Materials
Graham crackers
Small bowls, plastic knives, and spoons
Frosting
Fruit cereal, marshmallows, and candies
Shredded coconut
Food coloring
Instructions
1. Go outside with the children. Choose two areas to place the bricks one should
be a sunny spot and the other in the shade. Place a few bricks in each spot.
2. After a few days, give each child a pair of gardening gloves to wear. Go outside
and demonstrate how to pick up a brick gently to see what is underneath.
3. Encourage the children to explore underneath each brick without touching
anything. Discuss what they see. For example, "Who lives under this brick
house?"
4. Gently replace the bricks to cover the tiny animals living there.
5. Repeat with all of the bricks. Ask, "Are more animals under the bricks in the
shade or the bricks in the sun?"
6. Let the children visit the critters each day. Remind them to wear the gloves
and not to touch the bugs. Remind them also to move the bricks gently so
they don't hurt the animals.
More to do
Dramatic Play: Provide a sheet that the children can hide under to pretend that
they are living under a brick.
Gross Motor: Ask the children to watch how the small animals move. Encourage
them to move in a similar manner.
