Ladybugs Clean Off the Aphids
Half the group are plants with clothespin "aphids" clipped to their clothes, and the other half are ladybugs flying from plant to plant to pick them off. Easy jogging is combined with finger pinching, and kids learn that some bugs help the garden.
How to play
- Explain that ladybugs are the garden's friends because they eat the aphids that hurt plants; half the class are plants and half are ladybugs (1 min).
- Plants stand still around the space with arms out like leaves, and the teacher clips clothespin aphids to their clothes: sleeves, shirt hems, pant legs (2 min).
- Ladybugs fly with arms as wings from plant to plant, pick off one clothespin per visit, and bring it to the teacher's jar (3 min).
- Switch roles: ladybugs become plants and the teacher covers them with aphids again (3 min).
- When the drum plays, the wind blows and plants sway slowly: ladybugs must unclip the pin while the plant is moving (2 min).
- Count the aphids in the jar together, and the plants thank the ladybugs (1 min).
Rules
- Clothespins go only on clothes, never on skin or hair.
- Plants stay in their spot.
- Each ladybug takes one clothespin and flies to the jar before taking another.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, clip pins on sleeves and the front where they're easy to see, and walk.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, clip pins in different places and fly at an easy jog.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, use two colors of pins: ladybugs remove only the green aphids and leave the yellow "flowers."
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child is a plant in their wheelchair or a ladybug who rolls over; pins are placed within reach.
- Weaker fingers: use soft-spring clothespins or large plastic hair clips.
- Autism or touch sensitivity: let the child be only a ladybug, or clip the pins onto their own sleeve.
Learning goals
- Use a precise finger pinch between bursts of movement.
- Stay still as a plant while others come close.
- Discover that some bugs help the garden.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Large clothespins: 60
- Jar: 1
- Hand drum
Teacher tip
Use large wooden clothespins with no loose parts, and count them at the start and end. If you have a garden, go look for real ladybugs on the plants afterward, without picking them up.
PatioLab has "Ladybugs Clean Off the Aphids" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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