Ant Lesson Plan for Preschool and Homeschool Students

Ants are a fascinating topic for preschool aged students, especially when ants are streaming past the classroom door. This lesson is geared for small groups, whole classes, and homeschool settings.

Egg Carton Ants

Cut up an egg carton into four sections, of three cups in a row. Let students paint the cartons black and then add google eyes and black pipe cleaner legs.

Ant Patterns

Draw black ants on some index cards and red ants on other index cards. Make color patterns with the ants (black-red-black-red) and let your students complete the pattern. Progressively make more difficult patterns for your students to copy.

Ant Matching Game

Draw small groups of ants on index cards. Make two cards with each number of ants. Have students match the pairs of cards that have the same number of ants.

As an alternative activity, draw the ants in different colors and let students match the pairs of cards with the red ants, the blue ants, and so forth.

Ant Farm

Set up an ant farm for your students and let them watch the ants make tunnels. Provide magnifying glasses so they can watch the ants more closely. Let the students take turns feeding the ants.

Ant Trail Observation

Find an ant trail outside of the classroom and bring students to watch the ants travel. Let students predict what will happen when you place a small obstacle in the middle of the trail, such as a twig or a penny. Record the students observations on a chart and then observe what the ants do and see what students guessed correctly.

Ant Drawing

Provide paper and crayons so students can draw what they observe in their ant farms and on the ant trails. Preschool students enjoy drawing ants because they are simple enough for the youngest students to draw well.

Finger print Ants

Use a non toxic ink pad to make ant prints by placing three fingerprints in a row. Let students finish their ant prints by drawing six legs and adding eyes and antennae.

Books About Ants

Share some of these books about ants with your students during your ant unit:

Ant Cities - Arthur Dorros

I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track - Joshua Prince
I Saw an Ant in a Parking Lot - Joshua Prince
Crickwing - Janelle Cannon

The Ants Go Marching One by One - Richard Bernal
Ants in Your Pants: A Lift-the-Flap Counting Book - Sue Heap
Ants, Ants, Ants - Charles Reasoner