Stories and Scripture The Grouchy Ladybug By Eric Carle A parish-based opportunity to engage pre-school children and their families Sponsored by the Engaging Young Families Sub-Committee of the Council for Catechesis
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Greet families as they arrive Opening Prayer John 13:34 Love one another The Grouchy Ladybug Introduction: Have you ever seen a ladybug? What do they look like? Are you afraid of ladybugs? Most people are not afraid of ladybugs. They are tiny bugs that actually help the plants. If you have a garden or grow flowers, then you would like ladybugs because they will eat the bugs that eat the leaves of the plants. So they are actually very helpful. Song Ladybug, Ladybug Written by Nancy Foss Ladybug, Ladybug turn around. (Have the children turn around.) Ladybug, Ladybug touch the ground. (Have the children touch the ground.) Ladybug, Ladybug show your love. (Use the sign language sign for "I love you.") Ladybug, Ladybug point to heaven above. (Point up.) Ladybug, Ladybug stomp your feet. (Stomp your feet.) Ladybug, Ladybug take a seat. (Children all sit down.) From daniellesplace.com Let s read the story of The Very Grouch Ladybug. There were two ladybugs in this story. How were the two ladybugs different? One was grouchy and the other one was kind. Have you ever had a grouchy day like the grouchy ladybug where you just wanted to fight someone? Sometimes we call that getting up on the wrong side of the bed. If you get up on the wrong side of the bed, is it alright to be unkind to people since you are having a hard day? No, it is never right to be unkind to others. How was the friendly ladybug kind to the grouchy one? She was willing to share the aphids with her. She also was willing to forgive the grouchy ladybug at the end of the story. She shared the aphids even though the ladybug had been mean to her. Let s make the choice to be kind to others. Jesus wants us to be kind. Activity:
Word of the Day: Kind Our word of the day is kind. I am going to tell you something someone might say. If it is kind, make a face like the friendly, kind ladybug might make. If it is unkind, make a face like the grouchy ladybug. -Let s practice. Show me your kind ladybug face. Now show me your grouchy ladybug face. -Would you like to sit next to me? -No, you cannot play with me. Go find someone else to play with. -I am not going to share my toy with you. -Excuse me. I didn t mean to bump into you. -Yes, I forgive you. -Did you drop your snack again? You are always dropping something. -Ouch. You stepped on my foot. I m not playing with you anymore. -Can I help you pick that up? -That is a nice drawing. You did a good job. -Thank you for giving me that pencil. We make the choice whether to be kind or not and we should be kind. Jesus tells us to love one another. That means we should be kind and share. Jesus was kind to many different people and he wants us to be kind to many different people. This includes our friends, family and even people we don t like. Craft: Make a ladybug Supplies: black and red construction paper, wiggly eyes, black pipe cleaners, black crayons, glue stick. Cut circles from red construction paper for the bug s body. Cut small circles from black construction paper for the bug s head. Write friends share on the body of the ladybug.
Glue the head to the body. Glue on wiggly eyes. Tape on pipe cleaners for the antennae. Have the child draw dots on the body with the black crayon. Snack: Give each child round crackers, red icing, mini chocolate chips on a paper plate with a plastic knife. The child can ice the cracker with the red icing and put a few chocolate chips on to make a ladybug. Closing prayer: John 13:34 Love one another