The Grouchy Ladybug Math

Lapbook
created by Linda Rose, photos contributed by Debbie

Parts of a Ladybug Matchbook	The Letter L Wheel
Animal Cards & Pocket	Little Lucy Ladybug Poem	Thumbprint Art
Count by 5s Count by 5s blank	Copywork Accordion HWT Copywork Accordion Primary Font	ABC Ladybugs Pocket
Counting Ladybugs	A Day With the Grouchy Ladybug Layer Book
I Can Follow Directions	Layer Book Pictures & Clocks

Math: In preparation for learning how to tell time, you may want to teach your younger student how to skip count by 5's

Math: Telling Time
You can use this clock worksheet to make clocks that tell the same time as the ones in The Grouchy Ladybug.

Another Telling Time idea: Make Ladybug Clocks
Paint two paper plates red and let them dry. Cut out a ladybug body out of one of the plates (cut along the center circle). Add googly-eyes, six paper legs (use black construction paper-- if you fold them back and forth they will look like springy legs), and antennae (use the black pipe cleaner). Cut the other plate in half (for wings.) Add black spots to the wings and glue them to the body. Make a clock about the same size as the paper plate. Make clock hands and attach them to the clock with a brass fastener. Glue ONLY the outer edge of the clock to the ladybug body (on the side without the wings.) You can adjust the hands of your clock as you read The Grouchy Ladybug.

Your older student may want to go get an actual clock making kit at a craft/hobby store. Be creative in making a wooden circle into a ladybug!

Science: Ladybugs
Read the author's note at the beginning of the book.
Learn more about ladybugs anatomy at enchanted learning

Lady Bug Life Cycle Sequencing Cards
Buy ladybug larvae from www.insectlore.com and monitor them in a nature journal

Life Cycle Wheel Book
http://highland.hitcho.com.au/Ladybugwheel_WEB.gif
http://highland.hitcho.com.au/Ladybugshape_WEB.gif

Science: Whales
Just how big is a whale compared to a ladybug? If you have room in your house, this may be a fun activity for you and your students. I'm not sure what kind of whale is in this story, so I just chose a medium sized whale.

Gray whales are medium sized whales, reaching up to 45 feet in length. Males grow to 45 feet - longer than a city bus - and females are slightly larger. The average weight of a gray whale is 16 tons (32,000 pounds) and some have reached weights of 30 to 40 tons. (information from bigsurcalifornia.org) Measure 45 ft. in your house. Let your student scoot a roll of toilet paper from the beginning of your measurement until the end. Then, get something that is about the size of a ladybug (a bead, a button, etc.). Compare it to the whale!

Science: Other insects (mentioned in this book)
Your student may want to learn about the other insects mentioned in this book, too.
Praying Mantis
Bee
Firefly
Beetle

Other animals mentioned include
Lobster
Skunk
Boa
Hyena
Gorilla
Rhinoceros
Elephant
Whale
Your older student may want to research some of the animals. For your younger student, you may want to check out some non-fiction books from the library. You could also ask your child to put the list in alphabetical order and use it for copywork.

This book mentions other creatures (not just ladybugs). You can find poems for some of them in Eric Carle's Animals, Animals book
Sparrow pp. 70-71
Boa pp. 60-61 (snake)
Rhinoceros pp. 86-87
Elephant pp. 30-31
Whale pp. 8-9, 10-11
Firefly pp. 47

Ladybug Snack Ideas:

Ladybug English Muffin
1/2 English Muffin (toasted, if desired)
Cream Cheese (stir it up with some red food coloring)
Raisins

Let your child spread cream cheese on the English Muffin half, add black raisin dots, and eat your delicious ladybug!

Ladybug Apple
Slice an apple in half (lengthwise) and lay with cut side down on a plate. Add raisins for ladybug spots using peanut butter for the glue. Use a grape for the ladybug's head and attach with a toothpick.
--original author unknown

Other Discussion:
Discuss fighting, pride, and how to get along with others. You may want to use Ephesians 4:32 as a memory verse for this book.

Materials and information on this website belong to the original composers. It may be used for your own personal and school use.