ceiling then run before it collapses!

What did the spider say to the fly?
We're getting married do you want to come to the webbing?
 
Why are spiders good swimmers?
They have webbed feet!

How do you spot a modern spider?
He doesn't have a web he had a website!

What kind of doctors are like spiders?
Spin doctors!

What happened when the chef found a daddy long legs in the salad?
It became a daddy short legs!

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