Allow children to explore ants in a variety of ways.
For many children, preschool is the first experience with formal education. During this time, children are not only introduced to the basic foundations of education, they are also presented with opportunities to explore the world around them. If you're a preschool teacher teaching your students about insects, and ants are a focus of the unit, incorporate a variety of engaging ant activities into instruction.
"A" is for "Ant"
Use ants as a way to teach the sound the letter "A" makes. On pieces of paper, print uppercase and lowercase block letter "A" and write "A is for Ant" at the top of the page (highlight the letter "A" in ant). Review the sound the letter "A" makes, say the word "ant" and ask students if they can hear what letter it begins with. Provide children with ant stamps or stickers and instruct them to cover the uppercase and lowercase letter "A" with ants.
The Ants Go Marching
This ant activity incorporates music, literacy and math. Assemble the children on the rug or where ever your reading area is and present the book, "The Ants Go Marching" by Ann Owen, which includes the song by the same name. Instead of reading the book aloud to your students, sing it aloud and invite children to sing along. Children will not only have fun singing the catchy tune and looking at the illustrations, they'll also be practicing counting.
Crafting Ants
Transform empty egg cartons into ants with this craft-making activity. Cut out three sections of egg cartons for each child. Provide children with brown paint and instruct them to paint the outside of their egg cartons. Once the paint dries, punch holes on either side of each cup of the cartons and insert a pipe cleaner into each of the holes. Have children glue two googly eyes to the front of the cartons and use the completed ant crafts as decorations in your classroom.
Ant Math
Incorporate a one-to-one correspondence math activity in your ant unit. On pieces of paper, draw pictures that represent individual ant hills. On each ant hill, write a number and draw an amount of dots that represents the number written on the hill. For example, a hill that has the number two written on it would also have two dots drawn on it. Provide children with a pile of raisins (ants) and have them place the correct number of ants on each hill.
Ants on a Log
Yes, ants can even be incorporated into a healthy snack for your preschool students. Provide each child with a piece of celery. Instruct them to spread cream cheese in the center of the celery and then place raisins on top of the cream cheese. The celery represents the log, and the raisins represent the ants.
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