Praying Mantis

Our Thursday morning started out like any other.  Usually the children are outside playing by 8am for half hour or 45 minutes.  This particular morning I was outside with them hanging up clothes.  I hear Eden proclaim "Look at this big bug!  Guys, guys, guys come here!"  Of course, we all rush over.  And there, by the chicken coop is a real, live praying mantis.  The children were ecstatic!  Ephraim grabs his bug container (a repurposed detergent container) and we put the mantis in there for a bit.  Not long, though.  Just long enough for all of us to have a close look and take a few pictures.  After a brief lecture about how to treat this creature (with care and tenderness) we pick a tree to be its new home.  

The praying mantis on the tree.  

Eliza looking right at the mantis.  

Then Ephraim decided to climb the tree and watch the mantis climb up.

Oh, here he comes!  I love this picture.  Ephraim loves nature.  He loves exploring.  He is so careful with creatures.  

Then it is Emmet's turn to take a close look.  By now the mantis is above his head.

(I may be biased, but I just love this picture.  The wonder in his eyes.  Just taking it all in).

The mantis is close to the top of the picture.  

With that excitement over, we headed inside.  I decided to capitalize on their enthusiasm and went straight to the computer for some praying mantis activities.  I found a site with lots of printables to make a lapbook of info.  We focused on where mantises live, their predators, their bodies and their environments.  Seriously, they loved this spur-of-the-moment lesson and we had a great morning!

We learned there are over 2200 varieties of mantises and they live on every continent except Antarctica.  Hmmm, I wonder what our next impromptu lesson will be about?