We have praying mantises!!
We have been having so much fun with our ladybugs and butterflies! Now we have praying mantises! I will be totally honest…they creep me out! They are a little pre-historic looking and make my skin crawl. However, I wanted the girls to see these insects and I really tried not to express my dislike towards them:)
Just like our ladybugs, we purchased these at Ace Hardware for around $10. They came in this container with a lid and we have been patiently waiting for them to hatch.
Those large brown sacs are the eggs that hold 50-200 praying mantises each! This container has about 100-400 praying mantises! Wow! UGH! These little creatures are good for the garden…or so they say.
Apparently Audrey had no fear of holding a praying mantis! She was so intrigued and interested in them. She had much more courage than I do, although she pressured me to hold one;)
Our dog was REALLY interested in them, but Sophia was content to watch at a distance with her Daddy.
Although the praying mantises creeped me out, it was neat to see Audrey intrigued in discovering and learning more about them!
This is childhood! This is the joy of hands-on learning! You could learn about them in a textbook, but why? This was FUN! Gross, but fun!
I am so glad that I stumbled into your blog this evening. This post is magical. There is just something amazing about the "wonder" that can be sparked in kids. And, this why we do what we do . . . teach and mother :). I would have been in your camp for sure. We hatched these little guys in my class last year and I freaked out when we had to let them go (that meant I had to open the lid).
Kelley Dolling
Teacher Idea Factory
Oh Annie,
You make me want my kids little again!!! (they are teens) How wonderful. You are doing such wonderful things with your little ones that they will hold with them forever:) I love gardening and am constantly stopping to "check out" all God's blessings in my garden…butterflies, caterpillars, and an occasional praying mantis. They are wonderful for gardens:) At least yours are where they should be….talking about creeping you out, my sister lives in Illinois (I used to) and each year they go cut down their own Christmas tree…..well, evidently there was a praying mantis egg sac on one and when the tree got in her house all nice and cozy, the egg sac hatched!!!!!!! EEKKKK!
Thanks for sharing:)
4th Grade Frolics
That is fantastic. I have never heard of hatching them. I think that I would be a little creeped out but the look on your daughters face is priceless. I can only imagine what 18 kiddos would look like. Thank you for sharing this.
Stacy
simpsonsuperstars
That is great that she enjoyed learning and playing with them. I don't think I would have been that brave though. So good for her!!
You are brave!!!
Annie, I have hatched praying mantids with my class and it is such an amazing activity! When we study plants, we spend some time talking about the garden good guys and praying mantids are definitely good guys! They are fun to draw and label. I always thought they looked like mini-dinosaurs! Keep up the great teaching with your girls!
Camille
An Open Door
So fun and creepy! Eek those egg sacks. Lol. All for the kids though. We used to do bugs in first grade and would always have spoons handy because we didn't want to touch them. 🙂
Christy & Tammy
I live right around the corner from an Ace hardware. I am going to go take a look for some.
Annie, this is such an awesome idea! You are always building the most wonderful memories with your girls and I just love reading about what you do. I hope you have a great week with your family 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing, I had no idea you could purchase them at the store along with ladybugs, which is something I've always wanted to do. We'd love for you to share this post on our The Very Quiet Cricket Virtual Book Club, it ties in perfecting with the theme. THANKS! http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2012/05/virtual-book-club-very-quiet-cricket.html
Rock on Audrey! I would have been at the other end of the yard! Those things freak me out.
What an amazing mommy you are.
❤Dragonflies in First ❤
I am afraid of insects…
so I am definitely fascinated with the real activities with live insects. Wonderful ! 🙂
I admire your courage! Those legs get to me – ooh! I'm not an insect person but I can see how great it is go encourage children to explore and not be put off by bugs! Renee
I had no idea you could buy these at Ace Hardware! I'm stopping tonight to get some. My boys are going to have a blast!