Theme Sample:

Lesson Samples:

NOTE: Teacher instructions are NOT included below. They ARE included with the curriculum. Some student worksheets are reproduced below. Click on the Sample link to view them.

Lesson 11 Insect I am a wise child, so I work hard.

Day 1

Activity

Present information about insects, using the "Insect" article from an encyclopedia and/or other children's books about insects.

Say, "Some insects work very hard. They are not lazy. Tomorrow we will learn about ants. They really work hard. God wants us to work hard, too, and not be lazy. What are some things you can do to help at home and at school?"

Show the "insect" flashcard and help the student memorize the words to remember: "I am a wise child, so I work hard."

Introduce Letter Sound

Materials: Textured Letters

Introduce Flashcard

Materials: Alphabet Flashcards

A-a-apple Song

Materials: Alphabet Flashcards

Picture Cards Page (Sample)

Materials: Textured Letters; Workbook

Tactile Letter Activities

Materials: Various, depending on chosen activity

Day 2

Activity

Look at the "Ant" article in World Book Encyclopedia and observe the different kinds of ants. Talk about the illustrations of ant nests, life cycles, etc. Also very informative is Ant Cities by Arthur Dorros (Scholastic, 1989). Be sure to emphasize what hard workers the ants are.

Set up an ant farm and observe the amazing way that ants build tunnels. (See the appendix for information to order an ant farm.) The ant farm is designed with a very thin frame which makes it ideal for observing the many tunnels the ants make. An alternative would be to try and make your own ant farm in a glass jar, but the tunnels will be more difficult to observe. To do this, place some soil in the bottom of the jar. Then find an anthill, scoop up the ants and surrounding dirt, and place them in your jar. Put the jar in a pan of water so the ants don't escape. Cover the jar with black paper. Peek at the ants now and then. Feed them once or twice a week with cookie crumbs, bread crumbs soaked in syrup, bits of meat, or dead insects. For water, put a piece of a wet sponge in the jar.

Read the following verses to the student from your Bible. Discuss the meaning and some practical applications.

Proverbs 6:6-9 "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?"

Proverbs 10:4-5 "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son."

Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Show the "insect" card and review the words to remember. Then ask, "Why is it wise to work hard? In what ways do you work hard?"

Short Vowel Song

Materials: Short Vowel Song Cards

Handwriting Page (Sample)

Materials: Workbook; Buttons or Beans

Picture Box Activity

Materials: Textured Letters; Picture Box

Sound Discrimination Page (Sample)

Materials: Workbook

Day 3

Activity

The ladybug, known as an "insect predator," eats harmful insects that destroy plants. Make a ladybug by painting a rock red. When it is dry, paint a black stripe down the middle, black dots on the back, and a black head.

Make an insect badge by drawing an ant on a small white oval of white paper. On the badge print "I am a wise child, so I work hard." Ask the student to tell you what these words mean. Discuss briefly.

A-a-apple Song

Materials: Alphabet flashcards

Letter Sound Practice

Materials: Textured letters

Blend Ladder (Part 1) (Sample)

Materials: Blend ladder chart; Textured letters

Math Page (Sample)

Materials: Number cup; Workbook

Cut and Paste Page (Sample)

Materials: Workbook

Letter Sound Bingo

Materials: Bingo cards; Pennies or buttons

Day 4

Activity

Look at the "Bee" article in the World Book Encyclopedia. Then enjoy some honey on a spoon or on a cracker. You may be able to buy a piece of honeycomb at the grocery store. Try making these honey balls for a treat: 2 T. honey, 2 T. peanut butter, 2 T. powdered milk, 2 T. wheat germ. Let the student measure the ingredients, mix them with his hands, and form the mixture into little balls. They may be eaten right away or rolled in sunflower seeds or shredded coconut and placed in the refrigerator to harden.

Tell the story of "The Little Red Hen" who works hard even when the animals around her do not want to work. Only she and her children get to enjoy a delicious meal. Then read and discuss 2 Thessalonians 3:11b: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

A-B-C Song and Letter Review

Materials: ABC Game Cards, ABC Chart

Blend Ladder - Part 2

Materials: Blend ladder chart; Textured letters

Blend Ladder Page

Materials: Workbook

Word List Page (Sample)

Materials: Workbook

Letter Name Concentration

Materials: ABC flashcards

Tactile Letter Activities

Materials: Various, depending on chosen activity

Day 5

Activity

Go outside and observe insects. How many different kinds can you find? How do they look the same as/different from each other? Use a magnifying glass, if possible. Collect some insects in a glass jar for temporary observation and then release them. You can make an insect trap by digging a small hole outside in which you bury a glass jar so the top is level with the ground. Put a small piece of cake or other sweets in the jar. Keep the jar dark and protected from the weather by propping a small board over it but making sure that insects can still get freely beneath it. Check the jar early the next morning.

Show the picture flashcards and review the words to remember for all lessons taught so far.

Short Vowel Song

Materials: Short vowel song cards

Drawing Page (Sample)

Materials: Workbook

Cut and Paste II or Story (Sample)

Materials: Workbook

Day 6

Book Day

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle (Harper & Row, Singapore, 1977). A grouchy ladybug learns to be polite.

1. Read the book to the student.

2. Have the student retell the story using the book's illustrations. Then work together to make a list of the animals the grouchy ladybug met. Put them in the same order as she met them. What do you notice about their size?

3. Make a clock from a paper plate, a brass paper fastener, and two cardboard pieces for the hour and minute hands. Explain how to tell time on the hour (o'clock) and examine the clocks in the book.

Alternate Literature Selections: If The Grouchy Ladybug is not available, you may substitute one of these books or a similar storybook about insects.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (Astor-Honor, Inc., New York, 1960). A clever inchworm escapes being eaten by measuring some birds and a nightingale's song.

1. Read the story to the student.

2. Have the student retell the story using the book's illustrations.

3. Help the student use a ruler to measure an assortment of objects.

4. Let the student use clay to make some little inchworms.

5. Use an encyclopedia or nature book to find out more about inchworms.

The Silent Concert by Mary Leister. Insects, frogs, and other forest creatures all try to make one another's noises but without success.

1. Read the story to the student.

2. Discuss the meaning of this story. God has created each animal, and each of us, with unique beauty and abilities. Read Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:17-20 to yourself and then explain some of these concepts to the student.

3. At nighttime, go outside and listen for the night noises in your neighborhood. Compare them to the noises in this book.

Spend Part of Today Outside Enjoying God's Creation!!!!!!

--The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

--J.O., Oregon

--Michele

--Charla Barnett, North Carolina

--Paula Olson, Texas