We enjoy creating opportunities for learning that come from a child’s idea. After watching a few ants in the yard, my daughter decided she wanted to make an Ant for her Egg Carton Craft. I gave her the supplies and she went to work. She knew she wanted legs, antennae and eyes for her ant. She needed a little bit of help to start a few holes for the pipe cleaners but that was about it. She played with the ant all afternoon once she created it, and I found her singing the “Ants Go Marching” song as she was playing. She asked how do you spell “Ant” and I saw this as a teachable moment!
Here’s where I want to give my little “Teacher’s Spin On” Playtime. Sometimes play is just play and it’s so important for children to have opportunities throughout their day for imaginary play.
The very next day we created a big letter A and added Ants marching up and down the A. She thought it was so much fun. I also noticed when we were outside the next day that there were a few ants on the front side walk, we took a moment to watch and observe had a science moment. I found a few more printable online that helped to encourage us to talk about the parts of an ant and the life cycle of an ant. We took a little trip to the library and found a few Ant books to check out too.
Here are The Educators’ Spin On It we encourage you to take a simple art project and turn it into a learning opportunity. You can incorporate fine motor skills, literacy, writing, math and science all into an art project and make it an overall hands on experience that is developmentally appropriate for your child.
Ant Themed Resources to Print
Activity Sheet for Ant Numbers
The Ants Go Marching Printable Song Sheet
Ant Observation Sheet
Ant Life Cycle
Little Black Ant Song by Sharon McDonald
Counting Ants” Itty Bitty Book & Lesson Plan
Anatomy of an Ant
We hope you’ve enjoyed Our Spin On how to extend Egg Carton Crafts into Learning fun!
I’ve discovered that you can make almost anything from an egg carton. It’s truly up to your child’s imagination how many things they can discover and create with a few simple supplies: paper, markers, feathers, pipe cleaners, or paint. Animals, Modes of Transportation, Concepts in Nature all can be created with a recycled Egg Carton.
Here’s are some of my favorite Egg Carton Crafts that I discovered while searching for you. Check all the creative bloggers that are linking up below too, get inspired!
Animals
Bunny Chick Caterpillar Butterfly Ladybug Bee Crab Lobster Turtle Fish Jellyfish Alligator Pig Elephant Bird
Seasonal
Bat Spider Turkey Christmas Tree Snowman Heart
Transportation
Boat Bus Firetruck Train
Nature
Tree Flowers Tulips Nest
Wow! Very cute and adorable. Awesome and perfect for the kids! I really loved the materials you put to complete the features the ant. We did an Egg Carton Color Sorting Activity game out of the same materials you used. You should check it out! 🙂
EarlyLearning.Momtrusted.com: Preschool Egg Carton Color Sorting Activity
This is an important learning technique. Thanks for these helpful tips. Anyway, have your child eat Healthy Food for the brain's proper development.
Love it. You have a beautiful blog with a great purpose and resources. Such a fun challenge.
It's very imaginative. I am itching to join this challenge and see what my daughter will do.
Very adorable! I'm loving this week's tinker lab challenge!
Thanks for sharing with Learning Laboratory at Mama Smiles =)
I love this ant and I know a little boy that would as well (and Kim we've done it again – check out our first letter recognition post this week!!!!)
What a great collection of learning activities for ants! Creating models is such a great way to spark interest in learning.
I’m trying to figure out how to make a. “teacher made” book to go with the song. “The Ants Go Marching”. Any thoughts on that?
What age group are you working with Linda?
Perhaps a number book about even numbers where each child picks an even number..
for example sentence for each page could be
____ ants go marching.____ by _____.
(6 ants go marching 3 by 3.). .