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This is a lesson that draws upon many aspects of bugs- types, habitats, physical characteristics- as prompts for movement ideas. The lesson culminates with each child
imagining, designing, and dancing about his or her own "Doodle Bug."
MUSIC SUGGESTIONS:
General
* Music or songs about bugs, and one selection of music with a conga rhythm
Specific Selections
* "Flight of the Bumblebee" (Classical Juke Box, Vol. 1, Various Composers, Sony, 1991)
* "Doodlebugs" (Whaddaya Think of That? Laurie Berkner, Two Tomatoes, 2001)
* "La Cucaracha" (Children's Songs, A Collection of Childhood Favorites, Susie Tallman, Rock Me Baby
Records, 2004)
* "Conga Line" (Kids in Action, Greg & Steve, Greg & Steve Productions, 2000)
MATERIALS NEEDED:
* Paper- any color, 8 x 11 inches or similar size
* Crayons or markers (a variety of colors)
Early Learning Standards 12A, 14A
Opening Activity
Name a Bug! Begin this class by asking the children to move freely to "Flight of the Bumblebee" or a similar
selection. Stop the music, and ask a child to name a kind of bug or insect. Start the music again, and ask
everyone to move like the bug the child has named. Continue until every child has had the opportunity to
name a bug.
Greeting Circle
Did you realize there are so many kinds of bugs? What other ones can you name?
Movement Exploration
SEATED WARM-UP
Bugs provide a wealth of movement images for a fun warm-up:
1. Pill Bug: With the children lying on the floor on their sides, prompt them to curl up and stretch out several times like a pill bug. Repeat, lying on the other side.
2. Upside-Down Bug: Ask the children to roll onto their backs like a bug that is stuck, and exercise their arms and legs by waving them in the air.
3. Inchworm: On hands and knees, stretch arms and pull the body forward like an inchworm.
4. Bring the Children to Standing: Ask the children to hop up like a grasshopper, and then jump from blade to blade of grass.
MOTOR SKILLS PRACTICE
1. March: Let's march like busy ants!
2. Tiptoe: Tiptoe like a sneaking bug!
3. Run: Let's pretend like we are flying and swooping like a butterfly!
DOODLE BUGS
1. Create a Bug: Gather the children together. Pass out paper and markers, and ask the children, If you could imagine a bug, which we will call your "Doodle Bug", what would you like it to be? What color? How big? Would
it have wings to fly? Would it have antennae? How many legs would your bug have? Would it be decorated with lots of patterns and colors? What would its face look like? Give them some time to design their imaginary bugs.
2. Move Like Your Doodle Bug: Put the papers aside, play the song "Doodlebugs', or another lively song, and ask the children to move like their imaginary bugs.
3. Move Like the Other Doodle Bugs: Prompt them to move like some of the other bugs in the classroom. The children's version of "La Cucaracha" on the Susie Tallman CD works well for this activity.
Good-Bye Circle
Ask the children, Have you ever seen a centipede? It is a bug that has lots and lots of legs, and a very long body.
We are going to become a giant centipede! Line the children up behind you. Walk forward and kick to one side, and then the other, to the beat of Steve & Greg's "Conga Line" or another conga piece.
If there is time, give each child a chance to be the leader. Let the conga line take you out of the dancing area to finish the lesson. Ask the children to wave good-bye as they dance.
Notes
What was successful about this lesson?
Which ideas could have worked better? How could they be improved?
What ideas were generated by the children during the lesson?
How would you enhance or expand this lesson in the future?
DANCE, TURN, HOP, LEARN! Enriching Movement Activities for Preschoolers by Connie Bergstein Dow
(Redleaf Press, 2006). Copyright 2006 by Connie Bergstein Dow. Reproduced with permission from Redleaf Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, www.redleafpress.org. To order, call
800-423-8309.
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Sample Lesson