The Very Busy Spider

We started the day reading The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle.

After reading I tested my boys' reading comprehension and asked them to name as many animals in the book as they could remember. They did pretty good!

We talked a bit about the anatomy of spiders and did some counting of spider legs.

We made spiders out of egg cartons and pipe cleaners.

We made a web out of masking tape and put flies on them that we printed and cutout from the computer.

We did some counting and addition and subtraction with the flies.

Kaden was disappointed when I told him we didn't have the things to make a spider snack, so he said he was going to figure something out. He used marshmallows, peanuts and fiber one cereal. So creative! I'm glad I don't always have the "right" things for projects. It makes us have to think outside the box.

We can't wait to learn more about spiders this week!

The Grouchy Ladybug

Today starts our first day on reading and doing activities based on the book The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. This is the first unit I've come across that I didn't have to go searching and thinking too hard about extra activities that better fit my boys (and what a blessing because I don't have the energy to do all that right now). Found all the ideas at this link here.

If you're not familiar with Eric Carle books I suggest you check them out. The pictures and stories are great on top of teaching great life lessons and lots to choose from for math, reading and science activities.

After reading the story we read some other fact and fiction books about ladybugs.

Then my boys drew their own ladybugs.

Kaden drew one with a mohawk.

Will kind of got carried away with the black dots!

Kaden is working on drawing the other animals from the book in his own mini book (to be revealed tomorrow).

Will colored a page of ladybugs that we did counting with.

We made ladybug snacks (english muffin, cream cheese w/ food coloring and raisins).

We did lots of counting with the book and little ladybugs that my boys colored.

What a fun unit!