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Insects, Spiders, Bugs and More– 2nd Grade

Colorful drawing with an ant diagram, dragonfly, butterfly, bee, ladybug, and various abstract swirls on a pastel background featuring different insects.

The second graders drew a bug of their choice on white paper.  I had photos for reference and showed them how to use the pencil to create shading and how to blend it with a blending stub.  (I call them “smudgy sticks”).  Later, they cut out their bug and glued it to another background page.

The students looked at this image by Louise Bourgeois and answered some discussion questions about the artwork.

Large spider sculpture with a glass building in the background.

Then, they filled out a sheet which prompted them to detail their experiences with insects or spiders.  What is a memory they have of an insect?  What would they do if they were an insect?  How do they feel about insects?  Have they ever had a dream about an insect?  If they had no answer, they could leave it blank.  They used watersoluble crayons to color a background page.  Using markers, they drew images related to insects, bugs and spiders on top of the background.  They could illustrate the prompts they responded to or create new imagery of their own.  Then, the pencil drawing was glued on top.

A child's drawing features a whimsical creature resembling insects and a figure using red, yellow, and pink crayon-like colors.

Sketch of a dragonfly on white paper against a colorful background with orange, red, and teal sections. The art captures the intricate details often found in insects.

Colorful abstract painting with various doodles including bugs, a table and chairs, and a person with outstretched arms.

A colorful painting with a large insect in the center, surrounded by a caterpillar, butterfly, ladybug, and another small bug.

Colorful drawing of various insects, including caterpillars, ladybugs, and spiders, on a textured background.

Colorful drawing of a bee with text "The Bee" and "The Bugster" on a red and yellow background, showcasing insects.

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About Marcia Beckett

Marcia is an elementary art teacher and loves painting, drawing, sculpture, art journaling and clay. Her blog, Art is Basic, features many exciting art projects for kids.

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  • Banner with colorful artwork promoting an art shop featuring kindness coloring pages, artist activities, and resources for teachers.