Who Helps the Plants Grow? 

Materials:

• Plastic toy bugs (bees, ladybugs = helpers for plants, grasshoppers = hunters for plans)

  • Bees plant nectar and pollen which helps the plant make seeds and grow

  • Ladybugs eat tiny pests that eat leaves, protects plants by keeping harmful bugs away

  • Grasshoppers eat leaves leaving holes behind.

• Tweezers

• Trays or basket

• Shredded paper/beans/flour - anything to “hide” the bugs

• Bowls to sort the bugs

Instructions:

• Use tweezers to explore the tray/basket and to pick up the bugs when found

• Sort the different bugs into different bowls

• Discuss what bugs we see and the difference in the bugs. 

• Discuss what each bug may do to plants.

• Count how many bugs were picked out. 

Powerful InterACTions - PK3:

• Which one do you want to pick up first?

• How can you tell the bugs are different from each other?

• Where have you seen bugs or leaves like this before?

• What might happen to the leaf if the bug eats it?

Powerful InterACTions - PK4:

• Why do you think this bug helps or hurts the plant?

• Why do you think this bug is on the plant?

• Which bugs have you noticed in your garden or at home?

• What might happen to the plant if we didn’t have this bug?

• How can we be ‘guardians’ and help the plants when bugs are around?