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 * Ladybug, Ladybug... **

By Starin Lewis Splash some “spots” of color into your math and science lessons with hands-on activities about the world’s most popular beetle. Grades 1–2, Grades 3–5 Early Math, Early Science, Early Math, Early Science Add a some facts to spice up your math and science lessons! [|By Starin Lewis]
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The Ladybugs Who Lunch Help students learn about the diet of these hungry little beetles by creating restaurant-like “specials” menus using white chalk and black paper. Explain that a ladybug's favorite food is a tiny green bug called an aphid. In fact, an adult ladybug can eat 50 aphids in a day! Other ladybug treats include mites, leaves, mealybugs, nectar, pollen, and honeydew. Have students research the ladybug's diet further, then use their creativity to come up with a tasty menu!

"Spot the Dots" Graph Build addition and multiplication skills with an easy-to-make math graph. Each student needs a circle made of red construction paper, a black crayon, and tape. Have students create ladybugs by drawing up to seven spots on their circles. Set up a graph like the one at right, and have students tape their bugs to the proper columns according to the number of spots. Invite them to add or multiply the spots in each column.

Ladybug Leaf Lore Share the following fascinating ladybug facts with your students, and ask them to research even more.

• The U.S. has more than 450 types of ladybugs.

• A ladybug may fly 100 miles in search of food.

• In the winter, ladybugs hibernate under leaves.

• A ladybug can have 0 to 24 dots on its body.

• A ladybug sheds its skin four times in its life.

On a bulletin board, use brown paper to create a tree trunk and branches. Hand out green construction paper and guide the class through these steps: 1. Fold the paper in half and cut out a leaf shape.

2. Write a ladybug-related question on the front of the leaf. Flip the leaf over and write the answer on the underside. Draw a few “hibernating” ladybugs.

3. Staple the leaves to the branches at each leaf's top point. Have students visit the board and flip the leaves over to discover a variety of ladybug facts!

Insect Symmetry (Using the Reproducible) Teach children to spot symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns with the Insect Symmetry **Reproducible**, below. First, review symmetry by drawing an //X// on the board. Draw a line vertically through the center of the //X// and explain that the two halves are symmetrical because they match, like a mirror image. Encourage students to look for other examples of symmetry, such as butterflies and faces. Share the Reproducible and ask students to cut out the ladybugs, then sort them into two groups — symmetrical and asymmetrical.

//Starin Lewis, a former primary school teacher, is a reading specialist, education consultant, and freelance education writer based in Phoenix, AZ. This article was originally published in the April 2005 issue of// Instructor//.//

To open the Reproducible, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software. If you do not have this software already installed, click here to [|download it FREE].