This week we have tried the 'Make Your Own' Insect House from Gift in a Tin by APPLES TO PEARS®, and it was a fantastic experience! The children were thoroughly engaged, and it turned into a great outdoor activity. We took the opportunity to discuss bees, flowers, pollination, and habitats, delving into how animal homes differ from ours and why this particular structure is a hotel rather than a permanent home for the insects.
Highlights:
Literacy and Numeracy Enhancement: This activity provided excellent talking points for both literacy and numeracy. We explored vocabulary related to animal habitats, materials, and comparisons. For numeracy, we practiced sequencing instructions, counting the pieces, spatial awareness, and pattern recognition.
Executive Function Development: The project was great for developing executive functions such as planning, organising, and following through with instructions. It also fostered problem-solving skills and teamwork.
Ease of Assembly: The kit was compact, easy to assemble, and visually appealing. There was just enough glue to put everything together, making it a hassle-free project.
Considerations:
Cost: The kit was quite expensive at full price. We managed to get it at a 50% discount for £8, which was just within our budget (at a stretch!). However, the full price might be a bit too steep for some.
Have any of you tried making bug hotels, either purchased or homemade? If so, do you have any recommendations?
Discussions and Vocabulary:
For Under 8s: We talked about basic concepts such as:
Habitat
Bee
Pollination
Flower
Home
Hotel
Compare
Material
For KS2 - level vocabulary challenge the discussion was more advanced, including:
Ecosystem
Insect
Biodiversity
Structure
Pollinator
Environment
Sequence
Spatial Awareness
Exciting Extensions:
We brain stormed some ideas for fun tasks to try later on this week to reinforce the concepts:
Creative Writing: Write a story from the perspective of a bee checking into the insect hotel.
Math Challenges: Create patterns with the different pieces and count the number of each type of material.
Science Exploration: Research different types of insect habitats and compare them with the bug hotel.
Art and Design: Draw and label the insect hotel, noting the different materials used and why they were chosen.
Group Discussion: Talk about the importance of pollinators and what we can do to help them.
Overall, the 'Make Your Own' Insect House is a brilliant educational tool that engages children in a fun and interactive way. While the cost can be a consideration, the learning experiences it offers are invaluable. This hands-on project seamlessly integrated with our nature exploring at Wild About Outdoors, allowing us to blend literacy, numeracy, and outdoor adventure for a holistic learning experience.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if you'd like to join one of our exciting sessions! 🌿🐝🌸
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