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How to Make Your Own Bug Game

Use your child's love for bugs to create an educational bug game as part of a unit study to help her learn more. Experienced homeschooling mother Kandi Chang says there are definite benefits when a unit study is driven by a child's interest in the subject. Encourage your child to help you research the bug game to add to her expertise in the subject. It can be done with minimal materials in the course of one afternoon.

Things You'll Need

Dice (2)
Markers
Plastic bugs
Bug stickers
Metallic pens
3x5 note cards
Foam poster board

Instructions

- 1
  Plan your game on paper first. Choose the path you want the bugs to follow. Decide where you will put the squares for your question, penalty and bonus cards.
- 2
  Draw rectangles on the foam poster board that are large enough to accommodate at least two bugs per square. Join the rectangles to create a path for the bugs to follow. Draw a spider web in three rectangles. Put question marks in at least 10 rectangles. Draw leaves in at least three rectangles. Draw three rectangles large enough to hold the 3x5 cards. Trace the lines with a metallic pen.
- 3
  Decorate the path with habitats for insects using the markers. Include ant hills, trees, logs and spider webs. Place bug stickers in appropriate places.
- 4
  Write questions about bugs on 25 note cards and draw a question mark on the other side. Draw leaves on 10 cards. On the other side, write "Bonus Moves" and add a number from one to three. Draw a spider web on the top of the three stack of cards and write penalties on the other side. Create an answer book for the questions.
- 5
  Make up your rules. The spider web can hold a bug or just decorate the board. Decide if the questions come with a free move or the loss of a turn if they are answered incorrectly. Determine if the youngest or the oldest player will start the game.

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