Montessori-Inspired Insect Unit

Insect Sensory Basket (Photo by Julie at The Adventures of Bear)

This summer, I’ve been focusing on some fun units you can adapt for your own family. Make them as simple or as elaborate as you wish. Montessori-inspired units work well because you can place the activities on trays and baskets on shelves, allowing your child to choose activities as his or her interest allows. It’s summer, so let any units be relaxed and fun!

In Montessori education in general, you’ll start with living and non-living, plant life and animal life, animals and their groups (such as animals and their young or animals and their continents) and vertebrates and invertebrates before studying invertebrates (including insects) and vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals).

During the summer, you have many opportunities to follow your child’s interests and study insects that may not fit completely into an orderly curriculum. It’s fine to meet your child’s interests and add more of the complete framework later.

Here are some great insect resources from Montessori bloggers:

Most of the activities work well for preschoolers through early elementary.

Montessori Print Shop has many animal products, including many with insects along with Insect Cards, Insect Nomenclature Cards and Insect Nomenclature Book.

Montessori Materials has a number of free animal classification materials.

Little Hands Big Work created a parts-of-an-insect activity.

United Montessori Association has a Montessori song about the parts of an insect.

The Adventures of Bear had an insect unit focusing on the ladybug. The photo at the top of the post is from that unit.

Parts of a Ladybug (Photo from Discovery Days and Montessori Moments)

Discovery Days and Montessori Moments also had a fun ladybug unit.

One Hook Wonder (in its right sidebar) has a link to free ladybug life cycle and 3-part cards.

Parts of a Dragonfly (Photo from Montessori MOMents)

Montessori MOMents has Parts of a Dragonfly.

Insect Unit (Photo from Inspired Montessori and Arts)

Inspired Montessori and Arts has a huge unit on insects.

Barefoot in Suburbia has a number of activities for an insect unit.

Early Learning with Marta and Eaton has a post on insect encyclopedic knowledge and file folder games with free downloads.

About a Girl has lovely nature bugs on a nature table.

Montessori Matters has a number of ant activities.

Montessori Muddle has links to a number of insect resources.

I have an activity of the week about observing nature up close.

I have a post with links to butterfly resources.

I’d love to hear what you’ve done at home to study insects!

Related posts:

1. Montessori-Inspired Ocean Unit for Summer Learning and Fun