Mini Beast Builders
LESSON 1
Children develop curiosity and problem-solving skills as they investigate how mini beasts build, weave, and create within the natural world
Books or photographs showing mini beast structures and shelters.
Examples might include: spider webs, honeycomb, ant tunnels, cocoons, egg sacs, nests, and burrows.
Natural loose parts: sticks, twigs, leaves, bark, grasses, flowers, pine needles, seed pods, and other natural materials.
Optional
Yarn, string, or ribbon
Clay or playdough
Magnifying glasses
Book ideas:
Insects by Nature Club
The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer
Materials
Preparations
Gather books and photographs showing structures created by mini beasts.
Choose an outdoor space for exploration.
Create an invitation space where children can look closely and explore examples.
Collect a variety of loose parts for building and creating.
Create opportunities for children to notice and wonder about structures found in nature.
Support children in sharing observations, questions, and theories.
Encourage experimentation and problem-solving through open-ended materials.
Foster curiosity and appreciation for the ways living things interact with their environment.
Objectives for Teachers
Children investigate the different ways mini beasts create structures and spaces within their environment.
Children practice observation by noticing materials, patterns, and designs found in nature.
Children experiment with building, connecting, weaving, and arranging materials.
Children develop creativity and problem-solving skills through open-ended construction.
Objectives for Children
Opening Invitation
Practice singing the nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with the actions you came up with.
At night consider saying the “Bedtime” poem to your child.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Bedtime Poem
(at bedtime you can use a finger to draw the star, the sun, the moon on your child's back)
A star for you to wish on,
A sun so warm and bright,
A moon for you to sleep on,
Happy dreams,
A kiss goodnight.
Collect and Connect
Gather children together and reconnect with previous discoveries from the mini beast hunt and nature designs invitation.
You might ask:
"What mini beasts have you noticed during our explorations?"
“What places have you noticed where mini beasts might spend time?"
"Have you seen any places where mini beasts might live?"
Allow children time to share their ideas.
Introduce today's invitation:
"Last time we noticed so many interesting details about mini beasts. Today we are going to look more closely at the places they create and the ways they build in nature."
Activity Flow
Begin by gathering children around books and photographs showing structures created by mini beasts. Invite children to look closely and share what they notice.
You might say:
"I wonder who made this.”
"What clues can we find?"
"How do you think they built it?"
Encourage children to notice the materials used, the shapes and patterns they observe, the ways different pieces connect together, and how each structure might help the creature that built it.
Questions you might ask:
What do you notice?
What materials do you see?
How do you think this was made?
Why might a mini beast create a place like this?
What does this remind you of?
Outdoor Investigation
Invite children outdoors to look for clues of mini beast builders in their own environment.
Children may discover:
Spider webs
Ant hills or tunnels
Insect holes in wood
Rolled or eaten leaves
Silk threads on plants
Other signs of mini beasts nearby
Remind children that every exploration will look different. Some days we may discover many clues, and other days we may only find a few.
The goal is not to find something specific. The goal is to slow down, look closely, and wonder about the world around us.
Questions you might ask:
Who do you think made this?
What clues helped you decide?
What materials were used?
What might this structure help the mini beast do?
Support children in sharing their observations, theories, and ideas.
Mini Beast Builders Invitation
After exploring the ways mini beasts create structures, invite children to experiment with building using their own materials.
Offer loose parts such as sticks, bark, leaves, grass, pine needles, flowers, seed pods, yarn, clay, or other natural materials.
You might say:
"Mini beasts use the materials around them to create what they need. I wonder what you might build using the materials we found."
Children may choose to:
Build a shelter inspired by a mini beast
Create a structure using weaving or connecting
Experiment with balancing, stacking, or layering materials
Invent a new structure inspired by nature
Some children may focus on gathering and arranging materials, while others may explore more complex designs and building techniques. There is no single way the structure needs to look.
As children build, invite conversation:
"Tell me about what you are creating."
"What inspired this idea?"
"How did you decide where to place this?"
"What did you discover while building?"
Reflection
Gather children together to share their creations and discoveries.
You might ask:
What did you build?
What inspired your design?
What materials did you use?
What did you notice about the way mini beasts build?
What would you try next time?
Invite children to share stories, ideas, or questions from the experience.
You might say:
"Today we looked closely at the ways mini beasts create homes and spaces in nature. We discovered that even tiny creatures can be thoughtful builders, using the materials around them in creative ways.
I wonder what other builders we might discover when we keep looking closely."
