Over the past several weeks, we have observed a strong and ongoing interest in bugs and cooking among the preschoolers. Their curiosity about bugs has developed beyond simple observation into deeper exploration. Each day, the children actively search for insects, discuss where bugs find
their food, learn about different body parts, compare which bugs can fly and which cannot, and carefully touch and observe them in their natural environment.
Through these experiences and conversations, we have also noticed the children's growing empathy and sense of responsibility toward living creatures. Many preschoolers encourage their peers to handle bugs gently and remind one another not to squish them.
During one conversation, Kobe found a ladybug and asked, "The beetle won't bite me, right?" The educator replied, "No, it's a ladybug, but it can fly away." Kobe responded, "Okay, I will take her home and keep her under my pillow so she doesn't fly." The educator then asked, "What if it gets squished?" After thinking about this, Kobe replied, "Okay, okay. I will leave her in my backyard so nobody touches her."
This conversation demonstrates that Kobe is developing empathy and care for living things. He wanted to protect the ladybug and keep it safe, but through discussion he began to consider the bug's needs and potential risks.
Some of the preschoolers, particularly Brooks, Lily, and Roohi, have developed a strong interest in food, cooking, and how meals are prepared. They are curious about where food comes from, how it is cooked, and what different foods taste like. Through conversations and hands-on experiences, such as baking muffins with the children and making sour candy grapes using lime, salt, zip-top bags, and muffin trays, the children explored the different uses of materials. These experiences helped answer their curiosity about why plastic can be used to freeze food but should not be used for baking. By experimenting and observing, they developed a better understanding of how different materials respond to heat and cold.
As they investigated cooking, the children also began learning about different types of utensils and cookware. They explored why some materials are safe to use for cooking while others are not. For example, they learned that plastic should not be used for cooking because it can melt when exposed to heat, whereas aluminum cookware is designed to withstand high temperatures and can be safely used for preparing food. These discussions encouraged the children to think about safety, the properties of different materials, and the science behind every day cooking experiences.
To further extend the children’s growing interest in food and cooking, we created our own pretend pizza oven and invited the preschoolers to explore playdough and loose parts as open-ended materials. The children rolled, stretched, and shaped the playdough into pizzas, carefully selected their toppings, and took turns placing their creations into the oven.
As they engaged in this imaginative experience, the children shared their ideas, made individual choices, and experimented with different ways to use the materials. They talked about their pizza creations, negotiated turns, and pro
udly presented their finished pizzas to their peers. It was wonderful to see how the children used their creativity and imagination to recreate familiar cooking experiences while developing their fine motor skills, communication, problem-solving, and social skills.
This experience also demonstrated the children’s growing sense of agency as they made choices about what to create and how to create it. By connecting their interest in real-life cooking with imaginative play, the children were able to explore familiar experiences in new and meaningful ways.
To extend the children's learning about bugs, we invited special guests from The Butterfly Conservatory to visit our preschool. They brought a variety of insects for the children to observe and explore. During this experience, we noticed how curious the children were as they carefully touched the insects and watched them crawl gently on their hands. One child, Roohi, said to another preschooler, "If you are gentle with them, they won't hurt you." This showed the children's growing understanding of how to interact with living creatures with care and respect.
To further extend their learning, the children created their own bugs using straws and drawings of insects. This creative activity encouraged them to represent their observations while strengthening their fine motor skills and imagination. Through these hands-on experiences, the children deepened their appreciation for insects, built confidence in exploring the natural world, and demonstrated empathy toward living things.
