These bug-themed trays are perfect for kids that love learning about bugs and the world around them!
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2 Part Bug Puzzles
What You Need
How to Play
Print out the printable, cut the two part puzzles pieces and laminate them for durability. These 2 part puzzles are great practice for toddler school!
Ant Craft
What You Need
How to Play
Trace an outline on the regular white paper. From the black construction paper cut out circles (for the body), long rectangles (for the antennae), small rectangles (for the legs). Have your toddler match the different shapes to the right place on the paper. Have them glue the pieces into place when they have made the correct match. Attatch the googly eyes at the end.
Bug and Flower 1:1 Correspondence
What You Need
- Plastic Bugs
- Fake Flowers
- Tongs (optional)
How to Play
Have your toddler put on bug onto the top of each flower. This activity helps with one to one correspondence. This is a wonderful Montessori activity for toddlers, especially if you use tongs to pick up the bugs.
Bug Stickers
What You Need
How to Play
This tray just has some cool bug stickers and some paper. Playing with stickers is great because it helps your toddler practice their fine motor skills.
Paperclips onto Number Cards
What You Need
How to Play
This toddler tray has some bug number cards that you can download for free. 🙂 It also has enough paperclips to correspond with each number card. I also made the paperclips color coordinate, but that is purely optional.
Your toddler should put the same number of paperclips as the number that is printed on the card. If you have an older toddler, I would definitely have your child actually clip the paperclips onto the card. For younger children, have them place the paperclips on top of the cards.
Shape Activity 9
Shape Activity 10
Bug Tot Book
Read this book at least once during the time that these trays are out. If I am working with my preschooler, I’ll have my toddler look at this book on his own. You shouldn’t expect your toddler to learn how to read by looking at this book. This book is simply for exposure to words and letters and concepts of print.
Printables
Bug Puzzles (Bug tot pack pg. 5), Pre-Writing Practice (Bug tot pack pg. 4).
Featured Toy
Themed Books
Little Ladybug by: Chronicle Books
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by: Bob Barner
I Like Bugs by: Lorena Siminovich
Big Bug, Little Bug by: Paul Stickland
Bug Hunt Kit
You can find these cool bug hunt kits on amazon. Put them on a tray with a plastic bug. Have your toddler put the plastic bug into the container. After we did this for a while, we decided to go on a bug hunt outside and try to find a real bug to put in the container. We’ll let it go after some observation, though. 😉
Envelope Picture Match
What You Need
How to Play
On the second page of the free printable above cut out the bug pictures and laminate the four bigger cards. Tape or glue the smaller picture to the out side of the envelope. Have your toddler match the bug card with the right envelope and put it inside.
This has been a really fun set of trays so far and I’m especially excited to see how my toddler’s interest changes after going on a bug hunt for real live bugs. He loves doing toddler school. I have enjoyed how we’ve being doing toddler school (and have some awesome plans for June), but in July I am going to change up our toddler school just a bit. So, be looking for some changes to our toddler trays in July. Don’t worry, I’ll still have some awesome trays for you in June! 🙂