Explore Insects: A Bug-Themed Homeschool Unit Study for Elementary Kids
By: Knowledge Crates
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Learning about insects is SUCH a great way to bring real life, everyday science to life in your homeschool—and with the Explore Insects Unit Study, it’s easier (and more fun!) than ever. From observing real bugs to creating colorful bug-themed art and diving into creative writing, this hands-on homeschool unit study has everything you need to spark creepy-crawly curiosity and learning!
Whether you’re raising a future entomologist or just looking for an exciting spring or summer study, here’s a peek at how you can explore the world of bugs with your elementary-aged kiddos.
Why Insects Make the Perfect Homeschool Science Theme
Insects are everywhere—and kids are naturally curious about them. Studying insects gives you the chance to explore big science ideas like life cycles, habitats, adaptation, camouflage, and pollination—all through tiny creatures your kids can observe right outside their door. (And, unfortunately, sometimes right inside their door.) 😬
But insect studies aren’t just about science. They’re also packed with opportunities for:
Art: From painting dragonflies to embossing bejeweled bugs
Writing: Through creative bug reports and storytelling
Math: Using coordinate graphing to reveal hidden bug pictures
Critical thinking: Designing new bugs and imagining bug battles
Plus, bugs are simply fun. (Even if they’re a little creepy-crawly!)
Exploring Real Bugs in Your Own Backyard
One of the coolest parts of studying insects is you can go right outside to find them in real life! My six-year-old LOVES to flip over rocks and stumps to look for buggy friends, so she felt like a real hot shot with the tools that come in the Bug Discovery Lab kit included in this insects unit study. It's got a wonderful activity journal with a bunch of really interesting (and doable) activities and cool tools for hands-on exploration.
Your kids will get to:
Go on a Bug Hunt: Use the net and containers to search under rocks, leaves, and logs for beetles, ants, worms, and more.
Set Up a Pit Trap: Use the included sponge and shovel to create a simple trap and see what insects you can catch overnight.
Observe and Record: Look closely at your findings with the magnifier, then sketch or write about them in the discovery journal.
Test Reactions: Experiment to see how bugs respond to light, color, or food scraps.
Create a Mini Habitat: Build a temporary bug hotel to observe insects up close before setting them free again.
These small adventures help kids practice real science skills—observation, prediction, experimentation—and give them a stronger connection to the natural world around them. Win-win! 🙌
Hands-On Bug Projects Your Kids Will Love
My FAAAAVORITE part of our Explore Insects Unit Study is how many creative, totally unique projects it contains. These activities help kids connect what they’re learning to art, storytelling, and real-world exploration. Here are a few highlights we tried out that you'll love doing with your kids, too.
Inspired by real dragonflies and stained glass windows, kids will paint their own colorful insects using watercolor techniques. With big, bold wings and intricate designs, these dragonflies some out SO beautiful. Plus, they spark conversations about light, art history, and insect anatomy.
Bejeweled Bugs: Create Shiny, Embossed Insect Art
Using aluminum tooling foil and permanent markers, kids design dazzling bugs that shimmer like real insects. They press designs into foil to create raised textures, then add details and "jewels" to bring their bugs to life. It's a beautiful way to blend art, fine motor skills, and creativity, and really makes an impressive finished project. My kids had never done an art project like this before, so it was very cool to do something totally new!
Ant Tunnel Art: Design a Hidden Underground World
In another really unique project, kids imagine the world beneath their feet by designing their own ant tunnels and chambers. They’ll think about where ants store food, raise young, and travel through the soil—then bring their underground ant world to life through watercolors, torn paper, markers, and clay. Our little ants came out SOOOO cute!
Clay Flower Dish: Sculpt a Tiny Landing Pad
Using air-dry clay and the real art technique of "slip", kids create a small flower-shaped dish—just the kind of place a butterfly or ladybug might land! This project encourages observation (looking closely at real flowers) and lets kids explore 3D sculpture, texture, and painting in a hands-on (and super cute) way.
Inside the Giant Peach Art Project: Dream Up an Insect-Sized Adventure
James and the Giant Peach, the classic Roald Dahl novel, comes with this insects unit study crate to use either for independent reading or a fun family read-aloud (my choice!). Inspired by the book, we came up with this whimsical project that invites kids to design the inside of a giant fruit home—just the right size for a group of bug friends! It's a wonderful blend of art and storytelling, encouraging kids to imagine, design, and dream. 🥰
Cereal Box Research Report
Kids combine research, writing, and creative design in this super fun final project to wrap up the insect unit study. Your child will choose a real insect to study, then turn their Knowledge Crates box into a pretend insect-themed cereal box—complete with drawings, facts, games, and catchy slogans. It’s a fabulous way to make research and writing hands-on and exciting!
With so many different ways to explore insects through art, design, and creativity, your child will come away with a deeper appreciation for these tiny creatures—and a whole lot of masterpieces to show for it!
Make Insect Learning Easy with Our Ready-to-Go Unit Study Crate!
You could absolutely gather books, plan activities, and pull materials together yourself—and honestly, insect studies are a wonderful DIY homeschool science project.
But if you want to save time and get everything you need in one box, ready to go, our Explore Insects Homeschool Unit Study makes it soooo easy (and provides a killer value), honestly.
The crate includes:
Over 20 planned and prepped activities spanning science, art, nature study, literacy, cursive handwriting, creative writing, and more
All the supplies you’ll need (except for perishable food scraps, yuck!)
A full activity guide, written for the student, with simple, clear directions
Educational Insights Bug Discovery Lab kit for real science exploration
Four fiction and nonfiction insect-themed books for kids (see more info in the next section!)
