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Animals, Bugs & Our Earth. Study insects and animal homes, and learn simple ways to care for the Earth. This is Month 8 of our free 12-month preschool curriculum for ages 3 to 5. Below you will find a weekly lesson plan, the letters and math to practice, science and art ideas, a supplies list, and easy ways to make it simpler or harder for your child.
- Month 8 of 12
- Ages 3–5 (best fit: 4–5)
- 4 weekly topics
- About 20–30 minutes a day
What Your Child Will Learn in Month 8
- New letters
- Review all 26 letters with letter bingo and letter hunts
- Language & literacy
- Make up silly rhymes, listen for first sounds, and dictate animal facts.
- Math
- Sort and classify (bugs and not bugs). Try ten frames and simple add-one stories like 2 and 1 more (stretch).
- Science & discovery
- Butterfly life cycle, a bug hunt with a magnifying glass, and sorting recycling.
- Social & emotional
- Care for living things and practice gentle touches.
- Art & music
- Fold-and-paint butterflies (symmetry) and art from recycled materials.
- Movement & hands
- Bunny hops and crab walks. Use tweezers to move pom-poms or beads.
These goals match the five learning areas in the Head Start framework. Core goals are for most children. Anything marked stretch is optional. See the full list of learning areas and the typical milestones for ages 4 and 5.
Month 8 Weekly Lesson Plan
Do one short activity from each column, three or four days a week. Keep each one to about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop when your child loses interest.
| Week & topic | Letters & language | Math | Science | Art, music & movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Bugs and butterflies | Say the first sound of each bug name: b-b-bee. | Count bug legs: insects have 6. | Hunt for bugs with a magnifying glass and draw one. | Fold and paint a butterfly. |
| Week 2: Pets and zoo animals | Ask and answer: what does a pet need? | Sort animals into two groups: pets and zoo animals. | Talk about what animals eat and where they sleep. | Act out different animals’ movements. |
| Week 3: Animal homes | Match animals to homes: bird and nest, bee and hive. | Use a ten frame to count animals up to 5 or 10. | Build a model animal home from sticks or blocks. | Draw a habitat picture and dictate a sentence. |
| Week 4: Caring for our Earth: reduce, reuse, recycle | Learn reduce, reuse, and recycle using picture cues. | Sort clean recycling into paper, plastic, and trash and count each group. | Pick up litter safely with an adult and gloves. | Make art from recycled materials. |
Not sure how to fit this into your day? Use the sample daily rhythm.
Letters to Practice This Month
Review all 26 letters with letter bingo and letter hunts.
Play with letters through games, not drills: find them on signs and cereal boxes, trace them in sand or salt, and say the first sound of everyday objects. Knowing some letters is a typical milestone at age 5, so there is no pressure to master every letter.
Words to Use All Month
Use these words in everyday conversation and while you read. Hearing a word in many settings helps it stick.
- insect
- butterfly
- caterpillar
- habitat
- pet
- recycle
- reuse
- Earth
Supplies Checklist
Everything here is common household stuff. Tick items off as you gather them.
Easy Activities to Try at Home
Try this
- Bug hunt: give your child a magnifying glass and clipboard to draw what they find.
- Recycling sort: sort clean paper, plastic, and trash into three bins.
- Butterfly painting: paint one side of a folded paper and press to make a matching wing.
Read together
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Check your local library. Ask the librarian for more animals, bugs & our earth books.
Make It Easier or Harder
If your child needs more support
Do just the bug hunt and the recycling sort.
If your child is ready for more
Add simple one-more stories (2 bugs plus 1 more) and ask your child to explain why recycling helps.
Parent tip: Keep a bug hunt kit by the door: a magnifying glass, a clipboard, and a crayon. It makes spontaneous science easy.
Month check-in: Your child can sort items into two groups and name one thing animals need to live.
Month 8 Preschool Curriculum FAQs
What if my child is afraid of bugs?
Start with books and pictures, then watch bugs from a distance. Never force it. Curiosity often grows with time.
How do I keep my child and animals safe during these activities?
Teach gentle touches, wash hands afterward, and supervise closely. Do not let children handle wild animals.
How do I teach recycling to a preschooler?
Use bins with pictures on them and let your child decide where each item goes. Check your local recycling rules for what is accepted.
All 12 Months
Add Free Printables to Month 8
Match this month’s lessons with free printables and coloring pages.
Sources
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five
- NAEYC: Developmentally Appropriate Practice
- CDC: Milestones by 4 Years
- CDC: Milestones by 5 Years
This guide is general educational information for parents. It is not medical advice and does not replace a developmental screening or guidance from your child’s doctor or teacher.