Betsy Buglove Saves the Bees

This week the children in Reception have been on a mission to seek out, learn about and protect small creepy crawlies and slimy bugs. They have been using magnifying glasses, boxes, leaves and twigs to help them in their mission. Betsy Buglove Saves the Bees, by Catherine Jacobs, with illustrations by Lucy Fleming, is about a little girl who loves all insects and minibeasts. She is worried because her neighbour is going to pave over his garden and there will be fewer flowers for the bees to collect pollen.  She harnesses the help of her bug friends, and together they win the day. This has led to discussions about what insects need and why they are important to us, even why we should love spiders - which some of the adults have found quite challenging! After the heavy downpour, snails were in abundance and there have been numerous snail homes designed and built.

We have been drawing bugs, writing down facts about them, and we have poured over bug books and pictures, learning about the many different kinds of insects that can be found in our gardens and woodlands. We have even used different materials to make out own bugs. In Maths we have been practising our doubling skills by making doubling ladybirds and talking about what you have to do to double a number.

On Thursday we had a small parcel of wriggly creatures arrive. Can the children remember what they are? We are going to watch them very carefully over the next few weeks so watch this space...