Ladybug Counting Activity

Assalamu alaikum,

Last week when the Garden Magnet activity was presented, alhamdulillah it was enthusiastically received. I noticed that there was a definite affinity toward the ladybugs as they were carried around, shared, and transported to places I hadn't anticipated. So, this upcoming week we will 'follow the child' insha'Allah and build on this interest in ladybugs insha'Allah. I put together two games and requested 'A Ladybug's Life' from the library. I've never read this book before but if it turns out to be good insha'Allah, I'll be sure to add it to the recommended books category insha'Allah.

The first game is a math game.

This is the game with the Arabic numbers (English numbers are included in the file). Children match the numbered ladybugs with the appropriate dot on the flower. The ayat on the top of the activity mat is from surah Al-An'aam. Allah says what means, "There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered."

The activity in progress

This is the game (close up) but the ladybugs have dots on them that correspond to the dots on the petals of the flower. For younger children who, developmentally, are not at the point where they would know the numbers they can count the dots on the ladybugs and match them that way insha'Allah.

The second game is also a math game but incorporates some fine motor skill work as well insha'Allah.

Children take a work mat and the activity and find a nice space to work insha'Allah.

They match the ladybug clips to the petals on the flower using the dots insha'Allah.

For older children you can write the numbers in Arabic or in English on the clothes pins or on the backs of the ladybugs insha'Allah. To make the ladybug clothes pins I just used red craft foam and a black marker. I used a small bottle to trace a circle and then added the head. I then added the dots to the back of each ladybug and used a hot glue gun to attach them to the cloths pin.

To go along with this activity insha'Allah, I think I'll show this video of a ladybug insha'Allah. It is short (to match the attention span of the intended audiance *smile*). There is no music alhamdulillah and it gives a great close up view of a ladybug.

Here is the file if you'd like to do this activity too insha'Allah. In the file there are ladybugs with Arabic and English numbers and dot ladybugs and the two games.

Enjoy insha'Allah!