Finger Prints

For this activity you need:

A stamp pad (one or more colours)

Pens/ pencils/ Crayons

Paper

Optional:

Magnifying glass

Book about Bugs/ insects

We started by looking at a few books about insects and bugs. Noting the different body parts that make up the insects (a journey into the garden with the magnifying glass would also be valuable). 

I then let Finn experiment with making prints and patterns by pressing his fingers in the ink-pad (show children how roll fingers in the ink then onto the paper).

Finn loved watching the different shades and tones appear (as he repeated printing before re-applying ink to his finger).

He also enjoyed testing out a variety of his fingers for creating different shapes and sizes.

We then looked at the patterns of the finger prints through the magnifying glass.

I then gave him some smaller pieces of paper so he could try his hand at turning some prints into his own insect. Adding wings, antennae, legs. etc.

Insects

Materials: Cardboard tube, masking tape, paddle-pop sticks, coloured paper, PVA glue, buttons, pipe cleaners. 

Finn spent the morning playing with some toy frogs in a pond we made (we used blue quilts and towels, and pillows for lilly-pads). I suggested we make some insects for the frogs to eat, so Finn made this little creature. Usually I help him cut shapes, but this time I encouraged him to tear his own shapes which gave him more control over the whole process. He used pipe-cleaners for the antennae, and buttons for eyes.

He promptly took his insect over to the pond to continue playing.