Everything is open-and-go, flexible, and designed to make learning joyful—for your kids and for you. 🥰 (Not gonna lie, you're going to want to do some of these art projects yourself!)
Books Included in the Explore Insects Unit Study Crate
Like I said above, included in this insects unit study crate you'll get a handpicked collection of fiction and nonfiction books that tie perfectly into your bug-themed learning.
I personally picked these books after taking a TON out of the library and seeing which ones appealed the most to my kids and provided the subject matter knowledge needed for a solid unit study.
Your kids will get:
Eyewitness: Insect by DK – A beautifully photographed nonfiction guide to bugs of all kinds. This will be the "spine" of your insects unit study.
Smithsonian's The Buzz on Insects from Penguin Young Readers – A fun, engaging introduction to insect basics
Who Would Win? Ultimate Bug Rumble by Jerry Pallotta – A kid-favorite book about hypothetical insect battles that teaches a lot about these cool creatures
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl– A whimsical read-aloud that ties in perfectly with the insect theme (plus a creative project to match!)
If you're a library hound like me and want even MORE bug-themed books to enjoy throughout this unit study, I've got you covered. 😉
We put together a free printable library book list packed with fiction and nonfiction titles all about insects, bugs, and the tiny world around us. You’ll find something for every level—from colorful picture books to beginner chapter books perfect for independent readers.
It’s an easy way to add extra read-alouds, spark more bug conversations, and keep the excitement going long after the day’s activities are done!
Want to Take Your Insect Study Even Further?
If your kids are loving learning about bugs (and you want to keep the excitement going), we’ve put together a couple of optional add-ons to make your insect unit study even more fun:
Bugs & Slugs Board Game: A lighthearted trivia game filled with fun facts about all kinds of insects, slugs, and other tiny critters. It’s a great way to sneak in science while playing together as a family!
Bug Bonus Pack: This bundle includes even more hands-on tools and books to fuel your child’s curiosity—a 3D wooden ant puzzle to build, a tongs-style bug catcher and magnifying bug viewer for backyard exploration, and five additional books, from beginner readers to chapter books.
Both of these optional add-ons are a great way to stretch your bug unit even further—and make it even easier to dive deep into the amazing world of insects!
Ready to Explore the World of Insects?
From backyard bug hunts to shiny bejeweled beetles, this insect unit is full of hands-on learning, meaningful projects, and just the right amount of gross-out fun. Whether you use these ideas to build your own DIY insect unit or go all in with our ready-to-go crate, I hope you feel excited and inspired to explore the insect world with your kids!
Don’t forget to grab the free insect book list, check out the optional add-on activities and games , and take a peek inside the full Explore Insects Homeschool Unit Study if you're looking for a stress-free, open-and-go way to bring all of this to life.
Elizabeth is a former public school teacher turned homeschool mom. She's been homeschooling for six years with her kiddos who are currently in kindergarten and third grade. At Knowledge Crates, Elizabeth develops the elementary unit studies and test-runs activities with her kids.
Knowledge Crates are thoughtfully curated and secular educational activity boxes designed to make learning fun, hands-on, and stress-free for families.
Each crate is packed with activities, books, and all the materials needed to spark curiosity and creativity in children.
Whether you're a homeschooling parent or simply looking for screen-free ways to keep your kids engaged, Knowledge Crates provide a convenient and enriching solution that fosters exploration and discovery.
Who are Knowledge Crates designed for?
Knowledge Crates are designed for families with children ranging from preschool to high school.
Unit Crates: The preschool units are ideal for children from preschool through grade 1. While some of the skills included may already be mastered by older kids in this range, this gives children a sense of accomplishment as they confidently complete activities on their own! The elementary units are tailored for children in grades 2–5, providing more challenging and engaging activities to keep them excited about learning.
Mini Crates: These versatile crates are designed for children ranging from preschool all the way through high school. Each mini crate includes a detailed list of what’s inside, along with photos of the materials, so parents can easily choose the best fit for their child’s interests and age group.
Sensory Play: Loved by kids of all ages, our sensory play options provide hours of engaging, hands-on exploration that fosters creativity and fine motor development. Whether your child is a toddler or older, sensory play is a hit in every home!
Can Knowledge Crates be used as part of a homeschool curriculum?
Absolutely! Knowledge Crates are a fantastic addition to any homeschool routine. Whether you’re looking to supplement your core curriculum or need ready-made activities to engage your kids, our crates provide all the materials and guidance you need.
Each unit study crate is carefully designed to explore a specific theme in depth, from the wonders of the ocean to desert habitats and beyond. The step-by-step guides and hands-on projects make it easy to incorporate crate activities into your lesson plans, saving you time and adding variety to your homeschool day.
Will Knowledge Crates really work in my homeschool?
Every family is different, and that’s why we design Knowledge Crates to be flexible. Whether you’re homeschooling full-time, looking for weekend activities, or need an engaging way to keep your kids learning during breaks, our crates adapt to your needs. They’re perfect for preschoolers exploring sensory play or older elementary kids diving into creative and STEM-focused projects.
And if you're worried about the value, consider this: everything you need is included. No hidden costs, no extra materials to buy —just open the box and start creating moments of learning and discovery. The materials are even reusable, so many of the activities can be enjoyed again and again!
We love this unit study! It is very thoughtfully crafted with tons of fun and educational activities that can work well for many ages. We will definitely be ordering again!
My kids are the kids that normally fight school, if it isn't play, they don't want to do it... but with knowledge crates, they were excited to learn about the ocean, they b were excited for the hands on experiance. Thank you!!
We’ve had some much fun enjoying the bee crate and reading all about bees these last few months! I’m pretty sure my toddler could pass an exam on bees haha!!
