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8 Simple Science Experiments with Bugs

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We shared many plant science activities, such as ideas of seed science experiments for kids and flower science experiments for kids. Today we will share some simple science experiments with bugs and insects that kids will love.

Easy Science Activities for Kids to Learn Insects

Insect science experiments for curious kids. Hands-on activities learn bugs life cycles: ants, butterfly, ladybug. Outdoor STEM experiments in the backyard and fun science fair project ideas


The easiest to do is a bug search walking in the park or just in your backyard. You can set up a goal to find certain types of bugs, like cricket. Once you find any, look it up together with the kids. We have a bug catcher that really helps. After you catch the bug, put it in a bug viewer for kids to have a better view of the body parts.

To add more scientific research methods in your search, you can do a bug search from different bushes or trees. Predict from which tree/bush you will get the most insects, count the insects you get from each tree, and compare the types of insects from different bushes and trees. Kids can keep track of their bug discoveries in a digital journal, with pictures, names, time of discovery, etc.

To have a better view of the bugs, you can make a mirror box for bug study. Kids will learn how mirror works and learn how to observe insects. The mirror box enables them to see the insects from all different angles. You can even talk about symmetry with the mirrors.

While searching for bugs, you can also learn about camouflage and watch how insects adapt their colors and shapes to their environment.

bugs and insects science activities for kids preschool to grade 6, learn insect facts via hands on activities, ant, ladybug, firefly. Fun outdoor STEM experiments in backyard

If you kids are not afraid of dark, go out catch some fireflies. You can then read the book The Very Lonely Firefly, which has a page of facts about firefly and why fireflies glow. To demonstrate the science, you can have some glowing sticks (I like this one, so kids can see them glowing on their wrists) ready and break the stick in the dark to show kids what we can do with the science discovered in nature.

Set up a choice chamber to study animal behavior and habitat. Choice chamber is a research method to find out the animals’ favored living conditions. It is very easy to set up and fun for the kids to predict and watch.

Talk about insects body parts. What are insects? Are spiders insects? Why?

If you like more controlled study, you can try one of the closed ant habitat. Kids can watch the changes in the comfort of home. Some hypothesis ideas are: will ants move differently under different temperature? Watch how fast ants move in room temperature. Then put the habitat in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, and watch how fast ants move after staying in lower temperature for a while.

Enjoy!

I hope you like these science experiments. Doing science at home is not just for fun, it is also to cultivate child’s interest in science and help them grow scientific thinking skills. Don’t just do it for fun, try follow scientific steps while working with kids on these activities. I outlined the steps and developed this Science Experiment Recording Sheet. I highly recommend following these steps for each activity, even with young children. They can draw pictures if they can’t write. It is the process that is important, starting with questions and hypothesis.

Looking for more bugs related learning resources? Check out 10 Kids Apps About Bugs.

10 Kids Apps about Bugs


Bugs and insects science activities for kids preschool to grade 6, learn insect facts via hands on activities, ant, ladybug, firefly, ... | outdoor | STEM | Experiment | backyard
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