Ant Homes Under the Ground
Science and Math Activities for Young
Children
Grades Preschool—1
Written by Jean C. Echols, Kimi Hosoume,
and Jaine Kopp
"Just what makes that little ol' ant. . . ."
High hopes are just part of what makes these fascinating social
creatures tick. Ant Homes Under the Ground brings young
children—and what child
hasn't run into an ant?—down
to ground-level with this ubiquitous insect, introducing them
to ant behavior using role-play, cooperative exercises, and up-close
observation.
In mutlilayered activities, students learn about the insects'
body structure, "jobs," and homes by observing ants
in nature and in an ant farm. They role-play ants following a
scent trail and dragging food through a tunnel-like structure.
A large Ant Nest poster, included with the guide, is assembled
in stages to highlight ant-colony tunnels, food, social structure,
and life cycle as each of these elements is introduced. A culminating
cooperative logic game called "Fill the Hill" uses stimulating
mathematical and cooperative skills to round up knowledge the
children have gained. This unit provides a wealth of life-science
learning as well as the natural integration of science and math.
Praise for Ant Homes Under the Ground:
"Expanding progressively on the salient point (yes, ants),
peppered with creature graphics and endless variations on an ant
nest, this book makes formiculture look beside the point. Geared
for youngsters three to six, it's more visual and game happy than
Terrarium Habitats, but provides
the same in-depth background for adults. Its big black-and-white
sectional poster, assembled as you work through the activities,
is the prize perk. And, like its counterpart guides, Ant Homes
plugs for gentle stewardship of the live creatures it solicits
for hands-on exploration."
—Whole Earth
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