Insects and bugs Bingo Cards

Run it after a bug hunt in the yard or a lesson on life cycles. Give each child a card, then read the words in order from the call sheet and tick each. A 3 x 3 round takes five minutes, and a 5 x 5 round about twelve. Use small paper dots or bug stickers as markers. Print more pages with the 5 versions switch so each round has fresh cards, and let the winner draw the bug that was called last.

Short words such as ANT, BEE, FLY and BUG suit early readers, while CATERPILLAR, DRAGONFLY and CENTIPEDE ask for syllable breaking. Compound names, LADYBUG, FIREFLY, HONEYBEE and BUMBLEBEE, show how two words join. LARVA and PUPA are stages in a life cycle, so the list works with a metamorphosis lesson. Note that SPIDER, CENTIPEDE and MILLIPEDE are not true insects, which is a useful talking point for older children.

For younger children, 3 x 3 with large print and picture cards of each bug works well. For grades 3 to 5, 5 x 5 with the full list, followed by a sort of true insects versus other bugs, adds a science step. Replace the list with your own in Your own words if you only want the life-cycle words.

Are all the words on the list true insects?

No. SPIDER, TICK, MITE, CENTIPEDE and MILLIPEDE are not insects, since insects have six legs. Use the game to sort the list into insects and other bugs.

Can insects bingo go with a life cycle lesson?

Yes. LARVA, PUPA, CATERPILLAR and MOTH cover the stages. Paste them into Your own words in order and ask children to put them in sequence after the round.

Which bug words are easy for kindergarten?

ANT, BEE, FLY, BUG and WORM are short and familiar. Paste only those and similar short names into Your own words to build a gentle 3 x 3 card for the youngest group.