Over the course of my daughter's burgeoning junior entomology career, I've discovered many great coloring pages and other online and printable resources.
Printable Bug Coloring Books, Activity Pages, and Insect Guides
In an earlier entomology for kids article, I mentioned the printable graphic novel (comic book), The Romance of Ants, about how a childhood fascination turned into a career path.
If your young entomologist likes the ant comic, he or she may also enjoy Truly Nolen's The Mouse Investigator: Finding Out All the Fun Facts About Bugs printable coloring book. Truly Nolen also features Dr. Bugfield's lab, bug games, and fun fact pages.
You can print out the Insect Appreciation Digest (pdf) by F. Tom Turpin of Purdue University. The digest appears to be only three pages long; however, the contents page has clickable chapter titles that take you to the PDF file address for each chapter. In total, it's 112 pages long. I put it all in a binder for my daughter's entomology library.
Enchanted Learning has several insect themed fact pages, including
- anatomy printouts,
- life cycle cards and shape books,
- a painted lady activity book,
- finish the drawing pictures, and
- read and answer worksheets and quizzes.
Orkin hosts the printable Insect Safari Guidebook, an activity book, as well as coloring pages, a pest library, and lesson plans.
Online Bug Games and Resources
The Entomological Society hosts an interactive website for young entomologists.
Check out Dr. Bugfield's Lab compliments of Truly Nolen, with sections on bug anatomy, bug tours, and bug experiments.
Pest World hosts Pestworld for Kids, an interactive website with pest guides, games, science fair kits, lesson plans, and report writing. While you're browsing, you can stop and watch the Pest Quest kid's show.
If your child likes Pest Quest TV, he or she may enjoy Tony's Creepy TV hosted by Tony Gustin, "The Bug Whisperer" of Creepy Crawly Zoo. In addition to the creepy videos, Creepy Crawly Zoo has creepy links, photos, and a virtual zoo.
Related Insect Science Articles
If you like this article, you might also enjoy How to Raise A Woolly Bear Caterpillar and Easy Pets for Homeschool Nature Science.
If your child gets the entomology bug as mine have, this online resource gathering could be just the beginning of your adventure. You can find so many more useful resources for young entomologists. You might start with your local state 4-H organization, or 4-H.org the National 4-H Council, which includes an entomology curriculum.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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