Children are fascinated by insects of all kinds, but particularly ones they can find in their own yard. Grasshoppers are dramatic jumpers and easy to catch, while crickets provide a familiar song on a warm summer night. These books will get your preschoolers “hopping” on board to learning about insects!
Little Cricket’s Song by Joanne Barkan
Perfect for younger preschoolers, this book features interactive clicking crickets while telling a delightful tale of a little cricket and his mother. Even older students will enjoy taking turns providing the sound effects for this simple rhyming tale.
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
Eric Carle tells a captivating story about a tiny cricket that has a hard time speaking up. But he perserveres and eventually finds his voice. For extra impact, find a copy that makes the cricket sound on the last page!
Extending the Learning: While reading, have the students “read” the repeated text with you on each page.
Chirping Crickets by Melvin Berger
This non-fiction book is full of beautiful illustrations as well as amazing facts about crickets.
Extending the Learning: Since this is a longer book, keep the students engaged by encouraging them to make sounds like a cricket at the end of each page. Mimic how a cricket makes sounds by rubbing a nail file on an index card (see our Facebook Live video HERE) much like a male cricket rubs his leg across his wing!
Ant and Grasshopper by Luli Gray
Scrooge-like Ant spends his days in his enormous home gathering and counting his food in his storehouse – until noisy neighbor Grasshopper moves in. Grasshopper tries to encourage Ant to relax a little and enjoy some of the warm weather. Then winter comes, and Ant finds Grasshopper freezing and hungry. Despite himself, Ant discovers that there is room in his life – and his heart – for both work and play. A great version of a classic story!
Extending the Learning: A math center where students can count up food items like seeds and beans can help develop one-to-one correspondence.
Are You a Grasshopper by Judy Allen
With its beautiful watercolor-style illustrations, this book (part of an amazing series) takes a second person approach through the life cycle of a grasshopper, including how a grasshopper is born, grows up, and avoids being eaten. At the end, the author points out that the reader most likely is NOT a grasshopper, but a human, and the differences – and similarities – between the two.
Extending the Learning: Encourage students to move like grasshoppers and other animals in the book for gross motor development. Try making music as a grasshopper does, then discuss and try other ways to make music with your body.
Circle Time Lesson Plans
Are you looking for more lesson plans, center activities, and ideas to teach your preschoolers about insects? Print the whole unit here. Everything is written out and planned for you!
