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You are here: Home / Activities / Looking in the Eyes of a Praying Mantis

Looking in the Eyes of a Praying Mantis

January 28, 2021 By Suzette Salmon Leave a Comment

Have you ever looked in the eyes of a Praying Mantis? It is seriously one of the coolest things ever. I was mesmerized. The connection was instantaneous, and those bulging glass eyes had me. The sun shun on our connection, and in that moment, I knew she was mine.

I rescued it off a tennis court that was at the time being trampled by galloping feet, bikes and scooters. I saw it on the ground as it narrowly escaped the run over of a scooter. I quickly pounced, grabbing it off the ground. She was pregnant and looking for somewhere to feed.

Yes, I struck gold. She was taken home to our nature daycare, I knew she would be an asset to us, and we would take care of her. I placed her in the backyard, where we have a native garden there, she fed on bees and lots of bugs. It was the end of the season for our caterpillars, so, fortunately, she didn’t feed on the monarch caterpillars we raise yearly.

Praying mantises are an excellent addition to your garden if you don’t have a butterfly garden – they will eat your caterpillars. 

xoxo – Miss Sue

Filed Under: Activities, Nature Play, Outdoors, Science Tagged With: nature garden, Outdoors, praying mantis, raising insects

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Oct 7

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Here’s an example of our cleanup process. The bell goes off for lunchtime and the children automatically start singing and cleaning up (I don’t usually sing but they do). Some are singing only for the song while others are busy cleaning up like ‘the  little red hen.’ A beautiful example of when you work alone and the children are your teammates. 
Yes, they’re my little learners and teammates - all hands on deck. We have a wonderful symbiotic relationship harmoniously working together for the good of the environment.
It makes this work enjoyable and it also helps all to learn and appreciate each other - especially when you have a yard this size. 
#earlychildhoodeducator 
#naturebasedlearning 
#outdoorclassroom 
#homechildcare 
#edulallie

Here’s an example of our cleanup process. The bell goes off for lunchtime and the children automatically start singing and cleaning up (I don’t usually sing but they do). Some are singing only for the song while others are busy cleaning up like ‘the little red hen.’ A beautiful example of when you work alone and the children are your teammates.
Yes, they’re my little learners and teammates - all hands on deck. We have a wonderful symbiotic relationship harmoniously working together for the good of the environment.
It makes this work enjoyable and it also helps all to learn and appreciate each other - especially when you have a yard this size.
#earlychildhoodeducator
#naturebasedlearning
#outdoorclassroom
#homechildcare
#edulallie
...

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lilbebeacademy

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Beautiful slow approach to my early years classroom. I work alone and it’s very important that we all enjoy the space. Children are allowed to move materials, gather, play, learn and then clean up after. 
- A small mixed-age ratio provides many opportunities for discoveries, play and lots of hours outdoors. 
-This was a rainy day, we also harvest rain for their unending play. 
#playbasedlearning 
#mixedagelearning 
#outdoorclassroom 
#naturebasedlearning 
#edulallie

Beautiful slow approach to my early years classroom. I work alone and it’s very important that we all enjoy the space. Children are allowed to move materials, gather, play, learn and then clean up after.
- A small mixed-age ratio provides many opportunities for discoveries, play and lots of hours outdoors.
-This was a rainy day, we also harvest rain for their unending play.
#playbasedlearning
#mixedagelearning
#outdoorclassroom
#naturebasedlearning
#edulallie
...

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Nature gives children something real to think about. Listen to the children - bumblebees and butterflies like nectar too.
🍃
#naturebased
#natureschool 
#learningforlife 
#inhomechildcare 
#edulallie

Nature gives children something real to think about. Listen to the children - bumblebees and butterflies like nectar too.
🍃
#naturebased
#natureschool
#learningforlife
#inhomechildcare
#edulallie
...

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Try this if you’ve been trying to get your children outdoors!

Try this if you’ve been trying to get your children outdoors! ...

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